Explain the concept of ecosystem services and give an example.

• A. Beneficial services provided by ecosystems (pollination, water purification, flood mitigation); example: wetlands filter water and protect shorelines.
• B. A bank's interest rates.
• C. The price of fossil fuels.
• D. A greenhouse gas.

Answer: (D)

Ecosystem services are benefits that people receive from natural systems through their ongoing processes. These services include things like cleaning water, pollinating crops, reducing flood risk, and maintaining biodiversity, all of which support human well-being in tangible ways. An example is wetlands: they filter pollutants from water, store excess floodwater to reduce flood peaks, and protect shorelines from erosion, while also providing habitat for wildlife.

A greenhouse gas is not an ecosystem service; it’s a substance that traps heat in the atmosphere and contributes to climate change. Bank interest rates and the price of fossil fuels are economic concepts, not benefits produced by ecosystems.