I've always had difficulty understanding how a static measure (such as biodiversity, or even something like biomass) can be called a function. This is partly just a semantic issue, but largely a real issue as well.
Casey -- Casey terHorst Department of Biological Science CON 115 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 32306 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Quoting Fabrice De Clerck <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > I have a quick question for the listserve for which I would be > interested in hearing people's opinions, and experiences. > > The question is: Is biodiversity an ecosystem service? > > Those of us that work in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning > studies typically regard biodiversity at the provider of services and > functions. Tilman's biodiversity and productiity, the biodiversity > and stability work, biodiversity and pollination (Klein), > biodiversity and pest control (Perfecto). > > Meanwhile in much of the development and economics literature, > biodiversity itself is a unique service and function where it is not > uncommon to see people state that "we will work with farmers to > improve the capacity of coffee farms to provide critical ecosystem > services such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity and water." > > Are both correct or is it important to distinguish between > biodiversity serving as a function, and biodiversity as the provider > of services. > > All comments are welcome on- or off the listserve. > > Cheers, > Fabrice > > ***************************************************** > Fabrice De Clerck PhD > > Landscape Ecologist/Ecologo de Paisaje > Dept. Agricultura y Agroforesteria > CATIE 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica > Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Phone: (506) 558-2596 > Fax: (506) 558-2046 > Web: www.catie.ac.cr > > Adjunct Associate > Tropical Agriculture Program > The Earth Institute at Columbia University > Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Skype: fadeclerck > Web:www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/mvp/ > ******************************************************* > "Everything not given is lost" >
