Population Abundance and Ecosystem Service Provision: The Case of Birds.

ABSTRACT: Although there is a diversity of concerns about recent persistent declines in the abundances of many species, the implications for the associated delivery of ecosystem services to people are surprisingly poorly understood. In principle, there are a broad range of potential functional relationships between the abundance of a species or group of species and the magnitude of ecosystem-service provision. Here, we identify the forms these relationships are most likely to take. Focusing on the case of birds, we review the empirical evidence for these functional relationships, with examples of supporting, regulating, and cultural services. Positive relationships between abundance and ecosystem-service provision are the norm (although seldom linear), we found no evidence for hump-shaped relationsh

SUBMITTER: Gaston KJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5905662 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature