Ozone pollution: impacts on ecosystem services and biodiversity

This report provides a synthesis of current knowledge on the effects of ground-level ozone on ecosystem services and biodiversity. Ecosystems provide an array of services upon which humans depend for food, fresh water, climate regulation, aesthetic enjoyment and spirtual fulfilment. The increased global population along with increased standards of living and other socio-political, economic, technological and societal changes, mean that our interventions can have profound negative effects on the the quality of the services provided by ecosystems. As well as having a direct impact on human health, ozone pollution also affects human well-being indirectly via effects on ecosystem services and biodiversity. This report provides a review of current knowledge of the impacts of ozone on biodiversity and supporting, provisioning, regulating and cultural services. Included are effects of ozone on primary production, carbon, nutrient and water cycling, air quality, crop and timber production, flowering and pollination, and aesthetics of the natural environment, together with the interactions with climate change. Approaches for valuing the cost of ozone pollution impacts on ecosystem services are also discussed.