Ecosystem Services’ Response to Land Use Intensity: A Case Study of the Hilly and Gully Region in China’s Loess Plateau
The hilly and gully region of the Loess Plateau represents one of China’s most ecologically vulnerable landscapes, characterized by severe soil erosion, intensive land use, and pronounced disturbances to the structure and functionality of ecosystem services. Taking Zichang City as a case study, this...
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| author | Zhongqian Zhang Huanli Pan Yaqun Liu Shuangqing Sheng |
| author_facet | Zhongqian Zhang Huanli Pan Yaqun Liu Shuangqing Sheng |
| author_sort | Zhongqian Zhang |
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| description | The hilly and gully region of the Loess Plateau represents one of China’s most ecologically vulnerable landscapes, characterized by severe soil erosion, intensive land use, and pronounced disturbances to the structure and functionality of ecosystem services. Taking Zichang City as a case study, this research integrates grid-scale analysis with the InVEST-PLUS model and bivariate spatial autocorrelation techniques to examine the spatiotemporal dynamics and inter-relations of four critical ecosystem services—carbon storage, water yield, biodiversity, and soil retention—under varying land use intensity scenarios from 1990 to 2035. The findings indicate that (1) between 1990 and 2020, land use intensity in Zichang City steadily declined, exhibiting a spatial distribution pattern typified by central-area clustering and gradual peripheral transitions. (2) Across three development scenarios, the spatial distribution of the four ecosystem services aligned with the patterns observed in 2020, with central areas showing pronounced fluctuations, whereas peripheral regions experienced relatively minor changes. Specifically, from 1990 to 2020, the proportion of low-carbon storage areas increased by 2.89%, and high water yield areas expanded by 9.45%, while the shares of low habitat quality and low soil retention areas decreased by 5.59% and 6.25%, respectively. (3) A significant spatial autocorrelation was observed between land use intensity and the four ecosystem services, with widespread cold and hot spots reflecting dynamic spatial clustering patterns. These results offer valuable insights for optimizing land use strategies, improving ecosystem service performance, and advancing ecological conservation and sustainable development initiatives. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9758301bbc05451bbffa0e0c9a8a0e25 |
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| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-9758301bbc05451bbffa0e0c9a8a0e252025-08-20T02:00:34ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2024-11-011312203910.3390/land13122039Ecosystem Services’ Response to Land Use Intensity: A Case Study of the Hilly and Gully Region in China’s Loess PlateauZhongqian Zhang0Huanli Pan1Yaqun Liu2Shuangqing Sheng3Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, ChinaKey Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaCollege of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaThe hilly and gully region of the Loess Plateau represents one of China’s most ecologically vulnerable landscapes, characterized by severe soil erosion, intensive land use, and pronounced disturbances to the structure and functionality of ecosystem services. Taking Zichang City as a case study, this research integrates grid-scale analysis with the InVEST-PLUS model and bivariate spatial autocorrelation techniques to examine the spatiotemporal dynamics and inter-relations of four critical ecosystem services—carbon storage, water yield, biodiversity, and soil retention—under varying land use intensity scenarios from 1990 to 2035. The findings indicate that (1) between 1990 and 2020, land use intensity in Zichang City steadily declined, exhibiting a spatial distribution pattern typified by central-area clustering and gradual peripheral transitions. (2) Across three development scenarios, the spatial distribution of the four ecosystem services aligned with the patterns observed in 2020, with central areas showing pronounced fluctuations, whereas peripheral regions experienced relatively minor changes. Specifically, from 1990 to 2020, the proportion of low-carbon storage areas increased by 2.89%, and high water yield areas expanded by 9.45%, while the shares of low habitat quality and low soil retention areas decreased by 5.59% and 6.25%, respectively. (3) A significant spatial autocorrelation was observed between land use intensity and the four ecosystem services, with widespread cold and hot spots reflecting dynamic spatial clustering patterns. These results offer valuable insights for optimizing land use strategies, improving ecosystem service performance, and advancing ecological conservation and sustainable development initiatives.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/2039land use intensity changesecosystem service functionsmulti-scenario simulationhilly and gully region of the Loess PlateauZichang City |
| spellingShingle | Zhongqian Zhang Huanli Pan Yaqun Liu Shuangqing Sheng Ecosystem Services’ Response to Land Use Intensity: A Case Study of the Hilly and Gully Region in China’s Loess Plateau Land land use intensity changes ecosystem service functions multi-scenario simulation hilly and gully region of the Loess Plateau Zichang City |
| title | Ecosystem Services’ Response to Land Use Intensity: A Case Study of the Hilly and Gully Region in China’s Loess Plateau |
| title_full | Ecosystem Services’ Response to Land Use Intensity: A Case Study of the Hilly and Gully Region in China’s Loess Plateau |
| title_fullStr | Ecosystem Services’ Response to Land Use Intensity: A Case Study of the Hilly and Gully Region in China’s Loess Plateau |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ecosystem Services’ Response to Land Use Intensity: A Case Study of the Hilly and Gully Region in China’s Loess Plateau |
| title_short | Ecosystem Services’ Response to Land Use Intensity: A Case Study of the Hilly and Gully Region in China’s Loess Plateau |
| title_sort | ecosystem services response to land use intensity a case study of the hilly and gully region in china s loess plateau |
| topic | land use intensity changes ecosystem service functions multi-scenario simulation hilly and gully region of the Loess Plateau Zichang City |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/2039 |
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