Linking network ecology and ecosystem services to benefit people

Abstract

Ecosystems are rapidly degraded by anthropogenic pressures, affecting the provision of ecosystem services. Therefore, it is increasingly important that we can quantify and manage ecosystem services to maintain human well-being. Many ecosystem services are underpinned by ecosystem functions and processes that are driven by interspecific ecological interactions. Humans then benefit from ecosystem services through socio-ecological interactions. Therefore, interaction network approaches can provide a unique understanding of ecosystem service flows. In this paper, we assess the current interface between network ecology and ecosystem services, before exploring how work linking these two fields could be enhanced. We emphasise the value of network approaches and explore network methods to improve the assessment and management of ecosystem services. Within this, we highlight the role of local and indigenous knowledge in operationalising network approaches in a useful ecosystem service context. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.