A considerable body of scientific research has shown that biodiversity is crucial to humanity’s survival and well-being. In recent decades, the term “ecosystem services” has been used to describe the many ways in which biodiversity and functioning ecosystems sustain and fulfill human life. In this course, students will learn about the types of ecosystem services, including supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural services. Students will also learn about the consequences of biodiversity losses on food production, such as greater susceptibility to crop losses and increased pest problems, and effects on public health, including the “Dilution Effect”: greater prevalence of human diseases that accompanies species loss of plant and animal species.