Ecosystem Goods and Services (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

• 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 

• 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