The Adaptive Watershed - IISD

The Adaptive Watershed Training program for inclusive, ecosystem-based watershed management

Module 4 Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Learning objectives After completing this module, you will be able to: 1. Identify ecosystem services from our watershed. 2. Identify priority ecosystem services among stakeholders. 3. Experience the process of setting priorities among stakeholders.

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Key questions •

How does a watershed function as an ecosystem (or a series of ecosystems)?

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How do we describe that function in terms of ecosystem services?

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What are the priority ecosystem services for each of several economic activities?

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Defining our ecosystem structure and function An ecosystem includes all plants and animals (biotic element), the non-living (abiotic element) and all interactions among those elements •

Can be defined at many spatial scales

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Processes control movement of energy and matter through the system

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Hydrologic relationships help us understand resource flow

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Ecosystem services •

… are based in human valuation; they are benefits people obtain directly and indirectly from ecosystems

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Ecosystem services contribute to making human life possible and worth living

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Types of ecosystem services MEA: four categories of ecosystem services •

Provisioning: products of ecosystems (e.g., food, fiber, fuel, fresh water)

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Regulating: benefits obtained from regulation of ecosystem processes (e.g., water regulation, erosion control, water purification)

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Cultural: non-material benefits (e.g., recreation, aesthetic experiences, educational values, ecotourism)

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Supporting: sustaining the production of all other services (e.g., plant growth, nutrient cycling, soil formation)

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Our ecosystem controls our well-being

One Planet Sustainability Review https://oneplanet-sustainability.org/2012/11/21/forcing-the-environment-to-market-the-millennium-ecosystem-assessment/

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Ecosystem management (EM) •

Ecosystem management involves working with the functioning of the ecosystem to supply ecosystem services

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Ecosystem functions depend on interactions between core ecosystem processes and ecosystem structure

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Ecosystem management involves thinking in terms of ecosystem structure, function and processes to improve management

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

EM and people •

Incorporating humans into ecosystems is central to EM

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EM sees people as •

dependent on ecosystems

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part of ecosystems

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We depend on ecosystems for services and influence them as we harvest products, alter them through a range of land uses and emit wastes

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Our first focus is biophysical management of ecosystems

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Activity: Stakeholder interests (15 min) Four stakeholder interests List 5–6 ecosystem structure/function attributes, and describe how your interest would value each (highest=3, lowest =1) Look for differences among stakeholders, especially the 1s. How would you begin to resolve those differences? Stakeholder Group

Rating

Provisioning Services

Rating

Regulating Services

Largescale agriculture Tourism

Municipal services Harvestable natural resources Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Rating

Cultural Services

Rating

Supporting Services

Ecosystem function •

Management for ecosystem service needs to consider both ecosystem structure and functioning (i.e., ecosystem processes).

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Ecosystem processes include •

Solar energy flow

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Biological growth

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Mineral cycling

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Water cycling

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Water •

Water is essential for life

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Ecosystem management asks how we influence the water cycle from crop to river basin scales

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We consider desired proportion of water, timing and volumes for provision of fresh water, and regulation of flow to rivers, wetland, aquifers and atmosphere

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Minerals •

Essential for life; cycled from and through living organisms

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Mineral cycling is core to ecosystem function •

primarily through microbial communities in the soil

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Water

Source: https://pmm.nasa.gov/education/sites/default/files/article_images/Water-Cycle-Art2A.png

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Minerals •

Cycling is increased by large herbivores, insects and small animals

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Herbivores increase organic decomposition and liberate minerals in soil and for plant growth

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The ecosystem function processes of water and mineral cycling are closely linked

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Nitrogen

Source: Nitrogen Cycle." UXL Encyclopedia of Science. Science in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CV2644300690/SCIC?u=albertak12&xid=4cdcc6d4

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Carbon

Source: National Centre for Atmospheric Research. https://environmatters.wordpress.com/2014/03/14/why-mattermatters/ Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Solar energy •

Ecosystems are fuelled by energy plants capture from the sun via photosynthesis

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That energy flows through food webs from plants to herbivores and omnivores to carnivores and finally decomposers

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An important difference here is that solar energy does not cycle, it has unidirectional flow

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Managing lands of the watershed •

Knowledge of ecosystem structure is required to be able to set priorities

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Soil cover, types and structure of vegetation highly influence the water cycle

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Sustaining required vegetation requires that the mineral cycle functions in specific ways (decomposition, soil formation)

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Maintaining the flow of solar energy through plants and animals sustains water flow and quality as well as other services

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Ecosystem function: Biological growth •

We manage provisioning services to promote the growth of valued species

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We assess ecosystem-scale biological growth to encourage soil, vegetation and animal communities that regulate cultural ecosystem services

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Organic matter decomposition is a core ecosystem process to be understood and sustained

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Ecosystem structure •

Structure is what we see and can be directly altered by management

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Structure determines how processes function

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Structural components:

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Structure of the food web

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Physical structure of vegetation layers •

Soil coverage

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Water bodies

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Decomposition of organic matter

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Spatial configuration of species

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Managing for ecosystem services We earlier listed ecosystem services as •

Water cycling

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Mineral cycling

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Solar energy flow

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Biological growth

Here in the local watershed, is that list complete and serviceable? Are there things missing or irrelevant?

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Activity: Managing for ecosystem services (15 min) •

Frame 1–2 ecosystem services of each class for your interest, and rate importance from 1 to 3

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Elect a spokesperson to present in plenary

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

Plenary (15 min) •

Among groups, which ecosystem services are highest priority?

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As a managerial team, how would you take priorities into account?

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What surprises did you encounter as you thought and listened?

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Can you see exemplary management practices that might apply here in the watershed?

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function

A debrief reflection on outcomes •

Are there values certain stakeholders would hold that we have not captured as ecosystem services?

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In what ways does the ecosystem service metric advance management decisions?

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Priority stakeholders are, or will be, reflected in management decisions. How do we, and how should we, define “priority”?

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How are socially vulnerable groups made explicit in our setting of priorities?

Module 4: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, Structure and Function