Regulating services are the benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes. Unlike provisioning services, they are indirect benefits — the ‘work’ that ecosystems do behind the scenes to keep conditions suitable for life.
Ecosystems play a critical role in moderating Earth’s climate:
Plants absorb $CO_2$ during photosynthesis:
$$6CO_2 + 6H_2O \xrightarrow{\text{light}} C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2$$
Forests, peatlands and ocean phytoplankton are the primary carbon stores:
- Tropical forests store approximately 40% of terrestrial carbon
- Peatlands cover only 3% of land surface but store twice as much carbon as all forests combined
- Destruction of these systems releases stored carbon, accelerating climate change
Biodiverse ecosystems can suppress the transmission of infectious diseases through the dilution effect:
- High species diversity means pathogens are ‘diluted’ among many host species, reducing transmission to any single host
- Loss of biodiversity can increase disease transmission — deforestation has been linked to increases in malaria, Lyme disease and Ebola outbreaks
- Predators and competitors regulate populations of disease vectors (mosquitoes, rodents)
Example: In forests with high bird diversity, West Nile virus transmission is lower because the virus spreads among many non-competent hosts rather than concentrating in a few competent reservoir species.
Pollination is one of the most economically important regulating services:
Victorian example: Australia’s native bee diversity (over 1,700 species) provides pollination services for both agriculture and natural ecosystems, but is threatened by land clearing and pesticide use.
Ecosystems filter and cleanse water through multiple processes:
| Mechanism | Description |
|---|---|
| Biological filtration | Wetland plants and microbes absorb excess nutrients (N, P) |
| Physical filtration | Roots and soil trap sediments |
| Chemical transformation | Soil bacteria convert toxic nitrates to nitrogen gas (denitrification) |
| Pathogens | UV exposure and predation in open water reduce bacterial loads |
Example: Constructed wetlands are used globally to treat agricultural runoff and secondary sewage effluent, reducing costs compared to engineered water treatment systems.
When regulating services are degraded:
- Climate regulation declines → stronger warming feedback
- Disease control fails → increased outbreaks
- Pollination decreases → food production costs rise
- Water purification is lost → human health risks increase, treatment costs escalate
COMMON MISTAKE: Students often confuse provisioning and regulating services. Remember: provisioning services supply products (things you can hold or consume); regulating services supply processes (things ecosystems do to maintain conditions).
