Essential Services Provided Natural Ecosystems, Mycorrhizae, Bacteria Decompose Organic Matter, Biopesticides, Biofertilizers, Marine Animals

www.molecular-plant-biotechnology.info

Home >> Biotechnology and Enviroments >>Biodiversity and its Conservation >> Essential Services Provided by Natural Ecosystems

Back to Home

Biodiversity and its Conservation
Biodiversity and its Conservation Introduction
Current Levels of Biodiversity
Alpha (α) and Beta(β) Biodiversity
Extinction and Endangered Species
Reasons of Concern for Loss of Biodiversity
Ethical and Aesthetic Rewards
Economic Benefits
Essential Services Provided by Natural Ecosystems
Steps to Preserve Biodiversity
In Situ and Ex Situ Conservation Gene Banks
In Situ Conservation
Ex Situ Conservation
Ex Situ Conservation Efforts at International Level
Ex Situ Conservation Efforts by G-15 Countries
Ex Situ Conservation Efforts in USA

	Essential services provided by natural ecosystems The natural ecosystems provide essential services to human beings, and diverse species occurring in these ecosystems contribute to these services. These services include the following: (i) Maintenance of gaseous composition of the atmosphere, thus preventing rapid changes in the mix of gases, which may otherwise destroy fauna and flora. (ii) Maintenance of soil ecosystems having rich biota, where the existing biodiversity contributes to fertility of soil thus supporting crops and forests.
The fungal associations in mycorrhizae, particularly VAM also facilitate transfer of essential nutrients into the roots of plants. Other microorganisms also fix nitrogen and transfer other nutrients to the soil. Many bacteria decompose organic matter and help in producing humus. (iii) Production of soil by weathering of rocks to which plants contribute in a significant manner. (iv) Disposal of wastes, through decomposition by microorganisms and making nutrients available for the growth of green plants. (v) Through vast. biogeochemical cycles, cycling of nutrients resulting from decomposition, before they are reincorporated into living systems. (vi) Control of a large number of insects and other pests, which attack crops or domestic animals. This is made possible by the presence of numerous species of predacious and parasitic insects, who feed upon' these pests. (vii) Help in effective pollination in some plant species - e.g. by boney bee, wild bees or other insects. (viii) Supply of food from fishes and other marine animals in addition to many food crops.
The ecosystem services including the above are provided by biodiversity at such a grand scale and in such an intricate manner, that there is no possible substitute for these services even with the advances in knowledge made in recent decades. Recent attempts for finding inorganic substitutes for these services have met with little success. These attempts include the following: (i) synthetic pesticides, (ii) inorganic fertilizers, (iii) chlorination for purification of natural waters, (iv) dams for flood and drought control, (v) air-conditioning for dealing with high temperatures, etc. All these substitutes destroy environment, and often require large energy subsidy, thus adding to environmental problems, discussed in earlier chapters. Therefore, these substitutes are not satisfactory, thus forcing us to think now of biopesticides, biofertilizers, afforestation, etc. to deal with these problems. In other words, we need to restore biodiversity, which is being destroyed due to the use of synthetic devices as substitute for ecosystem services.