EFSinIWRM-MRM 2-Ecosystems...economic, socio-political, scientific, technological, cultural or religious characters DPSIR • Driving forces are the natural and social processes which

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Ecosystem functions and services in IWRM

1. ecosystems

explain the basic ecological processes in aquatic ecosystemsi

identify diferent functions and services of aquatic ecosystems

apply the DPSIR framework

At the end of this session, participants will be able to

2EFSinIWRM-MRM_Ecosystems

The hydrological cycle


Contain only small part of water: important in hydrological cycle water source (nature, food

production) habitat (biodiversity, food)

Study from catchment, river basin perspective: drainage area interaction land-water interaction upstream-

downstream/land-sea v.v.

Aquatic ecoystems


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What is ecology and what are ecosystems?


Ecology:the scientific discipline that studies how organisms interact in and with the natural world (Greek oikos = house)

Ecosystem:a system that includes all living organisms (biotic factors) in an area as well as its physical environment (abiotic factors) functioning together as a unit

Any examples?

organisms and food webs photosynthesis/energy flow nutrient cycling niche natural variation/adaptation scales

Aquatic ecology: some concepts


• Living components:1. producers2. consumers3. decomposers

• Non-living (a-biotic) components:1. physical - light, wind, temperature, current2. chemical - oxygen, carbon dioxide, phosphorus,

nitrogen, silicium, sulphur, pH, water

Basic components of ecosystems

A-biotic factors regulate activities of organisms –organisms in turn affect the a-biotic environment


Energy:• from the sun• continuous resource• most lost as heat

Chemicals:• move into and out of living organisms• used over and over again

Basic requirements living organisms


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Energy exchange in an ecosystem (Cunningham et al. 2003)

EFSinIWRM-MRM_Ecosystems

Aquatic ecosystem

photiczone

benthic: benthos

pelagic:• plankton• nekton

ecotone

sun


6 CO2 + 6 H2O + light C6H12O6 + 6 O2

Aquatic organisms

Plankton phytoplankton - algae (plants) zooplankton - animals bacterioplankton - bacteria

Nekton - fish, mammals

Benthos microphytes - algae (plants) macrophytes - waterplants, seagrass macrofauna - molluscs, worms,

insect larvae

Periphyton - community attached to plants, stones


Plankton


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13EFSinIWRM-MRM_Ecosystems 14EFSinIWRM-MRM_Ecosystems

Nekton

Aquatic food web

Phyto-

plankton

sun

Water

plants

Zoo

plankton

bacteria

Fish

nutrients

Fish

Fish/

sea urchin

Benthic

fauna15EFSinIWRM-MRM_Ecosystems 16EFSinIWRM-MRM_Ecosystems

Pelagic foodweb(Brönmark & Hansson 1998)

Antarctic foodweb(Cunningham et al. 2003)

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Tolerance limits (Cunningham et al. 2003)

EFSinIWRM-MRM_Ecosystems

Different species tolerate different environmentalconditions-they are adapted to these specific circumstances:– acclimation– natural selection => evolution

Adaptation


In time:• regular/predictable

day/night (24 h), waves (seconds), season (year)

• irregular/unpredictableactual weather, storms, floods

In space:• headwater - - - river basin

Scales


Water residence times (Chapman 1992)


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Wetlands and aquatic ecosystems


Wetlands(Davies and Claridge 1993)

areas of marsh, fen, peatland, or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres


Rich picture


• A picture tells a thousand words• It helps us to understand the complexity of an entire

situation, to see relationships and connections that we may otherwise miss

• Everyone can add to it and use it to explain their particular interests or perspectives

• It can be a non-threatening and humorous way of illustrating different perspectives and conflicts

Group exercise:

Capture the ecological characteristics of wetlands/aquatic ecosystems (in Myanmar) in a

rich picture


2. ecosystem functions and services

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Linking ecosystems to human well-being De Groot et al. 2010 (TEEB D0-Chapter 1); adapted from Haines-Young & Potschin 2009


Ecosystem functions:• the capacity of natural processes and components to

provide goods and services that satisfy human needs, directly or indirectly (de Groot 1992)

• ecosystem functions are the result of interactions among characteristics, structure and processes (Maltby 1996)

Ecosystem services:• the benefits people obtain from an ecosystem (MEA 2003)

Functions and services


Ecosystem services (MEA 2003)

Provisioninggoods produced or provided by ecosystems

Regulatingbenefits obtained from regulation of ecosystem

processes

Culturalnon-material

benefits obtained from

ecosystems

Supportingthose that are necessary for the

production of all other ecosystem services

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Provisioning services

Goods produced or provided by ecosystems:– fresh water– food– fibre– fuel– genetic resources– biochemicals– natural medicines and pharmaceuticals


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Regulating services

Benefits obtained from regulation of ecosystem processes:– erosion regulation– water purification– waste regulation– air quality regulation– climate regulation– natural hazard regulation (e.g. droughts, floods,

storms)


Cultural services

Non-material benefits obtained from ecosystems:– spiritual and religious values– knowledge systems – educational values– inspiration– aesthetic values– sense of place– recreation and ecotourism


Supporting services

Those that are necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services:– primary production– nutrient cycling– water cycling


Group exercise:

List ecosystem services according to these categories for aquatic ecosystems and wetlands in Myanmar:

• provisioning• regulating• cultural• supporting


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EFSinIWRM-MRM_Ecosystems 33

Ecosystem services provided by aquatic ecosystems/wetlands in Myanmar

provisioning regulating cultural supporting

• fish• rice

• water purification

• water storage• climate

regulation• flood protection• agro forest

regulation• greenhouse gas

regulation• river buffer

zone

• knowledge• recreation• ecotourism• aesthetic value

• carbon storage• hydrological

cycle• nutrient cycle

Linking ecosystems to human well-being De Groot et al. 2010 (TEEB D0-Chapter 1); adapted from Haines-Young & Potschin 2009


Functions of wetland ecosystems (Maltby (2009)

Three categories of ecosystem functions:• Hydrological functions

– floodwater detention, groundwater recharge/discharge, sediment retention

• Biogeochemical functions– nutrient retention, nutrient export, carbon retention,

trace element storage/export, organic carbon control• Ecological functions

– ecosystem maintenance, foodweb support


Hydrological wetland ecosystem functions


Function Benefit

Floodwaterdetention

Floodwater detention decreases peak flow in rivers, reducing flood damage downstream.Provides wildlife habitat especially important for fisheries support.

Groundwaterrecharge

Replenishment of groundwater resources.Maintenance of dependent ecosystems indischarge areas.Maintenance of baseflow in rivers fed by discharge elsewhere.

Groundwater discharge

Emergence at springs or seepage zones.Maintenance of river base flow. Maintenance of ecosystems dependent on soil-water regimes

Sediment retention

Improvement of river water quality due to the reduced input of suspended sediments and associated sediment nutrients.

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Biogechemical wetland ecosystem functions


Function Process Benefit

Nutrient retention

• Long-term retention of nutrients (N and P) through plant uptake.

• Storage of nutrients (N and P) in soil organic matter.

• Adsorption of N as ammonium.• Adsorption and precipitation of P

in the soil.• Retention of particulate nutrients

(N and P).

• Retaining or delaying the release of nutrients (N and P) into water bodies may prevent potentially deleterious effects on water courses.

• Eutrophication changes the ecosystem composition and character and adversely affects potable water quality.

Nutrient export

• Gaseous export of N by denitrification and ammonia volatilization.

• Export of nutrients through vegetation management.

• Export of nutrients via wind-and water-mediated processes.

• In addition to gaseous removal of N, nutrients may also be exported at varying rates from the system due to remobilization and delayed transportation.

Biogeochemical wetland ecosystem functions



In-situ carbon retention

• Organic matter accumulation.

• Carbon may be stored for long periods, often as peat, mitigating acceleration of climate change. Peat supports rare and valuable biological communities. Peat can be used as a fuel, a growth medium and a source of pharmaceuticals (maybe not sustainable).

Trace element storage

• Physical retention of trace elements.

• Biogeochemical retention of trace elements.

• Improvement of river water quality due to the reduction of suspended or dissolved trace element loads. Trace element loads can have toxic effects on the stream ecosystem. Prevention of groundwater contamination and uncontrolled translocation of trace elements within the river marginal wetland.

Biogeochemical wetland ecosystem functions



Trace element export

• Plant uptake of trace elements.

• Physical remobilization of trace elements.

• Biogeochemical remobilization of trace elements.

• When soil/sediment storage capacity is exceeded, there can be consequent risks for food production through remobilization by plant uptake.

• Possibility of controlled removal of trace elements, but danger of toxic effects on plants and recontamination of river water or groundwater.

Organic carbon concentration control

• Organic carbon export into surface waters.

• Wetlands strongly influence the concentration of dissolved organic carbon in run-off water, key features of water quality and the aquatic ecosystem in areas with DOC-rich water (over 5 mg L-1DOC).

Ecological wetland ecosystem functions



Ecosystem maintenance

• Provision of overall habitat structural diversity.

• Provision of micro-sites for macroinvertebrates, fish, herptiles, birds, mammals.

• Physical, chemical, biological processes contribute to provision of unique habitats supporting a variety of adapted organisms. Contributes to global biodiversity and supports recreation and quality of life.

Food-web support

• Provision of plant and habitat diversity.

• Biomass production.• Biomass import via physical

processes (water courses, overland flow, wind transport).

• Biomass import via biological processes (via fauna, anthropogenic means).

• Biomass export via physical and biological processes.

• The food web of the ecosystem may be supported by biomass production on-site or by detritus and/or organisms externally transported into the system. Production of biomass can also be responsible for supporting food webs at other sites.

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3. drivers of change

Drivers of change in ecosystems/DPSIR

Why study drivers?To understand what is happening in the ecosystem:• how are changes in the ecosystem affected by

drivers? E.g. changes in functions, services• for making decisions about interventions to

enhance positive, minimize negative impact• policy• management


Drivers of change: definitions

A driver:• any natural or human-induced factor that directly

or indirectly causes a change in an ecosystemdirect driver:• influences ecosystem processes directly and can be

identified and measuredindirect driver:• has a diffuse effect on the ecosystem or causes

change in direct drivers


Direct drivers of change in ecosystems

List some direct drivers of change for your wetlands

Human-induced drivers Natural drivers


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Direct drivers of change in ecosystems


Human-induced drivers Natural drivers

• Changes in local land use and cover

• Species introduction or removal• Technology adaptation and use

• External inputs (agriculture!)• Harvest and resource

consumption• Climate change• Fires

• Solar radiation• Climate variability• Weather events (floods,

hurricanes)

• Fires• Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes• Pests and diseases

direct drivers mostly have physical, chemical or biological effects

Indirect drivers of change in ecosystems

List some indirect drivers of change for your wetlands


Indirect drivers of change in ecosystems

• population growth• global trade• consumption levels• communication technology• tourism• governance• education• cultural factors


indirect drivers mostly have demographic, economic, socio-political, scientific, technological,

cultural or religious characters

DPSIR• Driving forces are the natural and social processes which are the

underlying causes/origins of pressures on the environment• Pressures are outcomes of the driving forces, which influence

the current/future environmental state• State describes physical, chemical or biological phenomena in

the system; reflects the condition of the environment. E.g. air, water, soil quality. Pressures cause changes of State (e.g. decreased water levels, eutrophication)

• Impact describes the ultimate effects of changes of state on population, economy or ecosystem in terms of damage (or benefit) caused to ecosystem functions and services. E.g. biodiversity loss, reduced flood regulation capacity, lower yields, etc

• Responses demonstrate the efforts of society (e.g. politicians, decision makers) to solve the problems in the system. E.g. policy or management measures


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Group exercise: fill in: A, B, C, D and 1, 2, 3, 4for a wetland/aquatic ecosystem in Myanmar


Documents

EFSinIWRM-MRM 2-Ecosystems...economic, socio-political, scientific, technological, cultural or religious characters DPSIR • Driving forces are the natural and social processes which