Abstract
Rapid urbanization, land scarcity, and accompanying ecological deterioration in China have received growing attention. In this paper, two fast-growing metropolitan regions, Greater Shanghai and Greater Hangzhou, were selected as case studies to quantify the impact of land use/land cover (LULC) change on regional ecosystem services value (ESV) at the landscape scale since the late 1970s. The results show that in both regions, dramatic LULC change, especially recent land development at the urban fringes, led to a steady decline in the available area of productive agricultural land, natural land and semi-natural land. This consequently caused remarkable landscape fragmentation along the urban-rural gradient as measured by five class-level landscape metrics. It was estimated that in Greater Shanghai, regulating, supporting, provisioning, and cultural ESVs decreased by 32.05%, 17.89%, 53.72%, and 17.06%, respectively. In Greater Hangzhou, these values decreased by 27.82%, 23.86%, 28.62%, and 22.85%, respectively. In addition, the relationship is quantified between zonal buffer-based ESV and class-level landscape metrics. Further analysis shows that spatiotemporal patterns of zonal ESVs along the urban-rural gradient in these two regions exhibited unbalanced patterns of ecological services delivery.
Highlights
Human induced land use/land cover (LULC) change, accelerated urbanization, has played a key role in the transformation of landscapes and ecosystems worldwide
Howeexvpelra, itnhehohwillythaensedsmemoiu-nnatatuinraoluasntdernraatiunraals lwanedllscaaspneuemleemroenutss cpulaltyuerdalthreesroerltastiivneGhrigehateerrrHoleaningzhou shelter vast cropland, forests, shrubs, and tidal lands, which limit large-scale land development in the southwestern, northwestern, and eastern sub-regions. This can better explain how these semi-natural and natural landscape elements played the relative higher role in trading-off negative effect of urban expansion in Greater Hangzhou, though overall ecosystem services value (ESV) in these two metropolitan regions decreased remarkably due to rapid urbanization
Some specific ecosystem functions affected by LULC change and landscape fragmentation, such as pollination disturbance, habitat loss, landscape connectivity loss, which can be elaborated with one or several assumptions and empirical interpretations, such as pressures from land-use change and intensification [51,52], species’ functional traits influenced sensitivity to human-dominated land use [53], the isolating effects of different patterns [54], and human-induced shifts in the functional structure of biological communities with possible repercussion on important ecosystem functions and services [55]
Summary
Human induced land use/land cover (LULC) change, accelerated urbanization, has played a key role in the transformation of landscapes and ecosystems worldwide. It is located between latitudes 31 ̋321 N–31 ̋271 N and longitudes 120 ̋521 E–121 ̋451 E This region has a northern subtropical monsoon climate, with an average annual temperature of approximately 15 ̋C. Greater Hangzhou is the capital city of Zhejiang province, with a recorded history of approximately 2200 years This city is well known for traditional culture, agricultural products, natural landscape, historical resorts, and relics. It is situated between latitudes 29 ̋501 N–30 ̋321 N and longitudes 119 ̋411 E–120 ̋431 E This region has a northern subtropical monsoon climate with an annual temperature ranging 15.7–17.2 ̋C. The Qiantang River is the major river encompassing eastern Greater Hangzhou Most of this region is located on a flood plain, with a surface elevation ranging from 2 to 10 m, while hilly and mountainous parts account for 28.8% of the region. It covers an area of approximately 3320 km, with 4.99 million residents [33]
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