Influence of Human Activity Intensity on Habitat Quality in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park,China

Due to long-term human activity interference,the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park(HTRNP)of China has experienced ecological problems such as habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss,and with the expanding scope and intensity of human activity impact,the regional ecological security is facing serious challenges.A scientific assessment of the interrelationship between human activity intensity and habitat quality in the HTRNP is a prerequisite for achieving effective management of ecological disturbances caused by human activities and can also provide scientific strategies for the sustainable development of the region.Based on the land use change data in 2000,2010,and 2020,the spatial and temporal variations and the relationship between habitat quality(HQ)and human activity intensity(HAI)in the HTRNP were explored using the integrated valuation of ecosystem services and trade-offs(InVEST)model.System dynamics and land use simulation models were also combined to conduct multi-scenario simulations of their relationships.The results showed that during 2000–2020,the habitat quality of the HTRNP improved,the intensity of human activities decreased each year,and there was a negative correlation between the two.Second,the system dynamic model could be well coupled with the land use simulation model by combining socio-economic and natural factors.The simulation scenarios of the coupling model showed that the harmonious development(HD)scenario is effective in curbing the increasing trend of human activity intensity and decreasing trend of habitat quality,with a weaker trade-off between the two compared with the baseline development(BD)and investment priority oriented(IPO)scenarios.To maintain the authenticity and integrity of the HTRNP,effective measures such as ecological corridor construction,ecological restoration,and the implementation of ecological compensation policies need to be strengthened.

Spatio-temporal evolution analysis of landscape pattern and habitat quality in the Qinghai Province section of the Yellow River Basin from 2000 to 2022 based on InVEST model

Habitat quality is an important indicator for evaluating the quality of ecosystem.The Qinghai Province section of the Yellow River Basin plays an important role in the ecological protection of the upper reaches of the Yellow River Basin.To comprehensively analysis the alterations of habitat quality in the Qinghai Province section of the Yellow River Basin,this study utilized the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs(InVEST)model to calculate the habitat quality index and analyze the spatio-temporal variation characteristics of habitat quality in the study area from 2000 to 2022,and calculated seven landscape pattern indices(number of patches,patch density,largest patch index(LPI),landscape shape index(LSI),contagion index(CONTAG),Shannon diversity index,and Shannon evenness index)to research the variation of landscape pattern in the study area.The results showed that the number of patches,patch density,LPI,LSI,Shannon diversity index,and Shannon evenness index increased from 2000 to 2022,while the CONTAG decreased,indicating that the landscape pattern in the Qinghai Province section of the Yellow River Basin changed in the direction of distribution fragmentation,shape complexity,and heterogeneity.The average value of the habitat quality index in the Qinghai Province section of the Yellow River Basin from 2000 to 2022 was 0.90.Based on the value of habitat quality index,we divided the level of habitat quality into five categories:lower(0.00-0.20),low(0.20-0.40),moderate(0.40-0.60),high(0.60-0.80),and higher(0.80-1.00).Most areas were at the higher habitat quality level.The lower habitat quality patches were mainly distributed in Longyang Gorge and Yellow River-Huangshui River Valley.From 2000 to 2022,the habitat quality in most areas was stable;the increase areas were mainly distributed in Guinan County,while the decrease areas were mainly distributed in Xining City,Maqen County,Xinghai County,Qumarleb County,and Darlag County.To show the extent of habitat quality variation,we calculated Sen index.The results showed that the higher habitat quality area had a decrease trending,while other categories had an increasing tendency,and the decreasing was faster than increasing.The research results provide scientific guidance for promoting ecological protection and high-quality development in the Qinghai Province section of the Yellow River Basin.

Riparian habitat quality as an indicator of land use/land cover effects on riverine water quality

Riparian land use/land cover(LULC)plays a crucial role in maintaining riverine water quality by altering the transport of pollutants and nutrients.Nevertheless,establishing a direct relationship between water quality and LULC is challenging due to the multi-indicator nature of both factors.Water quality encompasses a multitude of physical,chemical,and biological parameters,while LULC represents a diverse array of land use types.Riparian habitat quality(RHQ)serves as an indicator of LULC.Yet,it remains to be seen whether RHQ can act as a proxy of LULC for assessing the impact of LULC on riverine water quality.This study examines the interplay between RHQ,LULC and water quality,and develops a comprehensive indicator to predict water quality.We measured several water quality parameters,including pH(potential of hydrogen),TN(total nitrogen),TP(total phosphorus),T_(water)(water temperature),DO(dissolved oxygen),and EC(electrical conductivity)of the Yue and Jinshui Rivers draining to the Han River during 2016,2017 and 2018.The water quality index(WQI)was further calculated.RHQ is assessed by the InVEST(Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs)model.Our study found noticeable seasonal differences in water quality,with a higher WQI observed in the dry season.The RHQ was strongly correlated with LULC compositions.RHQ positively correlated with WQI,and DO concentration and vegetation land were negatively correlated with T_(water),TN,TP,EC,cropland,and construction land.These correlations were stronger in the rainy season.Human-dominated land,such as construction land and cropland,significantly contributed to water quality degradation,whereas vegetation promoted water quality.Regression models showed that the RHQ explained variations in WQI better than LULC types.Our study concludes that RHQ is a new and comprehensive indicator for predicting the dynamics of riverine water quality.

Spatiotemporal evolution and prediction of habitat quality in Hohhot City of China based on the InVEST and CA-Markov models

With the acceleration of urbanization,changes in the urban ecological environment and landscape pattern have led to a series of prominent ecological environmental problems.In order to better coordinate the balanced relationship between city and ecological environment,we selected land use change data to evaluate the habitat quality in Hohhot City of China,which is of great practical significance for regional urban and economic development.Thus,the integrated valuation of ecosystem services and tradeoffs(InVEST)and Cellular Automata-Markov(CA-Markov)models were used to analyze,predict,and explore the Spatiotemporal evolution path and characteristics of urban land use,and forecast the typical evolution pattern of land use in 2030.The results showed that the land use types in Hohhot City changed significantly from 2000 to 2020,and the biggest change took place in cultivated land,grassland,shrub,and artificial surface.The decrease of cultivated land area and the increase of artificial surface area were the main impact trend of land use change.The average value of habitat quality had been decreasing continuously from 2000 to 2020,and the values of habitat degradation were 0.2605,0.2494,and 0.2934 in 2000,2010,and 2020,respectively,showing a decreasing trend.The decrease of habitat quality was caused by the needs of economic development and urban construction,as well as the impact of land occupation.During this evolution,many cultivated land and urban grassland had been converted into construction land.The simulated land use changes in 2030 are basically the same as those during 2000-2020,and the habitat quality will still be declining.The regional changes are influenced by the urban rapid development and industrial layout.These results can provide decision-making reference for regional urban planning and management as well as habitat quality evaluation.

Temporal and Spatial Evolution Characteristics of Habitat Quality in Kunming Based on Land Use Change

[Objectives]To analyze the change of urban habitat quality in different periods and study the influence of land use change on habitat quality,which plays an important role in regional sustainable development.[Methods]Taking Kunming as an example,based on land use change,InVEST model was used to evaluate the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics of habitat quality.[Results]During 2000-2020,cultivated land,grassland and woodland in Kunming decreased by 277.43,324.99 and 141.72 km 2,respectively;land use transfer presented obvious stage characteristics,with cultivated land,grassland and woodland changing into construction land as the main characteristics during 2005-2010,and 2015-2020.The average value of habitat quality index in Kunming decreased from 0.3119 to 0.3022,showing a downward trend as a whole;the spatial distribution pattern of habitat quality was"low in the middle and high around"(the high value areas of habitat quality are mainly distributed around Kunming,while the low value areas are mainly distributed in the urban aggregation areas of Kunming).[Conclusions]This study can provide theoretical support for future land use planning.

Assessing the benthic habitat quality in the Huanghe(Yellow River) Estuary and its adjacent areas using AMBI and M-AMBI

The protection of the biological diversity and the maintenance of the regional ecological integrity for the Huanghe （Yellow River） Estuary and its adjacent areas are practically significant and valuable. However, frequent human activities and natural climate changes have caused vigorous disturbances on the ecosystem in these sea areas. An objective assessment on the benthic habitat quality （BHQ） of the Huanghe Estuary and its adjacent areas is conducted, using AZTI＇s Marine Biotic Index （AMBI） and multivariate AMBI （M-AMBI） based on the data of macrobenthos in May and August 2011. The results show that both the indices do not correlate significantly, and their assessment results are greatly different. All of the samples assessed using the AMBI were ＂high＂ or ＂good＂, because the ecological group I （EGI） and the ecological group II （EGII） were dominant macrobenthic ecological groups in the research area. Owing to a low species＇ richness and a high individual abundance in some samples, the BHQ levels using the M-AMBI were worse than those of the AMBI. Significant correlations are observed between the M-AMBI, water depth, bottom water salinity and dissolved inorganic nitrogen, thus the M-AMBI could sensitively respond to environmental changes and distinguish influences from uninfluenced stations, but the AMBI could not. The consistent results between the AMBI and the M-AMBI mainly appeared in the uninfluenced （undisturbed or slightly disturbed） sta- tions. Therefore, the M-AMBI is more effective than the AMBI in assessing the benthic habitat quality in the Huanghe Estuary and its adjacent areas. Using the M-AMBI to assess the BHQ of the Huanghe Estuary and its adjacent areas, the results show that 3% of the stations are undisturbed and the BHQs are ＂high＂, and 61% of the stations are slightly disturbed and those of the BHQ are ＂good＂, and the rest are meanly disturbed and those of the BHQ are ＂moderate＂.

Assessment of river basin habitat quality and its relationship with disturbance factors: A case study of the Tarim River Basin in Northwest China

The status of regional biodiversity is determined by habitat quality.The effective assessment of habitat quality can help balance the relationship between economic development and biodiversity conservation.Therefore,this study used the InVEST model to conduct a dynamic evaluation of the spatial and temporal changes in habitat quality of the Tarim River Basin in southern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China by calc ulating the degradation degree levels for habitat types that were caused by threat factors from 1990 to 2018(represented by four periods of 1990,2000,2010 and 2018).Specifically,we used spatial autocorrelation analysis and Getis-Ord Gi*analysis to divide the study area into three heterogeneous units in terms of habitat quality:cold spot areas,hot spot areas and random areas.Hemeroby index,population density,gross domestic product(GDP),altitude and distance from water source(DWS)were then chosen as the main disturbance factors.Linear correlation and spatial regression models were subsequently used to analyze the influences of disturbance factors on habitat quality.The results demonstrated that the overall level of habitat quality in the TRB was poor,showing a continuous degradation state.The intensity of the negative correlation between habitat quality and Hemeroby index was proven to be strongest in cold spot areas,hot spot areas and random areas.The spatial lag model(SLM)was better suited to spatial regression analysis due to the spatial dependence of habitat quality and disturbance factors in heterogeneous units.By analyzing the model,Hemeroby index was found to have the greatest impact on habitat quality in the studied four periods(1990,2000,2010 and2018).The research results have potential guiding significance for the formulation of reasonable management policies in the TRB as well as other river basins in arid areas.

Benthic Habitat Quality Assessment Based on Biological Indices in Xiaoqing River Estuary and Its Adjacent Sea of Laizhou Bay,China

Based on the macrofauna data(2008-2011) in Xiaoqing River estuary and its adjacent sea, Laizhou Bay of Bohai Sea, China, the AZTI Marine Biotic Index(AMBI) and Multivariate AMBI(M-AMBI) were used for benthic habitat quality(BHQ) assessment. Results showed that BHQ presented an obvious trend of improvement along the direction of stream channel and river mouth, and in the coastal areas. AMBI and M-AMBI were significantly related to environmental pressure gradient data. Therefore, the two indices can well indicate BHQ in the studied area. However, there were significant differences between results of the two indices. In the cases of low taxa number and high abundance of single species, AMBI might overestimate BHQ. We thus adjusted its thresholds to solve this problem. And M-AMBI might overestimate BHQ when benthic assemblage was dominated by the opportunistic species. Then we could raise the weight of AMBI in the calculation of M-AMBI to handle the problem.

Habitat quality assessment of mining cities based on InVEST model—a case study of Yanshan County,Jiangxi Province

The assessment of the spatiotemporal evolution of habitat quality caused by land use changes can provide a scientifc basis for the ecological protection and green development of mining cities.Taking Yanshan County as an example of a typical mining city,this article discussed the spatial pattern and evolution characteristics of habitat quality in 2000 and 2018 based on the ArcGIS platform and the InVEST model.The conclusions are as below:from 2000 to 2018,the area of farmland and construction land changed the most in the study area.Among them,the area of farmland decreased by 3.48%,and the area of industrial and mining land and construction land increased by 53.25%.Areas of low,relatively low and high habitat quality expanded,and areas of medium and relatively high habitat quality shrank,which is closely related to the distribution of land use.The areas with high habitat degradation degrees appear around cities,mining areas and watersheds,while the areas with low habitat degradation degrees are mainly distributed in the southern woodland.The distribution of cold and hot spots in the habitat quality distribution of Yanshan County presents a pattern of“hot in the south and cold in the north”.The results are of great signifcance to the precise implementation of ecosystem management decisions in mining cities and the creation of a landscape pattern of“beautiful countrysides,green cities,and green mines”.

Spatiotemporal variations and driving factors of habitat quality in the loess hilly area of the Yellow River Basin:A case study of Lanzhou City,China

Rapid industrialization and urbanization have led to the most serious habitat degradation in China,especially in the loess hilly area of the Yellow River Basin,where the ecological environment is relatively fragile.The contradiction between economic development and ecological environment protection has aroused widespread concern.In this study,we used the habitat quality of Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs(InVEST-HQ)model at different scales to evaluate the dynamic evolution characteristics of habitat quality in Lanzhou City,Gansu Province of China.The spatiotemporal variations of habitat quality were analyzed by spatial autocorrelation.A Geographical Detector(Geodetector)model was used to explore the driving factors that influencing the spatial differentiation of habitat quality,including natural factors,socio-economic factors,and ecological protection factors.The results showed that the habitat quality index of Lanzhou City decreased from 0.4638 to 0.4548 during 2000-2018.The areas with reduced the habitat quality index were mainly located in the Yellow River Basin and Qinwangchuan Basin,where are the main urban areas and the new economic development areas,respectively.The spatial distribution of habitat quality presented a trend of high in the surrounding areas and low in the middle,and showed a significant positive spatial autocorrelation.With the increase of study scale,the spatial distribution of habitat quality changed from concentrated to dispersed.The spatial differentiation of habitat quality in the study area was the result of multiple factors.Among them,topographic relief and slope were the key factors.The synergistic enhancement among these driving factors intensified the spatial differentiation of habitat quality.The findings of this study can provide a scientific basis for land resources utilization and ecosystem restoration in the arid and semi-arid land.

Analysis of Dynamic Changes in Habitat Quality Based on InVEST Models:A Case Study of Pu er City,Yunnan Province

Based on the data of land use status in 2009-2018 in the annual change survey results of Pu er City,Yunnan Province,China,the habitat quality in the city were studied by using InVEST models.The results show that the area of cultivated land,construction land,and unused land in Pu er City continuously increased from 2009 to 2018.The growth rate of cultivated land and construction land in the next three years was significantly higher than that in the previous three years,while the area of gardens,grassland and woodland continuously decreased.From 2009 to 2018,the habitat quality in Pu er City showed a downward trend,that is,there was a clear increase in the proportion of moderate and poor habitat quality and a decrease in the proportion of superior and good habitat quality.Changes in habitat quality calculated by InVEST models can be used as a grasp of regional ecological environment in the investigation before the audit of natural resource assets and breakthroughs in finding clues of problems,thereby improving the scientificity and efficiency of audit work of natural resource assets.

Characterization and projection of spatial and temporal changes in habitat quality of Sanjiangyuan based on land use change

Sanjiangyuan is an extremely important biodiversity-conservation area with notable worldwide ecological significance. However, due to global climate change and increased human activities, the natural environment in this region has undergone major alterations. In this work, we used the InVEST model to assess the spatial and temporal distribution of habitat quality and habitat degradation in the Sanjiangyuan region from 2000 to 2020. CA-Markov model was used to predict the land use changes under “natural development”(ND) and “ecological protection”(EP) scenarios from 2025 to 2050, and a comparative analysis of land use and habitat-quality changes was made in combination with the results of ecological zoning planning. We found that changes in human use land and bare land directly affect changes in habitat quality in Sanjiangyuan and are a major threat to habitat quality. Using the human-footprint index, Sanjiangyuan was divided into key protected areas, key restoration areas, and moderately developed areas. We compared the changes in habitat quality under two scenarios and discovered that under the EP scenario, the region of high habitat quality expanded, indicating that the EP scenario is beneficial for the sustainable development and conservation of biodiversity in Sanjiangyuan.

Spatio-temporal Changes in Wildlife Habitat Quality in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River from 1980 to 2100 based on the InVEST Model

The Yangtze River(YZR) regions have experienced rapid changes after opening up to economic reforms, and human activities have changed the land cover, ecology, and wildlife habitat quality. However, the specific ways in which those influencing factors changed the habitat quality during different periods remain unknown. This study assessed the wildlife habitat quality of the middle and lower YZR in the past(1980–2018) and in future scenarios(2050, 2100). We analyzed the relationships between habitat quality and various topological social-economic factors, and then mapped and evaluated the changes in habitat quality by using the Integrated Valuation of Environmental Services and Tradeoffs(InVEST) model. The results show that the slope(R = 0.502, P < 0.01, in 2015), elevation(R = 0.003, P < 0.05, in 2015), population density(R = –0.299, P < 0.01, in 2015), and NDVI(R = 0.366, P < 0.01, in 2015) in the study area were significantly correlated with habitat quality from 2000 to 2015. During the period of 1980–2018, 61.93% of the study area experienced habitat degradation and 38.07% of the study area had improved habitat quality. In the future, the habitat quality of the study area will decline under either the A2 scenario(high level of population density, low environmental technology input, and high traditional energy cost) or the B2 scenario(medium level of population density, medium green technology and lack of cooperation of regional governments). The results also showed that habitat in the lower reaches or north of the YZR had degraded more than in the middle reaches or the south of YZR. Therefore, regional development should put more effort into environmental protection, curb population growth, and encourage green technology innovation. Inter-province cooperation is necessary when dealing with ecological problems. This study can serve as a scientific reference for regional wildlife protection and similar investigations in different areas.

Use a Spatial Analysis Model to Assess Habitat Quality in Lashihai Watershed

Habitat quality assessments are of great significance for protecting biodiversity.This study analyzes the changing habitat quality of Lashihai watershed based on SPOT satellite images.We extracted the land use data for Lashihai watershed in Yunnan province for the years 2000 and 2015,and then used an INVEST model to evaluate habitat degradation,habitat quality and habitat scarcity in the study area from 2000 to 2015.Spatial statistical methods were used to determine changes to spatial dynamics.Results indicate that the number of areas with habitat degradation was generally small,and that both the number of areas with habitat degradation and the degree of degradation had fallen noticeably during the fifteen-year study period.In general,the quality of habitats was main- tained or improved,while the quality of habitats decreased in only a few areas.The scarcity of habitats for cultivated land had increased,the tension between people and land use was relatively prominent.The reason habitat quality in Lashihai watershed has improved can be attributed to three factors:1)The policy of returning farmland to forests since 2000 has been well implemented and has achieved remarkable results.Loss of forests from logging and deforestation has basically been eliminated,and great progress has been made restoring the ecological environment.2)High background value of quality habitat suitability benefits from the research area's high vegetation coverage.3)The development of the local tourism economy has transformed the area's ecological advantages into an economic bonus,greatly increasing the income level and living standards of residents.At the same time,the ecological resource bonus has increased the enthusiasm of residents for ecological protection and has helped to promote the protection of local eco-systems,both reducing ecological degradation and improving habitat quality.At the same time,increasing conflicts between land and people should be addressed.Support is needed to promote development of the ecological economy while continuously reducing ecological degradation and further increasing residents'income.There must be less reliance on industry and less pressure on both land and people,all the while ensuring that the local economy and ecology can more forward together in a sustainable way.

Spatial Differentiation Pattern of Habitat Quality and Mechanism of Factors Influencing in Resource-based Cities:A Case Study of Tangshan City,China

The degradation of the eco-environment has been a challenge for sustainability in resource-based cities around the world.Although much attention has been drawn to this issue,few insights have been acquired regarding the spatial differentiation and mechanism of the factors influencing habitat quality in resource-based cities from the perspective of the interactions of natural and human factors.Using Tangshan City as a case study,this paper evaluates habitat quality by integrating Ecosystem Service Value Assessment and the InVEST-HQ model,identifies the spatial distribution of Tangshan’s habitat quality with spatial auto-correlation,and explores the influencing factors and their mechanism of influence on the spatial differentiation with the geographical detector model and Space production theory.The results show that:(1)The total value of the habitat quality in Tangshan City in 2019 was 3.45×10^(10) yuan,and the habitat quality value was 24435.05 yuan ha-1.The habitat quality value presents a clustered distribution pattern of"hot in the north and the south,cold from the center to the west".(2)On the county scale,Qianxi County had the best habitat quality and Lubei District had the worst habitat quality;Shangying Township had the highest average habitat quality and Kaiping Street had the lowest average habitat quality in the township unit.(3)The results of geographical detectors show that natural environmental conditions are the important basic factors affecting the spatial differentiation of habitat quality in Tangshan City,while urbanization and industrialization factors are the most important external forces driving the spatial differentiation of habitat quality.The contributions of average elevation,average slope,raw material industrial density,and population density to the spatial differentiation of habitat quality are all above 0.40.The interactions of any two factors on habitat quality are enhanced.Areas with concentrated populations,rich industrial resources,and convenient transportation become low-value habitat quality areas;while areas with beautiful landscape patterns,abundant precipitation,and a comfortable climate become high-value habitat quality areas.Space production theory can be used to explain the mechanism of the formation of the spatial differentiation of habitat quality.

Impact of Land Use Changes on Habitat Quality in Altay Region

Altay region is located in the northern part of Xinjiang,and has complex and diverse internal geomorphic types,undulating terrain and a fragile ecosystem.Studying the impact of land use changes on habitat quality is of great significance to regional ecological protection and development,rational planning and utilization,and ensuring the sustainable development of the ecological environment.Based on the InVEST model,combined with land use panel data and topographic relief data of the Altay region,this paper studied the habitat quality from 1995 to 2018.The results show that cultivated land,water area and construction land increased gradually from 1995 to 2018,while grassland and unused land decreased.Forestland remained stable in the first five periods,but increased significantly in 2018.During 1995-2018,all land use types were transferred,mainly between cultivated land,forestland,grassland and unused land in the flat and slightly undulating areas.Poor habitat quality was dominant during 1995-2018.Habitat quality decreased significantly in 2015,which was related to the rapid expansion of cultivated and construction land as threat sources,as well as the decrease of forest and grassland as sensitive factors.However,habitat quality improved significantly in 2018,because a large amount of cultivated land and unused land were converted into forest land and grassland with high habitat suitability.Land use type has an important influence on habitat quality.The distribution characteristics of habitat quality for topographic relief types from good to bad were:large undulating area>medium undulating area>small undulating area>flat area>slightly undulating area.The findings of this study are of great significance for coordinating social,economic,and ecological development in this region and in similar areas.

Trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services in Yutian County along the Keriya River Basin,Northwest China

The Keriya River Basin is located in an extremely arid climate zone on the southern edge of the Tarim Basin of Northwest China,exhibiting typical mountain-oasis-desert distribution characteristics.In recent decades,climate change and human activities have exerted significant impacts on the service functions of watershed ecosystems.However,the trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services(ESs)have not been thoroughly examined.This study aims to reveal the spatiotemporal changes in ESs within the Keriya River Basin from 1995 to 2020 as well as the trade-offs and synergies between ESs.Leveraging the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs(InVEST)and Revised Wind Erosion Equation(RWEQ)using land use/land cover(LULC),climate,vegetation,soil,and hydrological data,we quantified the spatiotemporal changes in the five principal ESs(carbon storage,water yield,food production,wind and sand prevention,and habitat quality)of the watershed from 1995 to 2020.Spearman correlation coefficients were used to analyze the trade-offs and synergies between ES pairs.The findings reveal that water yield,carbon storage,and habitat quality exhibited relatively high levels in the upstream,while food production and wind and sand prevention dominated the midstream and downstream,respectively.Furthermore,carbon storage,food production,wind and sand prevention,and habitat quality demonstrated an increase at the watershed scale while water yield exhibited a decline from 1995 to 2020.Specifically,carbon storage,wind and sand prevention,and habitat quality presented an upward trend in the upstream but downward trend in the midstream and downstream.Food production in the midstream showed a continuously increasing trend during the study period.Trade-off relationships were identified between water yield and wind and sand prevention,water yield and carbon storage,food production and water yield,and habitat quality and wind and sand prevention.Prominent temporal and spatial synergistic relationships were observed between different ESs,notably between carbon storage and habitat quality,carbon storage and food production,food production and wind and sand prevention,and food production and habitat quality.Water resources emerged as a decisive factor for the sustainable development of the basin,thus highlighting the intricate trade-offs and synergies between water yield and the other four services,particularly the relationship with food production,which warrants further attention.This research is of great significance for the protection and sustainable development of river basins in arid areas.

Spatiotemporal variations of ecosystem services and driving factors in the Tianchi Bogda Peak Natural Reserve of Xinjiang,China

Nature reserves play a significant role in providing ecosystem services and are key sites for biodiversity conservation.The Tianchi Bogda Peak Natural Reserve(TBPNR),located in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China,is an important ecological barrier area in the temperate arid zone.The evaluation of its important ecosystem services is of great significance to improve the management level and ecological protection efficiency of the reserve.In the present study,we assessed the spatiotemporal variations of four ecosystem services(including net primary productivity(NPP),water yield,soil conservation,and habitat quality)in the TBPNR from 2000 to 2020 based on the environmental and social data using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs(InVEST)model.In addition,the coldspot and hotspot areas of ecosystem services were identified by hotspot analysis,and the trade-off and synergistic relationships between ecosystem services were analyzed using factor analysis in a geographic detector.During the study period,NPP and soil conservation values in the reserve increased by 48.20%and 25.56%,respectively;conversely,water yield decreased by 16.56%,and there was no significant change in habitat quality.Spatially,both NPP and habitat quality values were higher in the northern part and lower in the southern part,whereas water yield showed an opposite trend.Correlation analysis revealed that NPP showed a synergistic relationship with habitat quality and soil conservation,and exhibited a trade-off relationship with water yield.Water yield and habitat quality also had a trade-off relationship.NPP and habitat quality were affected by annual average temperature and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI),respectively,while water yield and soil conservation were more affected by digital elevation model(DEM).Therefore,attention should be paid to the spatial distribution and dynamics of trade-off and synergistic relationships between ecosystem services in future ecological management.The findings of the present study provide a reference that could facilitate the sustainable utilization of ecosystem services in the typical fragile areas of Northwest China.

Spatiotemporal variations in ecosystem services and their trade-offs and synergies against the background of the gully control and land consolidation project on the Loess Plateau,China

Studying the spatiotemporal variations in ecosystem services and their interrelationships on the Loess Plateau against the background of the gully control and land consolidation(GCLC)project has significant implications for ecological protection and quality development of the Yellow River Basin.Therefore,in this study,we took Yan'an City,Shaanxi Province of China,as the study area,selected four typical ecosystem services,including soil conservation service,water yield service,carbon storage service,and habitat quality service,and quantitatively evaluated the spatiotemporal variation characteristics and trade-offs and synergies of ecosystem services from 2010 to 2018 using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs(InVEST)model.We also analysed the relationship between the GCLC project and regional ecosystem service changes in various regions(including 1 city,2 districts,and 10 counties)of Yan'an City and proposed a coordinated development strategy between the GCLC project and the ecological environment.The results showed that,from 2010 to 2018,soil conservation service decreased by 7.76%,while the other three ecosystem services changed relatively little,with water yield service increasing by 0.56% and carbon storage service and habitat quality service decreasing by 0.16% and 0.14%,respectively.The ecological environment of Yan'an City developed in a balanced way between 2010 and 2018,and the four ecosystem services showed synergistic relationships,among which the synergistic relationships between soil conservation service and water yield service and between carbon storage service and habitat quality service were significant.The GCLC project had a negative impact on the ecosystem services of Yan'an City,and the impact on carbon storage service was more significant.This study provides a theoretical basis for the scientific evaluation of the ecological benefits of the GCLC project and the realization of a win-win situation between food security and ecological security.

Shifts in foraging behavior of wintering Hooded Cranes(Grus monacha) in three different habitats at Shengjin Lake, China

Background: Wetland loss and degradation result in a reduction in the availability and quality of food for wintering waterbirds. Birds normally modify their foraging behavior to adapt to variations in food availability. In this study, we compared shifts in foraging behavior of Hooded Cranes(Grus monacha) in three different habitats at Shengjin Lake, China to understand the response of these cranes to changes in habitat.Methods: We investigated the food density and foraging behavior of Hooded Cranes in Shengjin Lake National Nature Reserve from November 2014 to April 2015. We used regression equations to describe the changes in food density. A total of 397 behavioral observations were used in the analyses of their foraging efforts. We fitted a candidate set of generalized mixed linear models to analyze the relationship of foraging efforts and food density. We used a method of information theory to guide the selection of the model and Akaike's Information Criterion to calculate the value of each model. The relationship between food density, disturbances and foraging behavior was illustrated using a generalized linear model.Results: Along with the temporal variation and exploitation of food biomass, the food density varied widely among foraging sites. During the early winter period, foraging efforts were more pronounced in the paddy fields and meadows but not significantly different among the three habitats. The cranes spent more foraging effort in the paddy fields and meadows during the middle stage and in the meadows and mudflats during the late winter. The results of the generalized linear model showed that food density and disturbances had different effects on the rate of foraging success during the winter, while the effect of foraging effort was not significant. Furthermore, the rate of feeding success was markedly affected by disturbances in the paddy fields. The combined action of food density and disturbances had a significant effect on the rate of foraging success in the meadows, while the effect of foraging effort was also not significant in three habitats.Conclusions: Changes in foraging behavior were significant in three habitats, which were affected by food density and disturbances. The rate of foraging success increased in the habitat with low food density and low disturbances to increase the foraging efficiency in the lake. With abundant food and a high level of disturbance, the rate of foraging success decreased to ensure more secure access to food.