Threshold effects of vegetation increase on ecosystem services based on the constraint line method in the Loess Plateau gully Zone

IF 7 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecological Indicators Pub Date : 2025-04-22 DOI:10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113470

Xiaoman Liu , Wenwu Zhao , Bingbing Gao , Li Yu , Jingfang Yuan , Tao Liang , Chao Wang , Qian Zhou , Yizhong Huan , Guangjin Zhou , Jixi Gao

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Abstract

Numerous ecological restoration projects (ERPs) in China aim to reverse ecosystem degradation and enhance human well-being through vegetation increase. However, the nonlinear impacts (e.g., threshold effects) of vegetation recovery on ecosystem services (ESs) remain inadequately explored. This study quantitatively assessed the spatiotemporal evolution of fractional vegetation cover (FVC) and three ESs in the Loess Plateau Gully Zone from 2000 to 2020, examining their spatial correlations across multiple scales. Using the constraint line method, we simulated ES response curves to FVC changes and identified the threshold of FVC influence. The results showed that: (1) from 2000 to 2020, FVC increased significantly, with noticeable variations in ESs changes: carbon sequestration rose markedly, soil conservation showed moderate improvement, and water yield declined. (2) over 95% the area exhibited a significant positive correlation between FVC and both carbon sequestration and soil conservation, whereas 43.95% of the area displayed a strong negative correlation between FVC and water yield; (3) FVC demonstrated a threshold effect on ESs, with vegetation coverage thresholds for carbon sequestration, water yield, and soil conservation identified at 77.64%, 66.67%, and 71.45%, respectively. Additionally, we reveal the intrinsic mechanisms underlying FVC’s constraint effects on ESs and its practical applications. These findings offer novel insights for policy formulation on regional ecological restoration.

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基于约束线法的黄土高原沟壑区植被增加对生态系统服务的阈值效应

在中国，许多生态恢复项目（ERPs）旨在通过增加植被来扭转生态系统退化和改善人类福祉。然而，植被恢复对生态系统服务的非线性影响（如阈值效应）仍未得到充分探讨。本研究对2000 - 2020年黄土高原沟壑区植被覆盖度（FVC）和3个ESs的时空演变进行了定量评价，并考察了它们在多尺度上的空间相关性。采用约束线法模拟ES对植被覆盖度变化的响应曲线，确定植被覆盖度影响阈值。结果表明：(1)2000 - 2020年，植被覆盖度显著增加，生态系统变化变化明显，固碳显著增加，水土保持适度改善，产水量下降。(2)超过95%的植被覆盖度与固碳和水土保持呈显著正相关，43.95%的植被覆盖度与产水量呈显著负相关；(3)植被覆盖度对生态环境具有阈值效应，固碳、产水和土壤保持的植被覆盖度阈值分别为77.64%、66.67%和71.45%。此外，我们还揭示了植被覆盖度对生态系统约束效应的内在机制及其实际应用。这些发现为区域生态恢复政策的制定提供了新的思路。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Ecological Indicators 环境科学-环境科学

CiteScore

11.80

自引率

8.70%

发文量

1163

审稿时长

78 days

期刊介绍： The ultimate aim of Ecological Indicators is to integrate the monitoring and assessment of ecological and environmental indicators with management practices. The journal provides a forum for the discussion of the applied scientific development and review of traditional indicator approaches as well as for theoretical, modelling and quantitative applications such as index development. Research into the following areas will be published. • All aspects of ecological and environmental indicators and indices. • New indicators, and new approaches and methods for indicator development, testing and use. • Development and modelling of indices, e.g. application of indicator suites across multiple scales and resources. • Analysis and research of resource, system- and scale-specific indicators. • Methods for integration of social and other valuation metrics for the production of scientifically rigorous and politically-relevant assessments using indicator-based monitoring and assessment programs. • How research indicators can be transformed into direct application for management purposes. • Broader assessment objectives and methods, e.g. biodiversity, biological integrity, and sustainability, through the use of indicators. • Resource-specific indicators such as landscape, agroecosystems, forests, wetlands, etc.