In their recent paper Pereira et al.(2025)claim that validation is overlooked in mapping and modelling of ecosystem services(ES).They state that“many studies lack critical evaluation of the results and no validation ...In their recent paper Pereira et al.(2025)claim that validation is overlooked in mapping and modelling of ecosystem services(ES).They state that“many studies lack critical evaluation of the results and no validation is provided”and that“the validation step is largely overlooked”.This assertion may have been true several years ago,for example,when Ochoa and Urbina-Cardona(2017)made a similar observation.However,there has been much work on ES model validation over the last decade.展开更多
Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient element that is critical for plant growth and ecosystem functionality.The soil P cycle plays multiple roles,such as sustaining plant growth and productivity,regulating nutrient ...Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient element that is critical for plant growth and ecosystem functionality.The soil P cycle plays multiple roles,such as sustaining plant growth and productivity,regulating nutrient balance within ecosystems,and enhancing ecosystem adaptability and resilience.This cycle is influenced by factors such as the restoration approach and microbial community dynamics.However,the extent to which the restoration approach alters the P cycle in karst ecosystems and the underlying microbial mechanisms remain poorly understood.The P-cycle multifunctionality index (P-cycle MFI) serves as a comprehensive indicator for evaluating soil P cycle function,and it provides insights into changes in the P cycle between different restoration approaches.To investigate the shifts in soil P-cycle MFI and microbial mechanisms between different restoration approaches,we analyzed soil available P (AP),total P (TP),microbial biomass P (MBP),and the activities of acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).These data were used to calculate the P-cycle MFI by averaging the Z-scores between two restoration approaches(artificial restoration of forest (AF) and natural restoration of forest (NF)) and a control (cropland,CP) at six subtropical karst ecosystem sites in China.We also determined the soil organic carbon (SOC),exchangeable calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg),pH,bulk density (BD),microbial biomass C (MBC),and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN),as well as the community structure,relative abundance,diversity indices,and co-occurrence networks of phoD-harboring bacteria.The results showed that the community structure of phoD-harboring bacteria varied significantly among AF,NF,and CP and across different temperature gradients.These bacteria exhibited increasing complexity and tightness in co-occurrence networks from CP to AF and then to NF,along with the ACP and ALP activities,but not the TP and AP contents.The P-cycle MFI values were significantly higher in NF compared to AF and CP,and the variation was significantly explained by restoration approach,temperature,MBC,MBN,SOC,exchangeable Ca,BD,community structure of phoD-harboring bacteria,and exchangeable Mg.Furthermore,natural restoration had a more substantial impact on the P-cycle MFI than temperature by enhancing SOC,microbial biomass,the complexity and co-occurrence network tightness of the phoD-harboring bacterial community structure,and ACP and ALP activities,but it reduced soil BD.The rare genera of phoD-harboring bacteria significantly influenced the variation of soil P-cycle MFI compared to the dominant genera.This study highlights the importance of rare genera of phoD-harboring bacteria in driving soil P-cycle multifunctionality in karst ecosystems,with natural restoration being more effective than artificial methods for enhancing soil organic matter and microbial community complexity.展开更多
Marine pollution and overfishing induced the biodiversity loss and ecological degradation of the Beibu Gulf ecosystem in Guangxi,SE China.In an effort to restore the ecosystem and fishery resources,artificial reefs we...Marine pollution and overfishing induced the biodiversity loss and ecological degradation of the Beibu Gulf ecosystem in Guangxi,SE China.In an effort to restore the ecosystem and fishery resources,artificial reefs were deployed in the Beibu Gulf as the marine ranching area and their ecological performance need to be investigated.We constructed Ecopath ecological trophic models for the marine ranching area and a nearby control area to compare their ecosystem throughput and food web structure difference,and to calculate the ecological carrying capacity of various functional groups.Results indicate that the total system throughput of the marine ranching area was significantly higher than the control area,and the majority of system throughput occurred at trophic levelsⅠandⅡin both ecosystems.The system connectance indices for the marine ranching and control areas were 0.27 and 0.32,and the omnivory indices were 0.16 and 0.19,indicating simple food web structures;both areas are in a developmental stage with TPP/TR ratios of 2.69 and 9.36,respectively.Compared to the control area,marine ranching area exhibited a higher system maturity,and the ecological carrying capacity of“large and medium-sized demersal fish”and“other bivalves”functional groups in the marine ranching area increased by 43.83%and 233.62%,respectively,allowing for more high-trophic-level predators and large benthic animals.This study provided a reference for the formulation of fishery management policies in the Beibu Gulf,to maintain ecosystem stability and biodiversity.展开更多
Resilience plays a crucial role in maintaining desirable ecosystem states and is a key objective of sustainable ecosystem management.This study synthesizes the concepts and measurement approaches of terrestrial ecosys...Resilience plays a crucial role in maintaining desirable ecosystem states and is a key objective of sustainable ecosystem management.This study synthesizes the concepts and measurement approaches of terrestrial ecosystem resilience and expounded on its spatio-temporal changes and influencing factors based on the literature over the past 50 years.Arid regions exhibited the lowest levels of spatial resilience,and the global ecosystem resilience showed a downward trend.In the focal regions,ecological resilience in Amazonian and Southeast Asian rainforest regions declined primarily driven by human activities such as deforestation and cropland expansion.Precipitation and temperature exerted bidirectional influences the resilience of ecosystems,indicating that ecosystem responses to climatic factors were non-monotonic.Evidence concerning anthropogenic factors such as land management and deforestation on ecosystem resilience were predominantly negative.Overall,this study provides a comprehensive synthesis of large scale terrestrial ecosystem resilience assessments,offering valuable insights for ecosystem protection and restoration policy development.展开更多
Livestock farming is a critical pillar of Tajikistan’s national economy and livelihood security.However,significant economic challenges in the country have led to the degradation of grassland ecosystems.This degradat...Livestock farming is a critical pillar of Tajikistan’s national economy and livelihood security.However,significant economic challenges in the country have led to the degradation of grassland ecosystems.This degradation has not only reduced the productivity of grassland ecosystems but also severely impacted their ecological functions.A particularly concerning consequence is the threat to biodiversity,as the survival and persistence of endemic,rare,and endangered plant species are at serious risk,thereby diminishing the value of species’genetic resources.Based on the data from multiple sources such as literature reviews,field observations,and national statistics,this study employed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to investigate the current status,causes of degradation,and restoration measures for grassland ecosystems in Tajikistan.The results revealed that Tajikistan’s grassland ecosystems support exceptionally high plant species diversity,comprising over 4500 vascular plant species,including nearly 1500 endemic and sub-endemic taxa that constitute a unique genetic reservoir.These ecosystems are experiencing severe degradation,characterized by significantly reduced vegetation cover and declining species richness.Palatable forage species are increasingly being displaced by unpalatable,thorny,and poisonous species.The primary drivers of degradation include excessive grazing pressure,which disrupts plant reproductive cycles and regeneration capacity,habitat fragmentation due to urbanization and infrastructure development,and uncontrolled exploitation of medicinal and edible plants.Climate change,particularly rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns,further exacerbates these anthropogenic pressures.Ecological restoration experiments suggested that both ecosystem productivity and plant species diversity are significantly enhanced by systematic reseeding trials using altitude-adapted native species.These findings underscore the necessity of establishing scientifically grounded approaches for ecological restoration.展开更多
Understanding the complex interactions between human activities and ecosystem functions is a prerequisite for achieving sustainable development.Since the implementation of the“Grain for Green”Project in 1999,ecosyst...Understanding the complex interactions between human activities and ecosystem functions is a prerequisite for achieving sustainable development.Since the implementation of the“Grain for Green”Project in 1999,ecosystem functions in China’s Loess Plateau have significantly improved.However,intensified human activities have also exacerbated the pressures on the region’s fragile ecological environment.This study investigates the spatiotemporal variations in the human activity intensity index(HAI)and net ecosystem benefits(NEB)from 2000 to 2020,using expert-based assessments and an enhanced cost-benefit evaluation framework.Results indicate that HAI increased by 16.7% and 16.6% at the grid and county levels,respectively.NEB exhibited pronounced spatial heterogeneity,with a total increase of USD 36.2 trillion at the grid scale.At the county level,the average NEB rose by 75%.The degree of trade-off was higher at the grid scale than at the county scale,while the synergistic areas initially expanded and then declined at both scales.Key areas for improvement and regions of lagging development were identified as priority zones for ecological management and spatial planning at both spatial resolutions.This study offers scientific insights and practical guidance for harmonizing ecological conservation with high-quality development in ecologically vulnerable regions.展开更多
Floodplain wetlands are invaluable ecosystems providing numerous ecological benefits,yet they face a global crisis necessitating sustainable preservation efforts.This study examines the depletion of floodplain wetland...Floodplain wetlands are invaluable ecosystems providing numerous ecological benefits,yet they face a global crisis necessitating sustainable preservation efforts.This study examines the depletion of floodplain wetlands within the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary(HWLS)in Uttar Pradesh.Encroachment activities such as grazing,agriculture,and human settlements have fragmented and degraded critical wetland ecosystems.Additionally,irrigation projects,dam construction,and water diversion have disrupted natural water flow and availability.To assess wetland inundation in 2023,five classification techniques were employed:Random Forest(RF),Support Vector Machine(SVM),artificial neural network(ANN),Spectral Information Divergence(SID),and Maximum Likelihood Classifier(MLC).SVM emerged as the most precise method,as determined by kappa coefficient and index-based validation.Consequently,the SVM classifier was used to model wetland inundation areas from 1983 to 2023 and analyze spatiotemporal changes and fragmentation patterns.The findings revealed that the SVM clas-sifier accurately mapped 2023 wetland areas.The modeled time-series data demonstrated a 62.55%and 38.12%reduction in inundated wetland areas over the past 40 years in the pre-and post-monsoon periods,respectively.Fragmentation analysis indicated an 86.27%decrease in large core wetland areas in the pre-monsoon period,signifying severe habitat degradation.This rapid decline in wetlands within protected areas raises concerns about their ecological impacts.By linking wetland loss to global sustainability objectives,this study underscores the global urgency for strengthened wetland protection measures and highlights the need for integrating wetland conservation into broader sustainable development goals.Effective policies and adaptive management strategies are crucial for preserving these ecosystems and their vital services,which are essential for biodiversity,climate regulation,and human well-being.展开更多
Arid and semi-arid ecosystems are prone to extensive fires due to specific climatic conditions,sparse vegetation cover,and high density of fine fuels.Understanding the flammability characteristics of land covers is es...Arid and semi-arid ecosystems are prone to extensive fires due to specific climatic conditions,sparse vegetation cover,and high density of fine fuels.Understanding the flammability characteristics of land covers is essential for fire management and designing land restoration programs in arid and semi-arid ecosystems.This study provided a new approach to evaluate the flammability of shrublands and woodlands using flammability indices(FIs)including time to ignition(TI),duration of combustion(DC),and flame height(FH)of plant species and their relative frequencies in the Dalfard Basin of southeastern Iran.The results showed that there was a significant difference in FIs between land covers.Shrublands had higher flammability potential compared with woodlands.Plant moisture content had a negative relationship with TI(P<0.010)and no significant relationship with DC and FH(P>0.050).Artemisia spp.,Astragalus gossypinus Fischer,Amygdalus scoparia Spach,and Cymbopogon jwarancusa(Jones)Schult.had the highest FI.Tree species such as Rhazya stricta Decne.,and Pistacia atlantica Desf.showed greater resistance to fire.Using principal component analysis,the relationship between species and FIs was examined,and TI of wet fuel was the most important FI in relation to species.Structural equation model showed that life form(P<0.001)was the most important flammability driver.Precipitation(P<0.010)and legume species(P<0.010)were significantly related to the flammability in arid land.This study emphasizes the importance of managing high-risk species and using resistant species in vegetation restoration and shows that combining species FIs with their abundance is an effective tool for assessing fire risk and fuel management at the plant community scale.展开更多
The Guangdong,Jiangxi and Fujian(GJF)provinces,located in the subtropical region of southeastern China,is one of the national key regions for soil erosion control and ecological restoration.This region is characterize...The Guangdong,Jiangxi and Fujian(GJF)provinces,located in the subtropical region of southeastern China,is one of the national key regions for soil erosion control and ecological restoration.This region is characterized by extensive red soil development and high rainfall erosivity,making it a representative landscape for exploring the interactions between land use change(LUC)and ecosystem services(ES).Despite the recognized importance of ES in hilly regions,comprehensive assessing the impacts of LUC on ES remain limited.This study investigates five key ES:water yield,soil conservation,carbon conservation,food supply,and habitat quality in GJF region from 2000 to 2020.By applying the InVEST model and the Geodetector method,we assessed the trade-offs,synergies,and transitions among ES,identified the natural and social drivers of ES dynamics,and quantified the contribution of LUC to ES changes using the ecosystem service contribution index.The results showed that cropland and woodland were the dominant land use types.Ecological restoration efforts positively influenced ES,with synergies intensifying and trade-offs diminishing over time.Land use conversions,particularly among woodland,grassland,and cropland,exerted significant impacts on ES.In particular,the conversion of woodland to other land uses had markedly negative effects on soil conservation,carbon conservation,and habitat quality.Forest cover was identified as a major driver of ES dynamics.These findings highlight the importance of maintaining and expanding forest and grassland cover,strengthening red soil conservation,and optimizing land use structure to achieve coordinated ecological protection and socioeconomic development in the subtropical hilly regions of southern China.展开更多
Latest digital advancements have intensified the necessity for adaptive,data-driven and socially-centered learning ecosystems.This paper presents the formulation of a cross-platform,innovative,gamified and personalize...Latest digital advancements have intensified the necessity for adaptive,data-driven and socially-centered learning ecosystems.This paper presents the formulation of a cross-platform,innovative,gamified and personalized Learning Ecosystem,which integrates 3D/VR environments,as well as machine learning algorithms,and business intelligence frameworks to enhance learner-centered education and inferenced decision-making.This Learning System makes use of immersive,analytically assessed virtual learning spaces,therefore facilitating real-time monitoring of not just learning performance,but also overall engagement and behavioral patterns,via a comprehensive set of sustainability-oriented ESG-aligned Key Performance Indicators(KPIs).Machine learning models support predictive analysis,personalized feedback,and hybrid recommendation mechanisms,whilst dedicated dashboards translate complex educational data into actionable insights for all Use Cases of the System(Educational Institutions,Educators and Learners).Additionally,the presented Learning System introduces a structured Mentoring and Consulting Subsystem,thence reinforcing human-centered guidance alongside automated intelligence.The Platform’s modular architecture and simulation-centered evaluation approach actively support personalized,and continuously optimized learning pathways.Thence,it exemplifies a mature,adaptive Learning Ecosystem,supporting immersive technologies,analytics,and pedagogical support,hence,contributing to contemporary digital learning innovation and sociotechnical transformation in education.展开更多
A comprehensive assessment of grain supply,demand,and ecosystem service flows is essential for identifying grain movement pathways,ensuring regional grain security,and guiding sustainable management strategies.However...A comprehensive assessment of grain supply,demand,and ecosystem service flows is essential for identifying grain movement pathways,ensuring regional grain security,and guiding sustainable management strategies.However,current studies primarily focus on short-term grain provision services while neglecting the spatiotemporal variations in grain flows across different scales.This gap limits the identification of dynamic matching relationships and the formulation of optimization strategies for balancing grain flows.This study examined the spatiotemporal evolution of grain supply and demand in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei(BTH)region from 1980 to 2020.Using the Enhanced TwoStep Floating Catchment Area method,the grain provision ecosystem service flows were quantified,the changes in supply–demand matching under different grain flow scenarios were analyzed and the optimal distance threshold for grain flows was investigated.The results revealed that grain production follows a spatial distribution pattern characterized by high levels in the southeast and low levels in the northwest.A significant mismatch exists between supply and demand,and it shows a scale effect.Deficit areas are mainly concentrated in the northwest,while surplus areas are mainly located in the central and southern regions.As the spatial scale increases,the ecosystem service supply–demand ratio(SDR)classification becomes more clustered,while it exhibits greater spatial SDR heterogeneity at smaller scales.This study examined two distinct scenarios of grain provision ecosystem service flow dynamics based on 100 and 200 km distance thresholds.The flow increased significantly,from 2.17 to 11.81million tons in the first scenario and from 2.41 to 12.37 million tons in the second scenario over nearly 40 years,forming a spatial movement pattern from the central and southern regions to the surrounding areas.Large flows were mainly concentrated in the interior of urban centers,with significant outflows between cities such as Baoding,Shijiazhuang,Xingtai,and Hengshui.At the county scale,supply–demand matching patterns remained consistent between the grain flows in the two scenarios.Notably,incorporating grain flow dynamics significantly reduced the number of grain-deficit areas compared to scenarios without grain flow.In 2020,grain-deficit counties decreased by28.79 and 37.88%,and cities by 12.50 and 25.0%under the two scenarios,respectively.Furthermore,the distance threshold for achieving optimal supply and demand matching at the county scale was longer than at the city scale in both grain flow scenarios.This study provides valuable insights into the dynamic relationships and heterogeneous patterns of grain matching,and expands the research perspective on grain and ecosystem service flows across various spatiotemporal scales.展开更多
Ecosystems along the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(EQTP)are highly fragile and extremely sensitive to climate change and human disturbances.To quantitatively assess climate-induced ecosystem responses,th...Ecosystems along the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(EQTP)are highly fragile and extremely sensitive to climate change and human disturbances.To quantitatively assess climate-induced ecosystem responses,this study proposes a Climate-Induced Productivity Index(CIPI)based on the Super Slack-Based Measure(Super-SBM)model using remote sensing data from 2001 to 2020.The results reveal persistently low CIPI values(0.47-0.53)across major ecosystem types,indicating widespread vulnerability to climatic variability.Among these ecosystems,forests exhibit the highest CIPI(0.55),followed by shrublands(0.54),croplands(0.53),grasslands(0.51),and barelands(0.43).The Theil index analysis further demonstrates significant intra-group disparities,suggesting that extreme climatic events amplify CIPI heterogeneity.Moreover,the dominant environmental drivers differ among ecosystem types:the Palmer Drought Severity Index(PDSI)primarily constrains grassland productivity,solar radiation(SRAD)strongly influences shrub and cropland systems,whereas subsurface factors exert greater control in forested regions.This study provides a quantitative framework for evaluating climate-ecosystem interactions and offers a scientific basis for long-term ecological monitoring and security planning across the EQTP.展开更多
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal(SDG) 2 aims to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030.However,global hunger and food insecurity have continued to rise at an alarming rate(UN 2023).Subtropical regions are home to ...The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal(SDG) 2 aims to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030.However,global hunger and food insecurity have continued to rise at an alarming rate(UN 2023).Subtropical regions are home to more than 30% of the world's population,predominantly in developing countries where per capita farmland and food supply are only 40% of those in developed nations(FAO 2018).Meeting the Zero Hunger target amid ongoing population growth in these regions requires a substantial increase in agricultural production while minimizing soil degradation and adverse ecological impacts.This challenge is shared by many countries across South Asia,Africa,and Central and South America.展开更多
Vegetation in terrestrial ecosystems as a carbon sink is a crucial factor in mitigating global warming and reaching carbon neutrality targets,although the drivers of net ecosystem productivity(NEP)under combined human...Vegetation in terrestrial ecosystems as a carbon sink is a crucial factor in mitigating global warming and reaching carbon neutrality targets,although the drivers of net ecosystem productivity(NEP)under combined human and environmental pressures remain poorly understood.In this study,we analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution of NEP in the Horqin Sandy Land,China from 2000 to 2020,and observed the variation in NEP across different land use types.We further identified and quantified the effects of human activities,topographical features,climatic conditions,and soil properties on NEP through the application of structural equation modeling(SEM)and boosted regression trees(BRT).The results showed that the multi-year average NEP ranged from–137.79 to 461.96 g C/m^(2) in the Horqin Sandy Land,with 88.21%of the area showing a significant increasing trend.Among different land use types,forestland exhibited the highest NEP values,followed by cropland,grassland,impervious land,and unused land.The NEP in carbon sink areas was primarily regulated by potential evapotranspiration(negatively correlated)and precipitation(positively correlated).Slope was identified as the most significant positive determinant in carbon source areas.Forestland exhibited climate–topography interactions driving NEP,whereas cropland and grassland relied on temperature;unused land and impervious land were susceptible to land use/cover change and human footprint.This study has significant implications for maintaining the carbon sink function and promoting ecological engineering programs that aim to enhance the capacity of terrestrial carbon sinks in the semi-arid agro-pastoral ecotone.展开更多
The Kulpawn River Basin(KRB)plays a critical role in supporting rural livelihoods through agriculture,water supply,and biodiversity conservation.However,between 1995 and 2023,significant land use and land cover(LULC)c...The Kulpawn River Basin(KRB)plays a critical role in supporting rural livelihoods through agriculture,water supply,and biodiversity conservation.However,between 1995 and 2023,significant land use and land cover(LULC)changes have been observed,affecting ecosystem services(ESs).This study evaluated the ecosystem service values(ESVs)associated with LULC changes.The random forest algorithm was applied to extract LULC information from Landsat images for 1995,2005,2015,and 2023.The benefit transfer method was employed to estimate the ESVs over the study period.Questionnaires were also used to assess the views of respondents on the drivers of the ES changes in the basin.The results showed that agricultural lands expanded by 14.14%,built-up areas by 15.17%,and light savannah forest by 8.73%,while dense savannah forest and water bodies declined by 25.71%and 20.00%,respectively.The total estimated ESV was 410.09×10^(8),362.92×10^(8),335.30×10^(8),and 319.28×10^(8) USD/(hm^(2)·a)in 1995,2005,2015,and 2023,respectively,indicating that the total ESV declined from 410.09×10^(8) USD/(hm^(2)·a)in 1995 to 319.28×10^(8) USD/(hm^(2)·a)in 2023.The study concludes that the reduction in ESVs is due to the LULC changes resulting from agricultural activities,expansion of built-up areas,population sprawl,and artisanal mining activities.Hence,there is an urgent need to develop programs and strategies to mitigate and curtail the degradation of LULC and ESVs in the basin.These findings reveal a growing ecological vulnerability,threatening water security and rural livelihoods.The study offers valuable insights to guide sustainable land use planning and ecosystem conservation strategies.展开更多
Ecological restorations(ERs)have been widely implemented in recent decades to enhance ecosystem stability.However,the extent of their impacts on ecosystem stability and the underlying mechanism remain poorly understoo...Ecological restorations(ERs)have been widely implemented in recent decades to enhance ecosystem stability.However,the extent of their impacts on ecosystem stability and the underlying mechanism remain poorly understood.This study developed a comprehensive framework for ecosystem stability assessment by integrating the temporal stability of ecosystem service(ES)provision,ecological resistance,and ecological resilience.Additionally,ER intensity was quantified using vegetation index trends,while the pathways and magnitudes of key factors driving ecosystem stability were identified by partial least squares structural equation modeling.Using the Jialing River Basin as a case study,our results revealed that forests exhibited the highest ecosystem stability due to their enhanced capacity to maintain temporal stability of ES provision and ecological resilience.However,farmlands demonstrated the strongest ecological resistance,followed by forests and grasslands.ER projects were primarily implemented in northern and southern farmland regions characterized by low ecological resilience.Pathway analysis identified that favorable climates significantly enhanced the temporal stability of ES provision,and rugged topography improved the ecological resistance.However,fragmented landscape patches disrupted stable ES provision by reducing ecological connectivity,and socioeconomic development diminished both resistance and resilience through land-use intensification.Notably,ERs improved ecological resilience,which in turn elevated overall ecosystem stability.Our results indicated that the proposed framework provides a systematic approach for comprehensive ecosystem stability evaluation and offers critical insights for developing region-specific ER strategies.展开更多
Human well-being and livelihoods depend on natural ecosystem services(ESs).Following the increment of population,ESs have been deteriorated over time.Ultimately,land use/land cover(LULC)changes have a profound impact ...Human well-being and livelihoods depend on natural ecosystem services(ESs).Following the increment of population,ESs have been deteriorated over time.Ultimately,land use/land cover(LULC)changes have a profound impact on the change of ecosystem.The primary goal of this study is to determine the impacts of LULC changes on ecosystem service values(ESVs)in the upper Gilgel Abbay watershed,Ethiopia.Changes in LULC types were studied using three Landsat images representing 1986,2003,and 2021.The Landsat images were classified using a supervised image classification technique in Earth Resources Data Analysis System(ERDAS)Imagine 2014.We classified ESs in this study into four categories(including provisioning,regulating,supporting,and cultural services)based on global ES classification scheme.The adjusted ESV coefficient benefit approach was employed to measure the impacts of LULC changes on ESVs.Five LULC types were identified in this study,including cultivated land,forest,shrubland,grassland,and water body.The result revealed that the area of cultivated land accounted for 64.50%,71.50%,and 61.50%of the total area in 1986,2003,and 2021,respectively.The percentage of the total area covered by forest was 9.50%,5.90%,and 14.80%in 1986,2003,and 2021,respectively.Result revealed that the total ESV decreased from 7.42×10^(7) to 6.44×10^(7) USD between 1986 and 2003.This is due to the expansion of cultivated land at the expense of forest and shrubland.However,the total ESV increased from 6.44×10^(7) to 7.76×10^(7) USD during 2003-2021,because of the increment of forest and shrubland.The expansion of cultivated land and the reductions of forest and shrubland reduced most individual ESs during 1986-2003.Nevertheless,the increase in forest and shrubland at the expense of cultivated land enhanced many ESs during 2003-2021.Therefore,the findings suggest that appropriate land use practices should be scaled-up to sustainably maintain ESs.展开更多
The self-organization mapping （SOM） neural network algorithm is a new method used to identify the ecosystem service zones at regional extent. According to the ecosystem assessment framework of Millennium Ecosystem A...The self-organization mapping （SOM） neural network algorithm is a new method used to identify the ecosystem service zones at regional extent. According to the ecosystem assessment framework of Millennium Ecosystem Assessment （ MA）, this paper develops an indicator system and conducts a spatial cluster analysis at the 1km by I km grid pixel scale with the SOM neural network algorithm to sort the core ecosystem services over the vertical and horizontal dimensions. A case study was carried out in Xilingol League. The ecosystem services in Xilingol League could be divided to six different ecological zones. The SOM neural network algorithm was capable of identifying the similarities among the input data automatically. The research provides both spatially and temporally valuable information targeted sustainable ecosystem management for decision-makers.展开更多
This study focuses on the assessment of ecosystem health(EH),ecosystem services(ES),and ecosystem risk(ER)in East Kolkata Wetland(EKW).A comprehensive framework on the EH,ES and ER has been developed using remote sesn...This study focuses on the assessment of ecosystem health(EH),ecosystem services(ES),and ecosystem risk(ER)in East Kolkata Wetland(EKW).A comprehensive framework on the EH,ES and ER has been developed using remote sesning and geo-spatial techniques for the year 2000,2005,2010,2015,and 2020.The study also assessed ecosystem structure and fragmentation using landscape metrics calculated using fragstats,which showed a significant influence of land use and land cover(LULC)changes on the wetland’s ecological integrity.The study revealed that 6.86% of EKW fallen under a very low EH zone,while 20% was categorized as having very high EH.Spatio-temporal analysis of ES indicated that 30%of the area had very low ES value,with only 8% exhibiting very high ES.ER assessment revealed that 7%of the study area was highly ER,while 12%identified within a high ER zone,reflecting frequent LULC changes.The correlation analysis highlighted strong negative relationships between landscape deviation degree(LDD)and EH(−0.971),and between normalized difference water index(NDWI)and normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)(−0.991).Additionally,landscape metrics such as the number of patches(NP)and the largest patch index(LPI)exhibited significant correlations,emphasizing the impact of fragmentation on EH and resilience.This comprehensive assessment underscores the importance of integrated approaches to monitor and manage wetland ecosystems,particularly in urban areas facing significant environmental stressors.The findings are crucial for informed decision-making and sustainable management of the wetland ecosystems,particularly in the cities of the global south.展开更多
Seasonal variation in phytoplankton composition influences the pathways and efficiency of energy flow,reshaping the structure of the trophic pyramid in the Ross Sea.However,field investigation of grazing processes pre...Seasonal variation in phytoplankton composition influences the pathways and efficiency of energy flow,reshaping the structure of the trophic pyramid in the Ross Sea.However,field investigation of grazing processes presents challenges that hinder our understanding of energy pathways.This study aims to provide insights into energy flow using a three-dimensional ecosystem model applied to the Ross Sea.By analyzing the simulation results,the role of the seasonal phytoplankton succession,specifically the shift from dominance by Phaeocystis antarctica to diatoms,in energy allocation is explored.The short-lived spring bloom of P.antarctica mainly fuels microzooplankton,creating a brief food chain where energy transfers primarily among smaller plankton.In contrast,the subsequent summer bloom of diatoms,which persists longer,provides nearly half of the total phytoplankton energy loss(via ingestion and mortality)to larger mesozooplankton.Our findings indicate that phytoplankton succession in the Ross Sea extends the bloom duration,particularly for diatoms,thereby facilitating energy transfer to higher trophic levels and improving overall energy utilization.This suggests that phytoplankton succession,an ecological strategy adapted to iron-deficient environments in the Ross Sea,explains why the colder region in front of the Ross Ice Shelf is significantly more productive than the northern areas,ultimately favored by top predators.展开更多
文摘In their recent paper Pereira et al.(2025)claim that validation is overlooked in mapping and modelling of ecosystem services(ES).They state that“many studies lack critical evaluation of the results and no validation is provided”and that“the validation step is largely overlooked”.This assertion may have been true several years ago,for example,when Ochoa and Urbina-Cardona(2017)made a similar observation.However,there has been much work on ES model validation over the last decade.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFF1300705)the Key Research and Development Project of Guangxi,China (Guike AB24010051)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42261011,32271730 and U20A2011)the Central Public Welfare Research Institutes,Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (2023020)。
文摘Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient element that is critical for plant growth and ecosystem functionality.The soil P cycle plays multiple roles,such as sustaining plant growth and productivity,regulating nutrient balance within ecosystems,and enhancing ecosystem adaptability and resilience.This cycle is influenced by factors such as the restoration approach and microbial community dynamics.However,the extent to which the restoration approach alters the P cycle in karst ecosystems and the underlying microbial mechanisms remain poorly understood.The P-cycle multifunctionality index (P-cycle MFI) serves as a comprehensive indicator for evaluating soil P cycle function,and it provides insights into changes in the P cycle between different restoration approaches.To investigate the shifts in soil P-cycle MFI and microbial mechanisms between different restoration approaches,we analyzed soil available P (AP),total P (TP),microbial biomass P (MBP),and the activities of acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).These data were used to calculate the P-cycle MFI by averaging the Z-scores between two restoration approaches(artificial restoration of forest (AF) and natural restoration of forest (NF)) and a control (cropland,CP) at six subtropical karst ecosystem sites in China.We also determined the soil organic carbon (SOC),exchangeable calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg),pH,bulk density (BD),microbial biomass C (MBC),and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN),as well as the community structure,relative abundance,diversity indices,and co-occurrence networks of phoD-harboring bacteria.The results showed that the community structure of phoD-harboring bacteria varied significantly among AF,NF,and CP and across different temperature gradients.These bacteria exhibited increasing complexity and tightness in co-occurrence networks from CP to AF and then to NF,along with the ACP and ALP activities,but not the TP and AP contents.The P-cycle MFI values were significantly higher in NF compared to AF and CP,and the variation was significantly explained by restoration approach,temperature,MBC,MBN,SOC,exchangeable Ca,BD,community structure of phoD-harboring bacteria,and exchangeable Mg.Furthermore,natural restoration had a more substantial impact on the P-cycle MFI than temperature by enhancing SOC,microbial biomass,the complexity and co-occurrence network tightness of the phoD-harboring bacterial community structure,and ACP and ALP activities,but it reduced soil BD.The rare genera of phoD-harboring bacteria significantly influenced the variation of soil P-cycle MFI compared to the dominant genera.This study highlights the importance of rare genera of phoD-harboring bacteria in driving soil P-cycle multifunctionality in karst ecosystems,with natural restoration being more effective than artificial methods for enhancing soil organic matter and microbial community complexity.
基金Supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2022YFD2401301)the Primary Research and Development Plan of Guangxi Province(No.GuiKe AB21220064)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42106102,42306151)the Shandong Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.SDCXZG202301009)。
文摘Marine pollution and overfishing induced the biodiversity loss and ecological degradation of the Beibu Gulf ecosystem in Guangxi,SE China.In an effort to restore the ecosystem and fishery resources,artificial reefs were deployed in the Beibu Gulf as the marine ranching area and their ecological performance need to be investigated.We constructed Ecopath ecological trophic models for the marine ranching area and a nearby control area to compare their ecosystem throughput and food web structure difference,and to calculate the ecological carrying capacity of various functional groups.Results indicate that the total system throughput of the marine ranching area was significantly higher than the control area,and the majority of system throughput occurred at trophic levelsⅠandⅡin both ecosystems.The system connectance indices for the marine ranching and control areas were 0.27 and 0.32,and the omnivory indices were 0.16 and 0.19,indicating simple food web structures;both areas are in a developmental stage with TPP/TR ratios of 2.69 and 9.36,respectively.Compared to the control area,marine ranching area exhibited a higher system maturity,and the ecological carrying capacity of“large and medium-sized demersal fish”and“other bivalves”functional groups in the marine ranching area increased by 43.83%and 233.62%,respectively,allowing for more high-trophic-level predators and large benthic animals.This study provided a reference for the formulation of fishery management policies in the Beibu Gulf,to maintain ecosystem stability and biodiversity.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grants No.42522105 and 42171088)the 111 Project of China(Grant No.B23027)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China.
文摘Resilience plays a crucial role in maintaining desirable ecosystem states and is a key objective of sustainable ecosystem management.This study synthesizes the concepts and measurement approaches of terrestrial ecosystem resilience and expounded on its spatio-temporal changes and influencing factors based on the literature over the past 50 years.Arid regions exhibited the lowest levels of spatial resilience,and the global ecosystem resilience showed a downward trend.In the focal regions,ecological resilience in Amazonian and Southeast Asian rainforest regions declined primarily driven by human activities such as deforestation and cropland expansion.Precipitation and temperature exerted bidirectional influences the resilience of ecosystems,indicating that ecosystem responses to climatic factors were non-monotonic.Evidence concerning anthropogenic factors such as land management and deforestation on ecosystem resilience were predominantly negative.Overall,this study provides a comprehensive synthesis of large scale terrestrial ecosystem resilience assessments,offering valuable insights for ecosystem protection and restoration policy development.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2025YFE0103800,2023YFE0102600,2024YFE0214200).
文摘Livestock farming is a critical pillar of Tajikistan’s national economy and livelihood security.However,significant economic challenges in the country have led to the degradation of grassland ecosystems.This degradation has not only reduced the productivity of grassland ecosystems but also severely impacted their ecological functions.A particularly concerning consequence is the threat to biodiversity,as the survival and persistence of endemic,rare,and endangered plant species are at serious risk,thereby diminishing the value of species’genetic resources.Based on the data from multiple sources such as literature reviews,field observations,and national statistics,this study employed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to investigate the current status,causes of degradation,and restoration measures for grassland ecosystems in Tajikistan.The results revealed that Tajikistan’s grassland ecosystems support exceptionally high plant species diversity,comprising over 4500 vascular plant species,including nearly 1500 endemic and sub-endemic taxa that constitute a unique genetic reservoir.These ecosystems are experiencing severe degradation,characterized by significantly reduced vegetation cover and declining species richness.Palatable forage species are increasingly being displaced by unpalatable,thorny,and poisonous species.The primary drivers of degradation include excessive grazing pressure,which disrupts plant reproductive cycles and regeneration capacity,habitat fragmentation due to urbanization and infrastructure development,and uncontrolled exploitation of medicinal and edible plants.Climate change,particularly rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns,further exacerbates these anthropogenic pressures.Ecological restoration experiments suggested that both ecosystem productivity and plant species diversity are significantly enhanced by systematic reseeding trials using altitude-adapted native species.These findings underscore the necessity of establishing scientifically grounded approaches for ecological restoration.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.U2243225)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDB40000000)+2 种基金the Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi(Grant No.Z2024-ZYFS-0065)the Funding of Top Young talents of Ten Thousand talents Plan in China(2021)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grants No.2452023071 and 2023HHZX002).
文摘Understanding the complex interactions between human activities and ecosystem functions is a prerequisite for achieving sustainable development.Since the implementation of the“Grain for Green”Project in 1999,ecosystem functions in China’s Loess Plateau have significantly improved.However,intensified human activities have also exacerbated the pressures on the region’s fragile ecological environment.This study investigates the spatiotemporal variations in the human activity intensity index(HAI)and net ecosystem benefits(NEB)from 2000 to 2020,using expert-based assessments and an enhanced cost-benefit evaluation framework.Results indicate that HAI increased by 16.7% and 16.6% at the grid and county levels,respectively.NEB exhibited pronounced spatial heterogeneity,with a total increase of USD 36.2 trillion at the grid scale.At the county level,the average NEB rose by 75%.The degree of trade-off was higher at the grid scale than at the county scale,while the synergistic areas initially expanded and then declined at both scales.Key areas for improvement and regions of lagging development were identified as priority zones for ecological management and spatial planning at both spatial resolutions.This study offers scientific insights and practical guidance for harmonizing ecological conservation with high-quality development in ecologically vulnerable regions.
基金support through the“Trans-Disciplinary Research”Grant(No.R/Dev/IoE/TDRProjects/2023-24/61658),which played a crucial role in enabling this research endeavor.
文摘Floodplain wetlands are invaluable ecosystems providing numerous ecological benefits,yet they face a global crisis necessitating sustainable preservation efforts.This study examines the depletion of floodplain wetlands within the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary(HWLS)in Uttar Pradesh.Encroachment activities such as grazing,agriculture,and human settlements have fragmented and degraded critical wetland ecosystems.Additionally,irrigation projects,dam construction,and water diversion have disrupted natural water flow and availability.To assess wetland inundation in 2023,five classification techniques were employed:Random Forest(RF),Support Vector Machine(SVM),artificial neural network(ANN),Spectral Information Divergence(SID),and Maximum Likelihood Classifier(MLC).SVM emerged as the most precise method,as determined by kappa coefficient and index-based validation.Consequently,the SVM classifier was used to model wetland inundation areas from 1983 to 2023 and analyze spatiotemporal changes and fragmentation patterns.The findings revealed that the SVM clas-sifier accurately mapped 2023 wetland areas.The modeled time-series data demonstrated a 62.55%and 38.12%reduction in inundated wetland areas over the past 40 years in the pre-and post-monsoon periods,respectively.Fragmentation analysis indicated an 86.27%decrease in large core wetland areas in the pre-monsoon period,signifying severe habitat degradation.This rapid decline in wetlands within protected areas raises concerns about their ecological impacts.By linking wetland loss to global sustainability objectives,this study underscores the global urgency for strengthened wetland protection measures and highlights the need for integrating wetland conservation into broader sustainable development goals.Effective policies and adaptive management strategies are crucial for preserving these ecosystems and their vital services,which are essential for biodiversity,climate regulation,and human well-being.
文摘Arid and semi-arid ecosystems are prone to extensive fires due to specific climatic conditions,sparse vegetation cover,and high density of fine fuels.Understanding the flammability characteristics of land covers is essential for fire management and designing land restoration programs in arid and semi-arid ecosystems.This study provided a new approach to evaluate the flammability of shrublands and woodlands using flammability indices(FIs)including time to ignition(TI),duration of combustion(DC),and flame height(FH)of plant species and their relative frequencies in the Dalfard Basin of southeastern Iran.The results showed that there was a significant difference in FIs between land covers.Shrublands had higher flammability potential compared with woodlands.Plant moisture content had a negative relationship with TI(P<0.010)and no significant relationship with DC and FH(P>0.050).Artemisia spp.,Astragalus gossypinus Fischer,Amygdalus scoparia Spach,and Cymbopogon jwarancusa(Jones)Schult.had the highest FI.Tree species such as Rhazya stricta Decne.,and Pistacia atlantica Desf.showed greater resistance to fire.Using principal component analysis,the relationship between species and FIs was examined,and TI of wet fuel was the most important FI in relation to species.Structural equation model showed that life form(P<0.001)was the most important flammability driver.Precipitation(P<0.010)and legume species(P<0.010)were significantly related to the flammability in arid land.This study emphasizes the importance of managing high-risk species and using resistant species in vegetation restoration and shows that combining species FIs with their abundance is an effective tool for assessing fire risk and fuel management at the plant community scale.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42377326 and 42201267)National Research-Development Support Plan Projects of China(Grant No.2017YFC05054)the Fujian Provincial Water Resources Department Science and Technology Project(MSK202308)。
文摘The Guangdong,Jiangxi and Fujian(GJF)provinces,located in the subtropical region of southeastern China,is one of the national key regions for soil erosion control and ecological restoration.This region is characterized by extensive red soil development and high rainfall erosivity,making it a representative landscape for exploring the interactions between land use change(LUC)and ecosystem services(ES).Despite the recognized importance of ES in hilly regions,comprehensive assessing the impacts of LUC on ES remain limited.This study investigates five key ES:water yield,soil conservation,carbon conservation,food supply,and habitat quality in GJF region from 2000 to 2020.By applying the InVEST model and the Geodetector method,we assessed the trade-offs,synergies,and transitions among ES,identified the natural and social drivers of ES dynamics,and quantified the contribution of LUC to ES changes using the ecosystem service contribution index.The results showed that cropland and woodland were the dominant land use types.Ecological restoration efforts positively influenced ES,with synergies intensifying and trade-offs diminishing over time.Land use conversions,particularly among woodland,grassland,and cropland,exerted significant impacts on ES.In particular,the conversion of woodland to other land uses had markedly negative effects on soil conservation,carbon conservation,and habitat quality.Forest cover was identified as a major driver of ES dynamics.These findings highlight the importance of maintaining and expanding forest and grassland cover,strengthening red soil conservation,and optimizing land use structure to achieve coordinated ecological protection and socioeconomic development in the subtropical hilly regions of southern China.
文摘Latest digital advancements have intensified the necessity for adaptive,data-driven and socially-centered learning ecosystems.This paper presents the formulation of a cross-platform,innovative,gamified and personalized Learning Ecosystem,which integrates 3D/VR environments,as well as machine learning algorithms,and business intelligence frameworks to enhance learner-centered education and inferenced decision-making.This Learning System makes use of immersive,analytically assessed virtual learning spaces,therefore facilitating real-time monitoring of not just learning performance,but also overall engagement and behavioral patterns,via a comprehensive set of sustainability-oriented ESG-aligned Key Performance Indicators(KPIs).Machine learning models support predictive analysis,personalized feedback,and hybrid recommendation mechanisms,whilst dedicated dashboards translate complex educational data into actionable insights for all Use Cases of the System(Educational Institutions,Educators and Learners).Additionally,the presented Learning System introduces a structured Mentoring and Consulting Subsystem,thence reinforcing human-centered guidance alongside automated intelligence.The Platform’s modular architecture and simulation-centered evaluation approach actively support personalized,and continuously optimized learning pathways.Thence,it exemplifies a mature,adaptive Learning Ecosystem,supporting immersive technologies,analytics,and pedagogical support,hence,contributing to contemporary digital learning innovation and sociotechnical transformation in education.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42471336,52379021 and 42201278)the Hebei Province Backbone Talent Program,China(Returnee Platform for Overseas Study)(A20240028)+2 种基金the Hebei Province Statistical Science Research Project,China(2024HZ04)the Hebei Province Graduate Education and Teaching Reform Research Project,China(YJG2024046)the Innovation Ability Training Program for Postgraduate Students of Hebei Provincial Department of Education,China(CXZZSS2025048)。
文摘A comprehensive assessment of grain supply,demand,and ecosystem service flows is essential for identifying grain movement pathways,ensuring regional grain security,and guiding sustainable management strategies.However,current studies primarily focus on short-term grain provision services while neglecting the spatiotemporal variations in grain flows across different scales.This gap limits the identification of dynamic matching relationships and the formulation of optimization strategies for balancing grain flows.This study examined the spatiotemporal evolution of grain supply and demand in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei(BTH)region from 1980 to 2020.Using the Enhanced TwoStep Floating Catchment Area method,the grain provision ecosystem service flows were quantified,the changes in supply–demand matching under different grain flow scenarios were analyzed and the optimal distance threshold for grain flows was investigated.The results revealed that grain production follows a spatial distribution pattern characterized by high levels in the southeast and low levels in the northwest.A significant mismatch exists between supply and demand,and it shows a scale effect.Deficit areas are mainly concentrated in the northwest,while surplus areas are mainly located in the central and southern regions.As the spatial scale increases,the ecosystem service supply–demand ratio(SDR)classification becomes more clustered,while it exhibits greater spatial SDR heterogeneity at smaller scales.This study examined two distinct scenarios of grain provision ecosystem service flow dynamics based on 100 and 200 km distance thresholds.The flow increased significantly,from 2.17 to 11.81million tons in the first scenario and from 2.41 to 12.37 million tons in the second scenario over nearly 40 years,forming a spatial movement pattern from the central and southern regions to the surrounding areas.Large flows were mainly concentrated in the interior of urban centers,with significant outflows between cities such as Baoding,Shijiazhuang,Xingtai,and Hengshui.At the county scale,supply–demand matching patterns remained consistent between the grain flows in the two scenarios.Notably,incorporating grain flow dynamics significantly reduced the number of grain-deficit areas compared to scenarios without grain flow.In 2020,grain-deficit counties decreased by28.79 and 37.88%,and cities by 12.50 and 25.0%under the two scenarios,respectively.Furthermore,the distance threshold for achieving optimal supply and demand matching at the county scale was longer than at the city scale in both grain flow scenarios.This study provides valuable insights into the dynamic relationships and heterogeneous patterns of grain matching,and expands the research perspective on grain and ecosystem service flows across various spatiotemporal scales.
基金National Key R&D Program of China,No.2022YFF1302401National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.42271007。
文摘Ecosystems along the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(EQTP)are highly fragile and extremely sensitive to climate change and human disturbances.To quantitatively assess climate-induced ecosystem responses,this study proposes a Climate-Induced Productivity Index(CIPI)based on the Super Slack-Based Measure(Super-SBM)model using remote sensing data from 2001 to 2020.The results reveal persistently low CIPI values(0.47-0.53)across major ecosystem types,indicating widespread vulnerability to climatic variability.Among these ecosystems,forests exhibit the highest CIPI(0.55),followed by shrublands(0.54),croplands(0.53),grasslands(0.51),and barelands(0.43).The Theil index analysis further demonstrates significant intra-group disparities,suggesting that extreme climatic events amplify CIPI heterogeneity.Moreover,the dominant environmental drivers differ among ecosystem types:the Palmer Drought Severity Index(PDSI)primarily constrains grassland productivity,solar radiation(SRAD)strongly influences shrub and cropland systems,whereas subsurface factors exert greater control in forested regions.This study provides a quantitative framework for evaluating climate-ecosystem interactions and offers a scientific basis for long-term ecological monitoring and security planning across the EQTP.
文摘The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal(SDG) 2 aims to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030.However,global hunger and food insecurity have continued to rise at an alarming rate(UN 2023).Subtropical regions are home to more than 30% of the world's population,predominantly in developing countries where per capita farmland and food supply are only 40% of those in developed nations(FAO 2018).Meeting the Zero Hunger target amid ongoing population growth in these regions requires a substantial increase in agricultural production while minimizing soil degradation and adverse ecological impacts.This challenge is shared by many countries across South Asia,Africa,and Central and South America.
基金funded by the National Major Science and Technology Program for Water Pollution Control and Treatment(2017ZX07101-002)the Discipline Construction Program of ZHANG Huayong,Distinguished Professor of School of Life Sciences,Shandong University(61200082363001).
文摘Vegetation in terrestrial ecosystems as a carbon sink is a crucial factor in mitigating global warming and reaching carbon neutrality targets,although the drivers of net ecosystem productivity(NEP)under combined human and environmental pressures remain poorly understood.In this study,we analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution of NEP in the Horqin Sandy Land,China from 2000 to 2020,and observed the variation in NEP across different land use types.We further identified and quantified the effects of human activities,topographical features,climatic conditions,and soil properties on NEP through the application of structural equation modeling(SEM)and boosted regression trees(BRT).The results showed that the multi-year average NEP ranged from–137.79 to 461.96 g C/m^(2) in the Horqin Sandy Land,with 88.21%of the area showing a significant increasing trend.Among different land use types,forestland exhibited the highest NEP values,followed by cropland,grassland,impervious land,and unused land.The NEP in carbon sink areas was primarily regulated by potential evapotranspiration(negatively correlated)and precipitation(positively correlated).Slope was identified as the most significant positive determinant in carbon source areas.Forestland exhibited climate–topography interactions driving NEP,whereas cropland and grassland relied on temperature;unused land and impervious land were susceptible to land use/cover change and human footprint.This study has significant implications for maintaining the carbon sink function and promoting ecological engineering programs that aim to enhance the capacity of terrestrial carbon sinks in the semi-arid agro-pastoral ecotone.
基金financial assistance from the European Union(Contract number:AFS2023/444-387)。
文摘The Kulpawn River Basin(KRB)plays a critical role in supporting rural livelihoods through agriculture,water supply,and biodiversity conservation.However,between 1995 and 2023,significant land use and land cover(LULC)changes have been observed,affecting ecosystem services(ESs).This study evaluated the ecosystem service values(ESVs)associated with LULC changes.The random forest algorithm was applied to extract LULC information from Landsat images for 1995,2005,2015,and 2023.The benefit transfer method was employed to estimate the ESVs over the study period.Questionnaires were also used to assess the views of respondents on the drivers of the ES changes in the basin.The results showed that agricultural lands expanded by 14.14%,built-up areas by 15.17%,and light savannah forest by 8.73%,while dense savannah forest and water bodies declined by 25.71%and 20.00%,respectively.The total estimated ESV was 410.09×10^(8),362.92×10^(8),335.30×10^(8),and 319.28×10^(8) USD/(hm^(2)·a)in 1995,2005,2015,and 2023,respectively,indicating that the total ESV declined from 410.09×10^(8) USD/(hm^(2)·a)in 1995 to 319.28×10^(8) USD/(hm^(2)·a)in 2023.The study concludes that the reduction in ESVs is due to the LULC changes resulting from agricultural activities,expansion of built-up areas,population sprawl,and artisanal mining activities.Hence,there is an urgent need to develop programs and strategies to mitigate and curtail the degradation of LULC and ESVs in the basin.These findings reveal a growing ecological vulnerability,threatening water security and rural livelihoods.The study offers valuable insights to guide sustainable land use planning and ecosystem conservation strategies.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Project(Grants No.2022YFF1303204 and 2024YFF1307902)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42271099)。
文摘Ecological restorations(ERs)have been widely implemented in recent decades to enhance ecosystem stability.However,the extent of their impacts on ecosystem stability and the underlying mechanism remain poorly understood.This study developed a comprehensive framework for ecosystem stability assessment by integrating the temporal stability of ecosystem service(ES)provision,ecological resistance,and ecological resilience.Additionally,ER intensity was quantified using vegetation index trends,while the pathways and magnitudes of key factors driving ecosystem stability were identified by partial least squares structural equation modeling.Using the Jialing River Basin as a case study,our results revealed that forests exhibited the highest ecosystem stability due to their enhanced capacity to maintain temporal stability of ES provision and ecological resilience.However,farmlands demonstrated the strongest ecological resistance,followed by forests and grasslands.ER projects were primarily implemented in northern and southern farmland regions characterized by low ecological resilience.Pathway analysis identified that favorable climates significantly enhanced the temporal stability of ES provision,and rugged topography improved the ecological resistance.However,fragmented landscape patches disrupted stable ES provision by reducing ecological connectivity,and socioeconomic development diminished both resistance and resilience through land-use intensification.Notably,ERs improved ecological resilience,which in turn elevated overall ecosystem stability.Our results indicated that the proposed framework provides a systematic approach for comprehensive ecosystem stability evaluation and offers critical insights for developing region-specific ER strategies.
文摘Human well-being and livelihoods depend on natural ecosystem services(ESs).Following the increment of population,ESs have been deteriorated over time.Ultimately,land use/land cover(LULC)changes have a profound impact on the change of ecosystem.The primary goal of this study is to determine the impacts of LULC changes on ecosystem service values(ESVs)in the upper Gilgel Abbay watershed,Ethiopia.Changes in LULC types were studied using three Landsat images representing 1986,2003,and 2021.The Landsat images were classified using a supervised image classification technique in Earth Resources Data Analysis System(ERDAS)Imagine 2014.We classified ESs in this study into four categories(including provisioning,regulating,supporting,and cultural services)based on global ES classification scheme.The adjusted ESV coefficient benefit approach was employed to measure the impacts of LULC changes on ESVs.Five LULC types were identified in this study,including cultivated land,forest,shrubland,grassland,and water body.The result revealed that the area of cultivated land accounted for 64.50%,71.50%,and 61.50%of the total area in 1986,2003,and 2021,respectively.The percentage of the total area covered by forest was 9.50%,5.90%,and 14.80%in 1986,2003,and 2021,respectively.Result revealed that the total ESV decreased from 7.42×10^(7) to 6.44×10^(7) USD between 1986 and 2003.This is due to the expansion of cultivated land at the expense of forest and shrubland.However,the total ESV increased from 6.44×10^(7) to 7.76×10^(7) USD during 2003-2021,because of the increment of forest and shrubland.The expansion of cultivated land and the reductions of forest and shrubland reduced most individual ESs during 1986-2003.Nevertheless,the increase in forest and shrubland at the expense of cultivated land enhanced many ESs during 2003-2021.Therefore,the findings suggest that appropriate land use practices should be scaled-up to sustainably maintain ESs.
基金Supported by the National Scientific Foundation of China(4080123170873118)+6 种基金the Chinese Academy of Sciences(KZCX2-YW-305-2KSCX2-YW-N-039KZCX2-YW-326-1)the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(2006DFB91912012006BAC08B032006BAC08B062008BAK47B02)~~
文摘The self-organization mapping （SOM） neural network algorithm is a new method used to identify the ecosystem service zones at regional extent. According to the ecosystem assessment framework of Millennium Ecosystem Assessment （ MA）, this paper develops an indicator system and conducts a spatial cluster analysis at the 1km by I km grid pixel scale with the SOM neural network algorithm to sort the core ecosystem services over the vertical and horizontal dimensions. A case study was carried out in Xilingol League. The ecosystem services in Xilingol League could be divided to six different ecological zones. The SOM neural network algorithm was capable of identifying the similarities among the input data automatically. The research provides both spatially and temporally valuable information targeted sustainable ecosystem management for decision-makers.
文摘This study focuses on the assessment of ecosystem health(EH),ecosystem services(ES),and ecosystem risk(ER)in East Kolkata Wetland(EKW).A comprehensive framework on the EH,ES and ER has been developed using remote sesning and geo-spatial techniques for the year 2000,2005,2010,2015,and 2020.The study also assessed ecosystem structure and fragmentation using landscape metrics calculated using fragstats,which showed a significant influence of land use and land cover(LULC)changes on the wetland’s ecological integrity.The study revealed that 6.86% of EKW fallen under a very low EH zone,while 20% was categorized as having very high EH.Spatio-temporal analysis of ES indicated that 30%of the area had very low ES value,with only 8% exhibiting very high ES.ER assessment revealed that 7%of the study area was highly ER,while 12%identified within a high ER zone,reflecting frequent LULC changes.The correlation analysis highlighted strong negative relationships between landscape deviation degree(LDD)and EH(−0.971),and between normalized difference water index(NDWI)and normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)(−0.991).Additionally,landscape metrics such as the number of patches(NP)and the largest patch index(LPI)exhibited significant correlations,emphasizing the impact of fragmentation on EH and resilience.This comprehensive assessment underscores the importance of integrated approaches to monitor and manage wetland ecosystems,particularly in urban areas facing significant environmental stressors.The findings are crucial for informed decision-making and sustainable management of the wetland ecosystems,particularly in the cities of the global south.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.41941008the National Key Research and Development Program of China under contract No.2023YFC3107702.
文摘Seasonal variation in phytoplankton composition influences the pathways and efficiency of energy flow,reshaping the structure of the trophic pyramid in the Ross Sea.However,field investigation of grazing processes presents challenges that hinder our understanding of energy pathways.This study aims to provide insights into energy flow using a three-dimensional ecosystem model applied to the Ross Sea.By analyzing the simulation results,the role of the seasonal phytoplankton succession,specifically the shift from dominance by Phaeocystis antarctica to diatoms,in energy allocation is explored.The short-lived spring bloom of P.antarctica mainly fuels microzooplankton,creating a brief food chain where energy transfers primarily among smaller plankton.In contrast,the subsequent summer bloom of diatoms,which persists longer,provides nearly half of the total phytoplankton energy loss(via ingestion and mortality)to larger mesozooplankton.Our findings indicate that phytoplankton succession in the Ross Sea extends the bloom duration,particularly for diatoms,thereby facilitating energy transfer to higher trophic levels and improving overall energy utilization.This suggests that phytoplankton succession,an ecological strategy adapted to iron-deficient environments in the Ross Sea,explains why the colder region in front of the Ross Ice Shelf is significantly more productive than the northern areas,ultimately favored by top predators.
