Abstract
Ecosystem services are the benefits obtained from an ecosystem that have great significance in sustainable development. Urbanization has triggered significant changes on urban spatial patterns, which have had a great impact on the ecosystem services. However, studies on the spatiotemporally varying relationship between urban spatial patterns and ecosystem services are lacking. Taking as a case study, the Nansihu Lake Basin in China, this study aimed to explore the spatiotemporally varying relationship between urban spatial patterns and ecosystem services. Urban spatial patterns were derived by integrating remote sensing and spatial metrics. Ecosystem service values were calculated using ecosystem service models. The spatiotemporally varying impact of urban spatial patterns on ecosystem services was quantified using the Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) model. The findings indicate that urban spatial patterns and ecosystem services have dramatically varied with the urbanization process. The estimated parameters indicate that urban spatial patterns have significant impacts on ecosystem services. The GWR revealed a spatiotemporally varying correlation and improved the explanatory ability in comparison with the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model. The investigation of the impact of urban spatial patterns on ecosystem services can provide more practical support for effective urban planning and ecosystem management.
Highlights
Ecosystem services refer to life-supporting products and services, directly or indirectly obtained from the structure, process, and function of ecosystems that form and maintain environmental conditions and utility for human survival and development [1]
Examining the relationships between urban spatial patterns and ecosystem services is important for effective urban planning and sustainable development
We sought to explain to what extent the urban spatial patterns induced by urbanization are related to changes in ecosystem services in the Nansihu Lake Basin (NLB) by using remote sensing, spatial pattern analysis, and the Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) model
Summary
Ecosystem services refer to life-supporting products and services, directly or indirectly obtained from the structure, process, and function of ecosystems that form and maintain environmental conditions and utility for human survival and development [1]. Ecosystem services are mainly composed of four types, namely, supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural services that form the basis for regional ecological security and sustainable development, as well as being the key to human well-being. Urbanization can improve society and benefit economic development, changes in land use caused by urbanization dramatically affect ecosystem services on a global scale by influencing the interactions between the hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere [4,5]. This is crucial for urban planning and sustainable development because land use changes have irreversible and long-term effects. The increasing populations that accompany urbanization require a greater supply of ecosystem services [6]
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