Ecosystem Services: Nature's Benefits to Humans

Question 1

The process by which plants convert carbon dioxide into organic compounds is known as:

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Answer

Transpiration

Answer

Decomposition

Question 2

Which of the following is a defining characteristic of an ecosystem service?

Accepted Answer

Benefits humans derive from nature

Answer

Environmental processes

Answer

Economic activities

Answer

Government regulations

Question 3

Which of the following is a direct benefit of clean air?

Accepted Answer

Reduced respiratory illnesses

Answer

Increased agricultural productivity

Answer

Enhanced water quality

Answer

Improved mental well-being

Question 4

Which of the following activities contributes to carbon sequestration?

Accepted Answer

Planting trees

Answer

Burning fossil fuels

Answer

Clearing forests

Answer

Draining wetlands

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT an established category of ecosystem services?

Accepted Answer

Oxidizing services

Answer

Provisioning services

Answer

Regulating services

Answer

Cultural services

Question 6

What is the primary role of carbon sequestration in mitigating climate change?

Accepted Answer

Absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

Answer

Releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

Answer

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Answer

Increasing global temperatures

Question 7

Which of the following is an example of a cultural ecosystem service?

Accepted Answer

Hiking opportunities

Answer

Water filtration

Answer

Crop pollination

Answer

Soil erosion control

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a recognized ecosystem service?

Accepted Answer

Oil extraction

Answer

Clean air

Answer

Pollination

Answer

Carbon capture

Question 9

Which of the following activities poses a significant threat to ecosystem services?

Accepted Answer

Deforestation

Answer

Water conservation

Answer

Renewable energy development

Answer

Sustainable agriculture

Question 10

Which ecosystem service is crucial for sustaining human life?

Accepted Answer

Food production

Answer

Carbon storage

Answer

Recreational opportunities

Answer

Pest control

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT an ecosystem service provided by forests?

Accepted Answer

Release of greenhouse gases

Answer

Provision of timber and wood products

Answer

Air purification

Answer

Water filtration and purification

Question 12

What is the primary role of pollinators in ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Pollination of plants, enabling reproduction

Answer

Seed dispersal

Answer

Nutrient cycling

Answer

Decomposition of organic matter

Question 13

What is the significance of carbon sequestration in mitigating climate change?

Accepted Answer

Reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, contributing to climate change mitigation

Answer

Enhances soil fertility and supports plant growth

Answer

Supports biodiversity and provides habitat for wildlife

Answer

Improves air quality by removing pollutants

Question 14

How does the concept of 'ecosystem services' differ from traditional ecological concepts?

Accepted Answer

Emphasizes the benefits and value of ecosystems to humans

Answer

Focuses primarily on individual species interactions and population dynamics

Answer

Values ecosystems solely based on their monetary worth

Answer

Rejects the intrinsic value of nature, viewing ecosystems only as resources for human use

Question 15

Which of the following sectors is most directly affected by changes in water quality and availability?

Accepted Answer

Agriculture, which relies heavily on water for irrigation

Answer

Manufacturing, which uses water in industrial processes

Answer

Healthcare, as water quality impacts public health

Answer

Education, as water is essential for sanitation and hygiene

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a vital ecosystem service provided by wetlands?

Accepted Answer

Tourism and recreation

Answer

Flood control

Answer

Water filtration

Answer

Carbon storage

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a recognized component of ecosystem valuation?

Accepted Answer

Ethical value

Answer

Direct use value

Answer

Indirect use value

Answer

Existence value

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of a non-material or intangible benefit provided by ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Spiritual fulfillment

Answer

Food production

Answer

Climate regulation

Answer

Water purification

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT considered an ecosystem service, which are benefits derived from natural ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Production of manufactured goods

Answer

Climate regulation

Answer

Water filtration

Answer

Carbon sequestration

Question 20

What ecosystem service is crucial for human survival but often overlooked?

Accepted Answer

Oxygen production

Answer

Pollination

Answer

Recreation

Answer

Biodiversity

Question 21

Is it true that the loss of biodiversity, which refers to the variety of life forms, can lead to a decrease in ecosystem services?

Accepted Answer

True

Answer

False

Question 22

Which of the following is an example of a cultural ecosystem service, which provides non-material benefits to humans?

Accepted Answer

Spiritual enrichment

Answer

Erosion control

Answer

Water filtration

Answer

Pollination

Question 23

Which sector of the economy relies most heavily on ecosystem services?

Accepted Answer

Agriculture

Answer

Manufacturing

Answer

Services

Answer

Transportation

Question 24

Is it correct to say that the idea of ecosystem services is relatively recent, having only been recognized in the past few decades?

Accepted Answer

False

Answer

True

Question 25

Which ecosystem service is crucial for maintaining Earth's atmospheric balance?

Accepted Answer

Climate regulation

Answer

Water purification

Answer

Nutrient cycling

Answer

Food production

Question 26

Which ecosystem service plays a crucial role in regulating Earth's temperature?

Accepted Answer

Climate regulation

Answer

Pollination

Answer

Water purification

Answer

Nutrient cycling

Question 27

Identify a specific ecosystem service and explain how its absence or degradation would negatively impact human society.

Accepted Answer

Describe the tangible benefits of pollination by insects and explain how its loss would affect agriculture.

Accepted Answer

Discuss the role of forests in providing clean air and water, and explain how deforestation can harm human health.

Accepted Answer

Explain how wetlands contribute to flood control and water purification, and discuss the consequences of wetland degradation.

Accepted Answer

Describe the role of oceans in regulating Earth's climate, and explain how ocean acidification can harm marine life and coastal communities.

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT considered an ecosystem service?

Accepted Answer

Gold mining

Answer

Water purification

Answer

Erosion control

Answer

Pollination

Question 29

What is the primary benefit of carbon sequestration?

Accepted Answer

Removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, mitigating climate change

Answer

Cleans water

Answer

Protects against erosion

Answer

Provides habitat for wildlife

Question 30

In what ways do ecosystem services contribute to human well-being?

Accepted Answer

Provide essential resources like clean air, water, and food, regulate climate and support economic activities

Answer

Increase economic growth solely

Answer

Reduce crime rates

Question 31

Which economic sector relies most heavily on ecosystem services?

Accepted Answer

Agriculture

Answer

Manufacturing

Answer

Finance

Question 32

Which method is commonly used to assign monetary values to ecosystem services?

Accepted Answer

Contingent valuation method

Answer

Gross domestic product

Answer

Time series analysis

Answer

Regression analysis

Question 33

How does conservation play a role in preserving ecosystem services?

Accepted Answer

Protects habitats, reduces pollution, and promotes sustainable practices

Answer

Increases tourism revenue

Answer

Promotes urban development

Answer

Provides alternative sources of income for local communities only

Question 34

Which of the following represents a market-based mechanism for protecting ecosystem services?

Accepted Answer

Payment for ecosystem services

Answer

Environmental regulation

Answer

National park designation

Answer

Public education campaign

Question 35

What are potential limitations of relying on market mechanisms to protect ecosystem services?

Accepted Answer

May fail to account for all benefits, can lead to inequitable distribution, and face challenges in implementation

Answer

They are not effective in protecting ecosystem services

Answer

They are prohibitively expensive to implement

Question 36

Which ecosystem service is essential for maintaining the balance of Earth's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

Carbon sequestration

Answer

Erosion control

Answer

Pollination

Answer

Water purification

Question 37

Which of the following is an example of a provisioning ecosystem service?

Accepted Answer

Provision of food

Answer

Climate regulation

Answer

Water purification

Question 38

Which ecosystem service is indispensable for human health and well-being?

Accepted Answer

Disease regulation

Answer

Energy production

Answer

Mineral extraction

Question 39

Which of the following is an example of a cultural ecosystem service?

Accepted Answer

Recreational opportunities

Answer

Water purification

Answer

Food production

Answer

Climate regulation

Question 40

Which organization has played a leading role in advocating for the concept of ecosystem services?

Accepted Answer

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

Answer

The United Nations Environment Programme

Answer

The World Bank

Question 41

Which of the following is NOT an example of an ecosystem service?

Accepted Answer

Economic profit

Answer

Pollination

Answer

Carbon sequestration

Answer

Clean air

Question 42

Which of the following is a threat to ecosystem services?

Accepted Answer

Pollution

Answer

Conservation efforts

Answer

Renewable energy

Answer

Sustainable practices

Question 43

Which ecosystem service is provided by plants?

Accepted Answer

Oxygen production

Answer

Water filtration

Answer

Nutrient cycling

Question 44

What is the economic value of ecosystem services estimated to be globally?

Accepted Answer

Trillions of dollars

Answer

Billions of dollars

Answer

Millions of dollars

Question 45

Which of the following is a benefit of conserving ecosystem services?

Accepted Answer

Improved human health

Answer

Loss of biodiversity

Answer

Reduced economic growth

Answer

Increased pollution

Question 46

What is the role of biodiversity in the provision of ecosystem services?

Accepted Answer

Increases resilience and stability

Answer

Eliminates the need for conservation efforts

Answer

Reduces the cost of ecosystem restoration

Answer

Decreases the need for human intervention

Question 47

Which of the following is an example of a sustainable practice that supports ecosystem services?

Accepted Answer

Planting native species

Answer

Overfishing

Answer

Using pesticides

Answer

Clear-cutting forests

Question 48

What is the concept of valuing ecosystem services known as?

Accepted Answer

Natural capital accounting

Answer

Ecological footprinting

Answer

Ecosystem economics

Answer

Environmental assessment

Question 49

Which of the following is a challenge in managing ecosystem services?

Accepted Answer

Lack of scientific understanding

Answer

Advanced technological capabilities

Answer

Strong public support

Answer

Abundance of funding

Question 50

What is the ultimate goal of ecosystem service management?

Accepted Answer

To ensure the sustainability of both ecosystems and human well-being

Answer

To eradicate all threats to ecosystems

Answer

To maximize economic profit