Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning : Maintaining Natural Life Support Processes

By Naeem, Shahid

Description
Excerpt: Critical processes at the ecosystem level influence plant productivity, soil fertility, water quality, atmospheric chemistry, and many other local and global environmental conditions that ultimately affect human welfare. These ecosystem processes are controlled by both the diversity and identity of the plant, animal, and microbial species living within a community. Human modifications to the living community in an ecosystem – as well as to the collective biodiversity of the earth – can therefore alter ecological functions and life support services that are vital to the well-being of human societies. Substantial changes have already occurred, especially local and global losses of biodiversity. The primary cause has been widespread human transformation of once highly diverse natural ecosystems into relatively species-poor managed ecosystems. Recent studies suggest that such reductions in biodiversity can alter both the magnitude and the stability of ecosystem processes, especially when biodiversity is reduced to the low levels typical of many managed systems.

Table of Contents
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Book Id: WPLBN0000102162
Format Type: PDF eBook
File Size: 968.34 KB
Reproduction Date: 2007
Full Text

Title:

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning : Maintaining Natural Life Support Processes

Author:

Naeem, Shahid

Volume:

Language:

English

Subject:

Ecology, Natural resource issues, Environemtal protection

Collection:

Environmental Awareness Library Collection

Subcollection:

Historic
Publication Date:

Publisher:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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