Ecological Processes, Functions and Ecosystem Services: Inextricable Linkages between Wetlands and Agricultural Systems

This chapter documents the relationship between biological diversity, ecosystem function and service within agricultural systems. To guide the discussion, it focuses on the interdependencies between agricultural production and the ecosystem services provided by freshwater wetlands and the impacts agricultural systems can have on the health and functioning of wetlands. The focus is on wetlands because they are biologically complex yet relatively well understood, and critical to the provision of freshwater for agricultural use and human benefit. In the chapter, ecosystem function and its linkages with ecosystem services are established. The ecological functions and subsequent ecosystem services generated by wetlands are defined and their interactions with agricultural systems are discussed in detail. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the research challenges involved in managing complexity, resilience and trade-offs between ecosystem services and agriculture.