Spatiotemporal evolution and driving factors of ecosystem services in the upper Fenhe watershed, China

Abstract

Exploring the spatiotemporal dynamics of ecosystem services (ESs) and their drivers is a crucial but challenging task for improving ecosystem management and human well-being. However, few studies have focused on the evolution and mechanisms of ESs in typical upper watersheds in arid/semi-arid regions. Thus, this study examined the upper Fenhe watershed (UFW) in the Yellow River region, and aim to evaluate the spatiotemporal changes in ESs and ES bundles (ESBs) during 2000–2020. To this end, we utilized multi-source data, the InVEST model, and the K-means clustering algorithm. We then determined the contributions of various factors driving ESs using the geo-detector method (GDM). The results revealed that: (1) ESs exhibited spatial variation by county and ES type, and the overall trends were primarily reflected in the decrease in soil conservation (-11.04 t/hm2·a) and the increase in water yield (41.14 t/hm2·a). (2) Cluster analysis resulted in the designation of four types of ESBs in the study area during 2000–2020. (3) The spatiotemporal variation in ESs in the UFW was predominantly affected by natural factors, such as precipitation and sunshine hours. Our results provide a valuable reference for the ecological management and sustainable development of watersheds.

Keywords

• Ecosystem services
• Ecosystem service bundles
• Land use
• Watershed management
• Spatiotemporal dynamics