7.1.5—Ecosystem services
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Objective
- 7.1.5
- Level
- HL
See the Process Behind the Service
An ecosystem service is a life-supporting benefit generated by ecological structure and process.
| Service | Ecological mechanism | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Water replenishment | infiltration and storage in soil, wetlands or aquifers | more reliable freshwater |
| Flood and erosion protection | vegetation slows runoff and roots bind soil | lower downstream damage and soil loss |
| Pollution mitigation | reed-bed buffer zones take up or trap inorganic nutrients | cleaner water |
| Carbon sequestration | photosynthesis stores carbon in biomass and soil | reduced atmospheric CO2 pressure |
Damaging the habitat can weaken several services together because they share soil, vegetation, water and biological processes.
Trace ecosystem structure → process → service → beneficiary, then identify the pressure that could interrupt the chain.
Listing a benefit without its ecological mechanism cannot explain vulnerability or management.