ABSTRACT
An examination of the origins of products and of the interconnections of natural systems quickly reveals the support that pollinators provide to our natural landscapes and resources. Pollinators are keystone species across all terrestrial ecosystem types that help provide food, raw products, and further ecosystem services to humans and other living things. The roles that pollinators play in natural resource provisioning are complex, ranging from primary direct services (basic plant reproduction, fruit development) to indirect supportive services (e.g., soil stabilization, nutrient cycling, and air filtration). Valuing the total contributions that pollinators provide to ecosystem services is a complicated task that involves quantifying the economic benefits seen from goods and commodities and qualifying the value of biodiversity and ecosystem stability.
