2.2 Ecosystem Services in Urban Neighbourhoods (With Slides)

Urban

Neighbourhoods

as ECOSYSTEMS

WHAT ARE ECOSYSTEMS?

WHAT ARE ECOSYSTEMS?

URBAN NEIGHBOURHOODS AS ECOSYSTEMS

Living communities and the non-living environment

interacting with one another

● Ecosystems vary in size
● Every aspect in the ecosystems depends on each other

(directly or indirectly)

● Activities carried out by people may directly and/or

indirectly change the ecosystem in both + and - ways

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a component of the living environment?

• Rocks

• Water

• Insects

• Sunlight

Multiple Choice

What is an ecosystem?

• A collection of living organisms only

• A collection of non-living components only

• A dynamic complex of living communities and the non-living environment interacting as a functional unit

• A geographic area with only plants, animals, and microorganisms

URBAN NEIGHBOURHOODS AS ECOSYSTEMS

Aquatic ecosystems in neighbourhoods including ponds

and lakes

Multiple Choice

Which term is related to water bodies such as rivers and lakes?

• Aquatic

• Terrestrial

• Biotic

• Abiotic

URBAN NEIGHBOURHOODS AS ECOSYSTEMS

Terrestrial ecosystems in neighbourhoods including

parks and forests

URBAN NEIGHBOURHOODS AS ECOSYSTEMS

Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park

●

Conversion of man-made
concrete canal into a
naturalised river

●

More organisms in the
river ecosystem

●

Brought wildlife back into
park

●

Enhancing biodiversity

URBAN NEIGHBOURHOODS AS ECOSYSTEMS

Multiple Choice

Why are urban neighbourhoods considered ecosystems?

• Because they have a dynamic interaction between living communities and the non-living environment, including people

• Because they contain only non-living components

• Because they contain only living organisms

• Because they only have human-made structures

Multiple Choice

What was the impact of transforming a concrete canal into a naturalized river in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park?

• It enhanced the neighbourhood's biodiversity and allowed more organisms to thrive

• It increased pollution in the park

• It reduced the biodiversity in the park

• It decreased the number of organisms in the aquatic ecosystem

WHAT ARE ECOSYSTEMS SERVICES?

Benefits brought about by nature to people

● Services are produced by the living communities and

non-living environment of ecosystems

● Critical to our survival
● Benefits optimised when the natural environment is

healthy and thriving

WHAT ARE ECOSYSTEMS SERVICES?

Multiple Choice

What are the four categories of ecosystem services?

• Provisioning, Regulating, Cultural, Supporting

• Provisioning, Reproducing, Cultural, Supporting

• Producing, Regulating, Cultural, Sustaining

• Provisioning, Regulating, Conservation, Supporting

Multiple Choice

Which ecosystem service category includes tangible resources like food, water, and wood?

• Provisioning

• Regulating

• Cultural

• Supporting

PROVISIONING SERVICES

Fresh water and Food

● Refer to tangible resources that people can get from

ecosystems

● E.g. Food, water and wood
● Can be obtained through means such as agricultural

activities and fisheries

PROVISIONING SERVICES

PROVISIONING SERVICES

Multiple Choice

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

• Food obtained from agricultural activities

• Flood regulation

• Air quality control

• Recreation

Multiple Choice

What are provisioning ecosystem services?

• Tangible resources that people can get from ecosystems such as food, water, and wood

• Benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes

• Non-material benefits people obtain from ecosystems

• Services necessary for the functioning of all other ecosystem services

REGULATING SERVICES

Microclimate regulation, flood mitigation, air and

water quality control

● Refer to the benefits obtained from the regulation of

various ecosystem processes

● These processes work together to ensure that the

ecosystems are functional, clean, sustainable and resilient
to changes

REGULATING SERVICES - CLIMATE

● Trees in a park can lower surface and air temperatures by

providing shade to residents

● Forests can help cool areas by generating rainfall

REGULATING SERVICES - WATER

● Vegetation cover can reduce surface runoff by retaining

water in the soil (Water flow regulation)

● A key service provided by natural land cover

REGULATING SERVICES - AIR

● Trees or plants can regulate air quality by removing

pollutants from the atmosphere

Multiple Choice

What are regulating ecosystem services?

• Benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes

• Tangible resources that people can get from ecosystems

• Non-material benefits people obtain from ecosystems

• Services necessary for the functioning of all other ecosystem services

Multiple Choice

In an urban neighbourhood, regulating ecosystem services can include:

• Microclimate regulation, flood mitigation, and air quality control

• Food production, water supply, and wood provision

• Aesthetic experiences, education, and recreation

• Soil formation, pollination, and photosynthesis

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a regulating ecosystem service?

• Soil formation

• Climate regulation

• Disease outbreak regulation

• Flood regulation

Multiple Choice

How do trees in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park help regulate the local climate?

• By providing shade and lowering surface and air temperatures

• By generating rainfall

• By increasing surface runoff

• By removing pollutants from the atmosphere

Multiple Choice

How does vegetation cover in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park contribute to water flow regulation?

• By retaining water in the soil and reducing surface runoff

• By increasing surface runoff

• By removing pollutants from the atmosphere

• By generating rainfall

CULTURAL SERVICES

Aesthetics, education and recreation

● Intangible benefits people obtain from ecosystems
● E.g. aesthetic experiences, educational opportunities,

recreational activities

● Green spaces provide stress-relieving activities in an

urban environment

CULTURAL SERVICES

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve vs Rooftop Gardens

Same same?

Multiple Choice

What are cultural ecosystem services?

• Intangible benefits people obtain from ecosystems, including aesthetic experiences, educational opportunities, and recreational activities

• Tangible resources that people can get from ecosystems

• Benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes

• Services necessary for the functioning of all other ecosystem services

Multiple Choice

How do cultural ecosystem services contribute to people's well-being?

• By improving physical and mental health, fostering social belonging, and strengthening a sense of place

• By providing tangible resources

• By regulating ecosystem processes

• By supporting the functioning of all other ecosystem services

Multiple Choice

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

• Aesthetic experiences

• Flood regulation

• Food production

• Soil formation

SUPPORTING SERVICES

SUPPORTING SERVICES

Soil formation, pollination and photosynthesis

● Refer to services that are necessary for the functioning of

all other ecosystem services

● E.g. Soil formation, pollination, photosynthesis
● Soil is essential for health of all terrestrial ecosystems as it

provides a habitat for billions of organisms, contributes to
biodiversity and acts as a water filter

Multiple Choice

What are supporting ecosystem services?

• Services necessary for the functioning of all other ecosystem services

• Tangible resources that people can get from ecosystems

• Benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes

• Intangible benefits people obtain from ecosystems

Multiple Choice

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

• Soil formation

• Climate regulation

• Recreation

• Water supply

Multiple Choice

Why is soil formation important for terrestrial ecosystems?

• It provides a habitat for billions of organisms, contributes to biodiversity, and acts as a water filter

• It regulates the local climate and generates rainfall

• It allows for aesthetic experiences and recreational activities

• It directly provides food, water, and wood for human use

Multiple Choice

What is the role of wild bees in urban neighbourhoods?

• They play a significant role in crop pollination, ensuring reproduction of crops for food

• They help regulate air quality

• They provide aesthetic experiences and recreational activities

• They support the functioning of all other ecosystem services