Biodiversity Loss Threatens Human Well-Being the Authors

¶ … Biodiversity Loss Threatens Human Well-Being" the authors list a number of components of biodiversity that contribute to the long-term provisioning of ecosystem services. Those components include the amount and stability of the total biomass produced, preservation of the soil, regulation of water availability, pollination and seed dispersal, resistance to invasive species, pest control, regulation of climatic conditions through a feedback mechanism, regulation of carbon sequestration in the biosphere, and protection against natural hazards (storms, floods, fires, etc.). (Diaz 1300) While all of these are important, the regulation of water may be the most important as water is the basis of all life. The amount of water is the limiting factor in any ecosystem and therefore is the most important aspect.

In the event that scientists are asked to restore and preserve ecosystem services the most important components would include "restoring the biological integrity in terms of species, composition, relative abundance, functional organization, and species numbers." (Diaz 1301)

3. In a scenario of biodiversity loss, those species that tend to be "losers" are those that have the longest lifespans, bigger bodies, inability to disperse of large areas, more specialized use of resources, and low reproductive rates. In addition, the "losers" are those organisms that are more susceptible to human activities such as "nutrient loading, harvesting, and biomass removal by burning, livestock grazing, ploughing, clear-felling, etc.…."(Diaz 1301) These traits make organisms less likely to adapt to changes in the ecosystem, for instance, a specialized use of resources can cause an organism problems when that resource is not available. And low reproductive rate makes it difficult to maintain a population in the midst of a change in the environment.

4. In order to maintain nutrient retention and long-term productivity the authors state that about ten plant species per square meter is appropriate. (Diaz 1302) However, in order to obtain this balance, a much larger number of species is needed at the landscape level. One reason for this could be the numerous insect, animal, and bird species which feed and aid in pollination and seed dispersal but move across the landscape. Another could be the variation of the landscape and the need for different species to settle in different parts of the landscape.

5. Ecological surprises can be defined as the unintended consequences of intentional or accidental removal or addition of a certain predator, pathogen, herbivore, or plant species to an ecosystem. When such an ecological surprise happens, the results are often negative alterations of the ecosystem that can be large, unexpected, and irreversible. (Diaz 1302)

6. Those people who live closest to the ecosystem and rely on ecosystem services are the most vulnerable when it comes to the loss of biodiversity. This would include subsistence farmers, the rural poor, and traditional societies because they rely most on the food security, access to medicinal species, fuel, construction materials, and the natural protection from hazards provided by a biologically diverse ecosystem. (Diaz 1302)