Nutrient cycling and crop pollination are considered supporting services because they underpin the processes that sustain other ecosystem services. Nutrient cycling facilitates the availability of essential nutrients for plant growth, while pollination is crucial for the reproduction of many plants, including crops, thus directly influencing food production. Understanding these services is vital for effective environmental management and sustainable agriculture, as they exemplify the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the fundamental role they play in human well-being, a concept emphasized in UPSC syllabus materials on ecology and biodiversity.