Search

The study of ecosystem service value (ESV) response to landscape pattern evolution has become a research hotspot in the fields of geography and ecology, however, the multi-scale response mechanism of ESV to landscape pattern change in Karst region is still unclear, which to some extent restricts the precise regulation of regional ecosystems and multi-level human-land coupling coordination. This research focuses on the Nanming River Basin (NMRB) in Guizhou Province, a representative karst basin in southern China. Using various methods such as an equivalent factor, an landscape pattern index, and an optimal parameter geo-detector(OPGD), we calculated the ESVs, explored the spatial and temporal evolution of the landscape pattern from 2000 to 2020, and scientifically analyzed the multi-scale response mechanism of the ESVs to the change of the landscape pattern at the sub-watershed scale (27 and 124 sub-watersheds) and at the grid scale (2.4 km × 2.4 km and 1.2 km × 1.2 km grids), respectively. The results revealed that synergies have been the dominant relationship between the ESVs in the NMRB since the beginning of the 21st century. At the 124 sub-basin scale, the landscape shape index (LSI) (21–43%) and coefficient of variation of the shape index (SHAPE_CV) (20–35%) were the main drivers of the geographical differentiation of the trade-offs/synergies among the ESVs, with a few attenuation effect types that weakened the geographic differentiation. However, the two-factor enhancement and nonlinear enhancement were the exception. At the 1.2 km × 1.2 km grid scale, the patch cohesion index (COHESION) (4–49%) and contiguity index (CONTIG_MN) (15–39%) were the main drivers of the spatial divergence of the ESV trade-offs/synergies, and the factor interactions weakened the geographic divergence. At the 2.4 km × 2.4 km grid scale, the COHESION (3%–21%) and LSI (4%–13%) became the primary influences on the spatial divergence, with no independence or attenuation of the type of two-factor interactions. The results are crucial for optimising ecosystem services and formulating appropriate strategies for coordinating ecological-economic development in the karst regions in southern China and around the world. • ESVs in the watershed continued to decrease during the study period; • Construction land expansion has always had negative benefits for ESV; • The trade-offs/synergies of ESV on multiple scales are elucidated; • Quantified the strength of factors influencing changes in ESV trade-offs/synergistic relationships at different scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The optimal indices were determined to landscape pattern analysis in karst areas. • 90 m and 1000 m were optimal landscape grain and extent, respectively. • Urbanization and ecologization were main trends of landscape pattern changes. • Landscape fragmentation was intensified with the regularity tendency of patch shape. The accurate analysis of landscape pattern and ecological process characteristics in rapidly urbanized areas is crucial for formulating policies related to differentiated urban development and landscape management measures. However, there are no convincing set of overall indices suitable and the optimal scale in karst mountainous regions. This study determined optimal landscape indices and scales and analysed the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of landscape patterns in the karst mountainous city of central Guizhou Province by taking Guiyang City as a case study area using Principal component analysis and inflection point analysis. The results show that: (1) the nine landscape indices (i.e., edge density (ED), mean radius of gyration (GYRATE_MN), mean contiguity index (CONTIG_MN), mean shape index (SHAPE_MN), contagion index (CONTAG), interspersion and juxtaposition index (IJI), Shannon's diversity index (SHDI), proportion of urban area (UI), Gibbs-Martin diversity index(GM)) were optimal indices of landscape pattern analysis in karst mountainous cities, with optimal landscape grain and extent of 90 m and 1000 m, respectively; (2) from 1995 to 2019, the landscape pattern in karst mountainous region has changed dramatically under the impact of rapid urbanization, and urbanization and ecologization were main trends of landscape pattern changes; and (3) the landscape fragmentation was intensified with the regularity tendency of patch shape, which is still facing severe challenges to the protection of regional ecological environment. This study makes important contributions to exploring the response between landscape pattern changes and ecological processes and promoting ecological sustainable development in karst mountain cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]