Which of the following statements accurately describes ecosystem services?

The statement that ecosystem services provide benefits such as water purification and flood control is accurate because it highlights the essential functions that ecosystems perform to support human life and enhance the environment. Ecosystem services refer to the various benefits that ecosystems offer to people, which can be categorized into supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural services.

Water purification is an example of a regulating service that healthy ecosystems provide, particularly through wetlands, forests, and watersheds, which filter pollutants and sediments from water. Flood control is another crucial regulating service, where natural landscapes absorb rainfall and mitigate the impact of floods, protecting human settlements and agricultural lands.

This understanding of ecosystem services emphasizes their importance in maintaining ecological balance and sustaining human well-being, demonstrating how natural systems contribute valuable functions beyond just providing resources.