¶ … 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,...
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…
