Ecosystem Goods and Services (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

Ecosystems

• Ecosystems function most efficiently when they are in balance:

• The living (biotic) and non-living components (abiotic) are linked and interact with each other to try to maintain this balance

• Ecosystems can be any size

• All ecosystems have inputs, stores, transfers and outputs
  

  • Inputs: solar radiation and precipitation

  • Stores: biomass and soil

  • Transfers: energy is transferred through food chains and webs

  • Outputs: gases, dead matter

• All ecosystems provide goods and services

Goods & Services

Goods 

• Goods are tangible products which can be taken from the ecosystem

• Timber, food and water are all examples of goods 

• These can be sold or used to sustain the communities in the ecosystem

• They are one of the four services ecosystems provide

Services

• The services provided by ecosystems are essential for life to survive

• There are four groups of services:

  • Provisioning

  • Regulating 

  • Cultural 

  • Supporting

Goods and Services in the Tropical Rainforest