Which statement describes ecosystem services and their relation to pollution and habitat loss?

• A. Ecosystem services are benefits such as food, water purification, flood control, and pollination; pollution and habitat loss degrade these services
• B. Ecosystem services are only aesthetic and have no economic value
• C. Ecosystem services are unaffected by pollution
• D. Ecosystem services refer only to recreational opportunities

Answer: (A)

Ecosystem services are the benefits people obtain from ecosystems, including provisioning goods like food and water, regulating functions such as flood control and water purification, supporting processes like pollination and nutrient cycling, and cultural values like recreation and aesthetics. Pollution and habitat loss undermine these services by harming the living components and the processes that deliver them. For example, polluted water reduces an ecosystem’s ability to filter contaminants, and habitat loss can diminish pollinator populations and the capacity of landscapes to moderate floods. This is why the statement that links ecosystem services to both pollution and habitat loss—recognizing a broad range of benefits and their vulnerability to damage—is the best choice. The other options misstate the scope or persistence of ecosystem services, suggesting they’re only aesthetic, unaffected by pollution, or limited to recreation.