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Water flow regulation services

Baseline flow maintenance services are the ecosystem contributions to the regulation of river flows and groundwater and lake water tables. They are derived from the ability of ecosystems to absorb and store water, and gradually release water during dry seasons or periods through evapotranspiration and hence secure a regular flow of water. This may be recorded as a final or intermediate ecosystem service. Peak flow mitigation services are the ecosystem contributions to the regulation of river flows and groundwater and lake water tables. They are derived from the ability of ecosystems to absorb and store water, and hence mitigate the effects of flood and other extreme water-related events. Peak flow mitigation services will be supplied together with river flood mitigation services in providing the benefit of flood protection. This is a final ecosystem service.

Benefits:

Clean water

Ecosystem service:

Natural capital:

Atmosphere
Structural and biotic integrity
Land geomorphology
Water

Likely response	Effect of variability on services provision	Human action or natural variation	Timescale	Spatial Characteristics
			Long term	Local to regional - the areas where wildfires occur
			Short term	Local to regional - impacts can be in the immediate vicinity but also can affect neighboring regions/countries

Likely response	Effect of variability on services provision	Human action or natural variation	Timescale	Spatial Characteristics
			Short - Long term	Local to global - local areas and regions differ in their emission of greenhouse gas emissions, however this form of pollution acts on a global scale
			Short - Long term	Local to global - emissions often occur locally, but atmospheric lifetimes are long enough for them to be transported across continents
			Short - Long term	Local to global - impacts can be observed ranging from local to global level

Likely response	Effect of variability on services provision	Human action or natural variation	Timescale	Spatial Characteristics
			Mid - Long term	Local - impacts can have local cooling and warming atmospheric effect
			Long term	Local to global - climate is changing on a global level, with some regions experiencing more rapid and/or intensive changes in weather than others
			Short - Long term	Regional to global - impacts are mostly observed at large regional levels but can also be global

Likely response	Effect of variability on services provision	Human action or natural variation	Timescale	Spatial Characteristics
			Short - Long term	Local - areas where terrestrial ecosystems are being used will be most impacted.
			Short - Long term	Local - areas where invasive species occur can act as fire agents that affecting the local area

Likely response	Effect of variability on services provision	Human action or natural variation	Timescale	Spatial Characteristics
			Mid - Long term	Local - impacts can negatively affect migratory species
			Short - Long term	Local to regional - impacts can be local but also further downstream.

Water flow regulation services

Benefits:

Ecosystem service:

Natural capital:

Ecosystem components and types:

Mechanisms of change in state:

Changes in Ocean current and circulation

Droughts

Fires

Pollutants concentration change

Volcanoes

Weather conditions

Mechanisms of change in state:

Change in species composition

Change in species population size

Droughts

Fires

Flooding

Land /freshwater/ seabed area modification

Landslides

Ocean acidification

Pollutants concentration change

Storms

Volcanoes

Mechanisms of change in state:

Earthquakes

Flooding

Land /freshwater/ seabed area modification

Landslides

Volcanoes

Mechanisms of change in state:

Change in species composition

Change in species population size

Droughts

Pollutants concentration change

Sea level rise

Sea surface temperature

Storms

Volcanoes

Likely response	Effect of variability on services provision	Human action or natural variation	Timescale	Spatial Characteristics
			Short - Long term	Local to regional - impacts could be in the area of use or further up or downstream
			Short - Long term	Local to regional - impacts can favour certain species that can inhabit urban infrastructure
			Short - Long term	Local to regional - impacts can vary depending on the extent of the mining area
			Short - Long term	Local - impacts can negatively affect local habitat structure
			Long term	Local to global - climate is changing on a global level but some local-scale habitats are more resilient or more susceptible to change than others
			Mid - Long term	Regional - impacts affect large regions
			Short - Mid term	Local - areas no longer fit for purpose can be permanently impacted
			Short - Long term	Local - areas where invasive species occur can be impacted
			Short - Long term	Local to regional - impacts can affect species population and habitats
			Short - Long term	Local to regional - impacts have altered local- to regional-level ecosystem properties thrus affecting various functions
			Mid - Long term	Local to regional - areas with water abstraction, as well as areas in downstream regions, could be impacted

Likely response	Effect of variability on services provision	Human action or natural variation	Timescale	Spatial Characteristics
			Mid - Long term	Local to regional - impact can be in the local area but also further afield
			Short - Long term	Local - areas where pollutant inputs are observed can be impacted
			Mid - Long term	Local - areas where pollutant inputs occur can be impacted

Likely response	Effect of variability on services provision	Human action or natural variation	Timescale	Spatial Characteristics
			Short - Long term	Regional to global - impacts can affect downstream countries
			Short - Long term	Local to regional - land use change may have local and more wide ranging effects
			Long term	Local to regional - the areas where droughts occur
			Short - Long term	Local to regional - surface water abstraction could lead to impacts in downstream regions

Likely response	Effect of variability on services provision	Human action or natural variation	Timescale	Spatial Characteristics
			Short term	Local - water quality within the water column can have different properties due to local physical features
			Short - Long term	Local - areas where pollutant inputs are observed can be impacted along with downstream regions
			Short - Long term	Local - areas where pollutant inputs are observed can be impacted
			Short - Long term	Local to regional - impacts can be in the immediate vicinity but also can affect neighboring regions