Broadening the narratives of ecosystem services: Assessing the perceived services from nature and services to nature

Ecosystem services are often conceptualised as a unidirectional flow of services from nature (S_fN) to societies, neglecting services provided by societies to nature (S_tN). Using respondents from four Ga/Dangme communities in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, this study sought to develop a scale for measuring the dimensions of perceived S_tN and S_fN, assess the interactional effects between them and determine the changes they have undergone over time. Results showed that from 1987 to 2018, the services provided by the Ga/Dangme to nature were predominantly restoring services (through nature-rejuvenating activities like planting and pruning) and protecting services (via safeguarding measures such as taboos and prohibitions) while they received provisioning (food, water, fuel) and cultural services (which satisfy non-material needs including identity and spirituality) from nature. The study found a symbiotic relationship between S_tN and S_fN as provisioning services had a positive interactional effect on cultural and restoring services and a negative effect on protecting services. Cultural services, as well, positively influenced protecting and restoring services. The main determinants of S_tN and S_fN were the level of vegetation cover, the land cover type and the belief that nature is an abode for numinous beings. The effects of the socio-demographic characteristics of respondents on S_tN and S_fN and were marginal. We recommend that to ensure environmental sustainability, environmentalists should concentrate on cultural services that improve restoring and protecting services. Thus, traditional beliefs need to be contextualised and organised for transfer to younger generations through cultural channels.     

昆虫的生态服务功能

昆虫作为生物多样性最丰富的物种,在传粉、生物控制、物质分解与资源供给等方面发挥着重要作用。昆虫生态服务功能是指昆虫类群在生态系统过程中发挥的功能作用,以及为人类提供的各种收益,包括有形收益的产品和无形收益的服务。它主要包括昆虫的供给服务、调节服务、文化服务和支持服务4种服务类型,体现在直接使用价值、间接使用价值、条件价值和存在价值4个方面。基于昆虫类群在传粉、生物控制、物质分解与资源供给等维持生态系统功能、满足人类需求做出重大的贡献,本文阐述了昆虫生态服务功能概念、类型,讨论了昆虫生态服务功能价值的评估方法,提出了未来发展的方向。     

MENTAL health services

In the diagnosis of congenital heart disease, the cardiologist was formerly concerned with distinguishing the operable from the inoperable cases. With the development of "open" heart operations under hypothermia and extracorporeal circulation, the majority of congenital heart lesions have become correctable. It is now necessary to make an exact anatomic diagnosis preoperatively. The present discussion reviews the diagnostic methods employed by the cardiac team in investigating a patient with congenital heart disease.