Study on landscape pattern changes and their correlation with ecosystem services in intensely human-disrupted basins: evidence from China’s Maotiao River

Abstract

Over the past few decades, human activities have increasingly disrupted landscape pattern (LP) in river basins, severely impacting the ecosystem services (ESs) within these regions. This study focuses on the Maotiao River, located in southwestern China, to explore changes in LP under intense human disturbance and their correlation with ESs. Using a combination of landscape indices and ESs evaluation methods, the study reveals the characteristics of LP changes from 1990 to 2020 and examines their effects on key ESs. The results indicate significant changes in the area and spatial distribution of farmland and forestland, with notable differences across riparian gradient zones. Overall, soil retention, carbon stock, and habitat quality have declined, while water yield and food production have increased. The findings also demonstrate trade-offs or synergies between ESs. The percentage of landscape, patch density, mean shape index, and aggregation index show strong correlations with ESs. By analyzing the relationship between landscape indices and ESs, this study identifies the most influential landscape indicators and highlights their changing trends under human disturbance. The results suggest that human activities have led to increased landscape fragmentation and spatial heterogeneity, posing a serious threat to the provision of ESs in the basin. This study provides theoretical support for watershed ecological protection and landscape optimization, contributing to the development of more effective strategies for enhancing ESs and promoting sustainable development.