Examples of Supporting Services: Soil Formation, Nutrient Cycling, and Biodiversity

Pollination is a regulating service provided by ecosystems, while soil formation, nutrient cycling, and biodiversity are all supporting services.

Weathering is the process of breaking down rocks and minerals into smaller particles, which eventually leads to the formation of soil.

Nutrient cycling, biogeochemical cycling, and ecological cycling all refer to the same process: the movement of nutrients between living organisms and the environment.

Photosynthesis is a process by which plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. It is not a component of nutrient cycling.

Biodiversity encompasses the variety of life on Earth, the number of different species, and the genetic diversity within a species.

Reduced risk of disease outbreaks is not a benefit of biodiversity, but rather a benefit of ecosystem services provided by biodiversity.

Nitrogen fixation is the process by which nitrogen gas from the atmosphere is converted into a form that can be used by plants.

Ecosystem diversity is not a type of biodiversity, but rather a measure of the variety of ecosystems in a given area.

Decomposition is the process by which organic matter is broken down into simpler substances by microorganisms.

Climate regulation is a regulating service provided by biodiversity, while soil formation, nutrient cycling, and pollination are all supporting services.

Nitrification is the process by which nitrogen-containing compounds are converted into nitrates.

Increased biodiversity is not a benefit of soil formation, but rather a benefit of ecosystem services provided by soil formation.

Denitrification is the process by which nitrates are converted back into nitrogen gas.

Water purification is a regulating service provided by ecosystems, while soil formation, nutrient cycling, and biodiversity are all supporting services.

Nitrification is the process by which ammonia is converted into nitrates.