Water Yield Ecosystem Services Research Articles

Development of a decision framework for river health and water yield ecosystem service in watershed

Maintaining river health in a changing environment is an important way to improve the service value of the river basin ecosystem. An ecological flow threshold process with multiple ecological constraints was proposed using the Range of Variability Approach method and the Improved Intra-annual Spreading method. When combined with the multi-source dataset and the InVEST model, a 'ecology-function pattern-driven and decision' service framework was proposed. The study found that the important ecological constraints of the ecological flow in the Xiangjiang River basin changed after the hydrological change (1991–2019). High pulse occurrence times were delayed by 3 d, while low pulse occurrence times and durations were advanced by 8 d and delayed by 10 d, respectively. Temperature, precipitation, and evapotranspiration are all important factors influencing the dynamic characteristics of the basin's water yield services. Human activities and climate change have contributed nearly 19% more to the temporal and spatial differentiation characteristics of water yield in the basin than in the natural period. Additionally, it was discovered that excessive rainfall can inhibit the impact of other variables on water yield within the basin. Furthermore, the pivotal levels of significant meteorological factors that affect the water yield value of the basin were elucidated. This research leads to a better knowledge of watershed hydrological health in changing environments and a scientific basis for local water resource management decisions and optimal utilization of ecosystem service values.

Exploring interactions in water-related ecosystem services nexus in Loess Plateau

Scientific understanding of the driving relationship between water-related ecosystem services (WESs) and influencing factors, as well as the trade-off and synergy relationship between WESs and WESs, is the premise of reasonably bringing them into management decisions. However, the existing research often separates the above-mentioned two relationships and conducts independent research, which leads to the conflict of research conclusions and cannot be well adopted by managers. Therefore, based on the panel data of Loess Plateau in 2000–2019, this paper uses the simultaneous equation model to combine the two kinds of relationships existing between WESs and influencing factors, establish a feedback loop, and reveal the interactions mechanism of WESs nexus. The results show that: (1) The fragmentation of land use leads to the uneven spatial-temporal distribution of WESs. (2) Vegetation factors and land factors are the main driving factors that affect WESs, and the impact of climate factors on WESs is decreasing year by year. (3) The increase of water yield ecosystem services will lead to the obvious increase in soil export ecosystem services, and there is a synergistic relationship between soil export ecosystem services and nitrogen export ecosystem services. The conclusion can provide an important reference for implementing the strategy of ecological protection and high-quality development.

Multilevel driving factors affecting ecosystem services and biodiversity dynamics on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Understanding the driving factors of ecosystem services and biodiversity (ESB) is necessary for sustainable ecosystem management. Previous studies have analyzed many individual factors affecting ESB on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). However, there is limited knowledge on the scale dependence of the driving factors at different levels. In this study, we selected and assessed vegetation carbon uptake reduction (VCR), water supply index (WSI), and mean species abundance (MSA) on the QTP during 2000–2020, which can represent carbon sequestration, water yield ecosystem services, and biodiversity intactness, respectively. Then, we unutilized the hierarchical linear model (HLM) to determine the impacts of natural factors at the eco-functional zone level and socioeconomic factors at the city level on the three indices. The results showed that the spatial distribution of VCR and WSI had a generally gradual declining trend, and MSA had an increasing trend from the southeast to the northwest from 2000 to 2020. At the eco-functional zone level, degradation of forest and grassland had the greatest, most negative effects on carbon uptake and MSA. Potential evapotranspiration rather than precipitation had the strongest and most positive influence on the WSI. At the city scale, rural per capita net income, GDP, and meat production dominated the decrease in VCR, WSI, and MSA, respectively. The eco-functional zone was nested into the city, population, and economic controlled ESB mainly through its effect on land use, especially grassland. VCR and MSA were mainly affected by natural factors, while WSI was affected by socioeconomic factors. Overall, our study provides a reference for analyzing the multilevel factors that affect the sustainability of ESB.

Spatially Non-Stationary Relationships between Changing Environment and Water Yield Services in Watersheds of China’s Climate Transition Zones

Identifying the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of water-related ecosystem services and the mechanisms influencing them is essential for optimizing ecosystem governance and maintaining watershed sustainable development. However, the complex and undiscovered interplay between human activities and natural factors underpins the solutions to the water scarcity and flooding challenges faced by climate transition zone basins. This study used a multiple spatial-scale analysis to: (i) quantify the spatial and temporal variations of the water yield ecosystem service (WYs) of the Wei River Basin (WRB) from 2000 to 2020 using the InVEST model and remote sensing data; and (ii) look at how human activities, climate, topography, and vegetation affect the WYs at the climate transition zone sub-catchment scale using the geographical detector model and multi-scale geographically weighted regression (MGWR). The conclusive research reveals that there would be a gradual increase in WYs between the years 2000 and 2020, as well as a distinct and very different spatial aggregation along the climatic divide. The average yearly precipitation was shown to be particularly linked to the water yield of the WRB. The interplay of human, climatic, plant, and terrain variables has a substantially higher influence than most single factors on the geographical differentiation of WYs. Bivariate enhancement and non-linear enhancement are the most common types of factor interactions. This shows that there are significant interactions between natural and human variables. Our study shows that precipitation and temperature are the main factors that cause WYs in the semi-arid zone. In the semi-humid zone, precipitation and vegetation are the key controlling factors that cause WYs. We provide new perspectives for understanding and optimizing ecosystem management by comparing the drivers of WYS in sub-basins with different climatic conditions. Based on the findings, we recommend that particular attention should be paid to ecosystem restoration practices in watersheds in climatic transition zones.

Factors driving water yield ecosystem services in the Yellow River Economic Belt, China: Spatial heterogeneity and spatial spillover perspectives.

The stable supply of water resources is an important foundation for maintaining human production and life. With the development of economy and society, climate, socioeconomic and land factors directly or indirectly affect surface Water yield ecosystem services (WY). The driving factors of WY in the Yellow River Economic Belt (YREB) show the spatial spillover effect, which has been neglected in previous related studies. The results show that: (1) From 2000 to 2015, WY in YREB showed an obvious downward trend, with Henan and Shandong having the largest declines; (2) The decrease of WY is positively correlated with climate factors and negatively correlated with socioeconomic and land factors. (3) WY of YREB presents is characterized by obvious spatial heterogeneity characteristics of uneven distribution in the north and south, which is mainly due to the spatial spillover effect caused by climate and socioeconomic factors. Scientifically identifying the spatial heterogeneity of WY and the spatial spillover effect of the driving factors can help managers better understand the spatial driving mechanism of the driving factors on WY. This conclusion provides support for the ecological protection and high-quality development strategy of YREB.

Using InVEST to evaluate water yield services in Shangri-La, Northwestern Yunnan, China.

Water yield is an ecosystem service that is vital to not only human life, but also sustainable development of the social economy and ecosystem. This study used annual average precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, plant available water content, soil depth, biophysical parameters, Zhang parameter, and land use/land cover (LULC) as input data for the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Service Tradeoffs (InVEST) model to estimate the water yield of Shangri-La City from 1974 to 2015. The spatiotemporal variations and associated factors (precipitation, evapotranspiration, LULC, and topographic factors) in water yield ecosystem services were then analyzed. The result showed that: (1) The water yield of Shangri-La City decreases from north and south to the center and showed a temporal trend from 1974 to 2015 of an initial decrease followed by an increase. Areas of higher average water yield were mainly in Hutiaoxia Town, Jinjiang Town, and Shangjiang Township. (2) Areas of importance for water yield in the study area which need to be assigned priority protection were mainly concentrated in the west of Jiantang Town, in central Xiaozhongdian Town, in central Gezan Township, in northwestern Dongwang Township, and in Hutiaoxia Town. (3) Water yield was affected by precipitation, evapotranspiration, vegetation type, and topographic factors. Water yield was positively and negatively correlated with precipitation and potential evapotranspiration, respectively. The average water yield of shrubs exceeded that of meadows and forests. Terrain factors indirectly affected the ecosystem service functions of water yield by affecting precipitation and vegetation types. The model used in this study can provide references for relevant research in similar climatic conditions.

Factors Driving Water Yield Ecosystem Services in the Yellow River Economic Belt, China: Spatial Heterogeneity and Spatial Spillovers Perspectives

Factors Driving Water Yield Ecosystem Services in the Yellow River Economic Belt, China: Spatial Heterogeneity and Spatial Spillovers Perspectives

Detecting land use and climate impacts on water yield ecosystem service in arid and semi-arid areas. A study in Sirvan River Basin-Iran

This study investigates how land use and climate changes affect water yield ecosystem service (ES) in the Sirvan River basin, located in Iran’s Kurdistan and Kermanshah provinces. By detecting land-use and climatic parameter changes in the past, their future evolution were modeled by scenario making. For this purpose, we developed two land-use scenarios (low and high urbanization) and two climatic scenarios (Representative Concentration Pathway 2.6 and RCP 8.5). The implemented scenarios showed how the amount of water yield in the basin and sub-basins changes in the future based on climate and land-use changes. The results showed that, concerning land use, the forest has decreased from 2013 to 2019, and built-up areas have increased. Also, the results showed that precipitation has been declining in the long term, and the temperature has been rising. Finally, the Water yield in 2019 was higher than in 2013 and lower in the future based on forecast scenarios. This trend will continue until 2040. In addition, it was found that the t effects of these factors on water yield ES are a complex process, and based on the results, the impact of climatic factors is more significant than the one of land-use change. We could conclude that this region will face more environmental problems in the future.

Identifying the drivers of water yield ecosystem service: A case study in the Yangtze River Basin, China

The Yangtze River Basin (YRB) is a region of vital economic and ecological importance in China, facing challenges of water scarcity and flooding underpinned by complex, yet underexplored, interactions between anthropogenic and biophysical changes. This study conducted a multi-scale analysis to (i) quantitatively evaluate the spatio-temporal patterns of the water yield ecosystem service of the whole of YRB from 2000 to 2015 using the InVEST model and (ii) investigate the interactive influence of climate, land-use, landscape, and socio-economic factors on the sub-watershed level water yield using the automatic linear and geographically weighted regression modelling. The results pinpointed regions of high and increasing water yield in the southeast of YRB, and that of low and decreasing water yield in the northwest. The YRB’s water yield was found to, in particular, be associated with the average annual precipitation and the extent of the urban area. We identified three interaction effects, which suggest that fostering connected patches in afforestation practices, maintaining slow-pace enhancement in compact urban development and improving the regularity of cropland’s shape in small-scale agriculture development are necessary to sustain the supply of water yield ecosystem service. Our study provides new insights into the joint effects of anthropogenic and biophysical factors underpinning the supply of YRB’s water yield ecosystem service, and sheds light on the indirect pathways of managing water resources via controlling local-level landscape metrics.

Spatiotemporal variation and driving factors of water yield services on the Qingzang Plateau

Water resources are a basic need for social sustainable development and human existence. As an important national strategy for water resources security, spatial and temporal patterns and driving mechanisms of water yield ecosystem services on the Qingzang Plateau (QP) are critical for water resources management, optimal water allocation and the improvement of ecological water protection efficiency. However, only a few relevant studies are currently available. In this study, we simulated the water yield (WY) of the QP over 34 years, from 1982 to 2015, using the InVEST model and analyzed the spatiotemporal dynamic relationships between WY and climate change as well as between WY and vegetation change, using geographically weighted regression (GWR) models. The results showed that: 1) from 1982 to 2015, the WY of the QP increased at an average rate of 3.8 mm/yr; 2) WY presented a reduced spatial pattern from southeast to northwest; and 3) the WY driving factors have individual and spatial differences. In terms of the area percentage in promoting WY when analyzing each driving factor, precipitation (99.8%) and air pressure (53.3%) played the major roles in promoting WY, while temperature (71.9%), wind speed (57.2%), net primary productivity (87.2%), radiation (68.3%) and lake (87.7%) played negative roles. The areas where WY are dominated by temperature are the largest (41.1%), and followed by areas dominated by pressure (19.7%) and precipitation (18.5%). The results of this study provide scientific support for formulating regional water resources policy, social and economic development planning and other macro decisions for the QP.

Climate and land use change impacts on water yield ecosystem service in the Yellow River Basin, China

The Yellow River Basin is an important water conservation and ecological barrier in China. Studying its water supply services is of great significance for the development of the Yellow River Basin and conservation of its ecosystems. This study is based on the InVEST model and scenario analysis method. We used data including land use cover, meteorology and soil type as inputs to analyze the spatial and temporal pattern of water yield in the Yellow River Basin from 1995 to 2018 and the impact of precipitation and land use change on water yield in the basin. The results show that from 1995 to 2018, the water yield in the Yellow River basin increased by 20,106 million m3, the high-value areas of water yield distributed in the southwest and southeast, the low-value areas distributed in the northwest region, and the spatial pattern of water yield changed insignificantly. From 1995 to 2005, the contribution rates of land use change and climate change to water production were 3.32% and 96.68%, respectively, and the contribution rates of land use change and climate change to water production from 1995 to 2018 were − 0.48% and 100.48%, respectively. In conclusion, the influence of precipitation on water production is more significant, and the effect of land use change on water production is smaller. This study reveals the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of water yield and its controlling factors in the Yellow River Basin, which is of great significance to the protection of ecological environment and the maintenance of ecological balance of the whole basin.

Temporal and Spatial Assessment of Supply and Demand of the Water-yield Ecosystem Service for Water Scarcity Management in Arid to Semi-arid Ecosystems

Water scarcity is one of the problems affecting people’s livelihoods in arid and semi-arid areas, requiring a sustainable balance between water demands and water resources. This study was carried out to assess temporal and spatial distribution of water supply and demand in order to help managers to overcome water scarcity in Jiroft basin, southeastern Iran. Spatial supply and demand of water were mapped and standardized rainfall index (SPI) was used to assess drought for a 20 years period (1994–2014). Supply and demand of water were matched in 23% of the basin area, mostly concentrated in the cold zones. Water supply was reduced up to 80% during dry years, declining water supply-demand matching to 5% of the basin area. Shrub-grass rangelands and deciduous woodlands were the most valuable land covers for conservation with $ 1,100 and $ 936 per hectare water prices respectively. Water value dropped more than 72% in mismanaged ecosystems (p < 0.01). Our finding showed that water supply-demand ratio can be used as a proxy of ecosystem health and water-yield, which can provide a good information for water resources managers to reduce the threats of water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions.

Whether land greening in different geomorphic units are beneficial to water yield in the Yellow River Basin?

Understanding the impacts of climate and land use/land cover (LULC) changes on water yield has great importance for water resource management and policy development, especially in arid and semi-arid areas. However, it is unclear whether land greening under the human land management is beneficial to the water yield of different geomorphic units under the unique climate models. Here, we used InVEST model to estimate the water yield of the Yellow River Basin (YRB) in 2000, 2010 and 2019 and selected different scenarios to analyse the contribution of LULC changes to water yield. The results showed that the water yield of the YRB increased during the study period. The mean depth of water yield (MDWY) of grassland, cultivated land, shrubland and forest decreased in turn, while the annual MDWY of each type increased. Cultivated land and grassland were the main contribution types of water yield in the YRB accounting for about 84% of the total, and the annual water yield of LULC types covered by vegetation increased except for cultivated land. The annual water yield of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau (region Ⅰ) and the Loess Plateau (region III) in the YRB accounted for more than 80% of the total YRB water yield and showed an interannual increasing trend with part of the Mongolia Plateau (region Ⅱ) in the basin. The contribution of LULC to water yield in the whole YRB was small compared with that of precipitation, but LULC changes resulted in benefits for water yield in recent years, especially in region III that is controlled by a warm-temperate semi-arid continental climate and region I that is controlled by a plateau cold climate. However, in region Ⅱ, which is controlled by a mid-temperate semi-arid continental climate, revegetation further weakened the water yield ecosystem service. The results can provide references for land use management to enhance water yield under the background of global climate change.

InVEST Model-Based Estimation of Water Yield in North China and Its Sensitivities to Climate Variables

A revegetation program in North China could potentially increase carbon sequestration and mitigate climate change. However, the responses of water yield ecosystem services to climate factors are still unclear among different vegetation types, which is critically important to select appropriate species for revegetation. Based on the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model, we estimated the temporal variations and associated factors in water yield ecosystem services in North China. The result showed that the InVEST model performed well in water yield estimation (R2 = 0.93), and thus can be successfully applied across the study area. The total water yield across North China is 6.19 × 1010 m3/year, with a mean water yield (MWY) of 47.15 mm/year. A large spatial difference in the MWY was found, which is strongly related to temperature, precipitation, and land use types. The responses of the MWY to mean annual precipitation (MAP) are closely tied to temperature conditions in forests and grasslands. The sensitivities of the MWY to climate variables indicated that temperature fluctuation had a positive influence on the forest MWY in humid regions, and the influence of precipitation on grassland water yield was enhanced in warmer regions. We suggest shrub and grass would be more suitable revegetation programs to improve water yield capacity, and that climate warming might increase the water yield of forests and grasslands in humid regions in North China.

An assessment of water yield ecosystem services in Periyar Tiger Reserve, Southern Western Ghats of India

ABSTRACT Protected area water yield calculation and mapping are of great importance to the conservation planning and resource management. A water yield model based on InVEST was employed to estimate water yield in Periyar Tiger Reserve, a representative in the Southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India. The analysis included land use/land cover, average annual precipitation and potential evapotranspiration, soil depth at various elevation, and plants available water content. The estimated water yield of PTR was 2.33E+09 m3 y-1 with 67% from Periyar river watershed and 33% from Pamba river watershed. A comparison of water-yielding capacity to the forest ecosystems with different vegetations indicates that there is a decreasing trend from evergreen forest, semi-evergreen forest, to grassland-savanna, moist deciduous forest and plantations. It is estimated 37% of evergreen and 24% of semi-evergreen share the major portion of the total water yield, 63.5% of PTR. This study reveals the significance of ecosystem services of the protected area and the importance to conserve and required efficient management.

Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Water Yield Service and Its Response to Urbanisation in the Beiyun River Basin, Beijing

Water-related ecosystem services are vitally important for growing mega-cities. However, accelerating urbanisation has brought many associated issues, such as rapid population growth, extensive land occupation and landscape pattern changes, which affect both the functions and services of regional ecosystems. To achieve sustainable urban ecological development, it is necessary to determine the impacts of urbanisation on water yield. In this study, the water yield ecosystem service of the Beiyun River Basin in Beijing was simulated by the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) model and the Geographical Detector method (Geo-detector) was applied to obtain the contributions and temporal regularity of urbanisation impacts on water yield. The results indicated the following: (1) the water yield of the Beiyun River Basin increased from 9.52 × 108 m3 in 2000 to 12.84 × 108 m3 in 2010, with a growth rate of 34.9%; (2) the urbanisation level of the Beiyun River Basin increased from 2000 to 2010, and the selected five landscape indexes varied greatly with the continuously increasing patch density (PD), splitting index (SPLIT) and Shannon’s diversity index (SHDI); (3) during this decade, patch richness density (PRD), SHDI, aggregation index (AI), portion of construction land (CL) and average annual precipitation (AP) were the influencing factors that continuously contributed more than 30% of the spatial variability of water yield in the Beiyun River Basin; and (4) the explanatory power of the interaction between any two driving forces was greater than any single factor. Our results could provide scientific references and constructive advice for city water resource operation from a landscape perspective.

Spatial priority conservation areas for water yield ecosystem service under climate changes in Teshio watershed, northernmost Japan

Abstract Effective information regarding water yield response to climate change provides useful support for decision making in water resources management. By integrating a hydrology model into a systematic conservation model, we developed an approach for modeling impacts of climate change on the water cycles and constructing spatial priority conservation areas for water yield ecosystem services in Teshio watershed located in northernmost Japan. The climate changes were projected to have impacts in increasing surface runoff, lateral flow, groundwater discharge and water yield. Surface runoff especially decreased in April and May and increased in March and September with rising temperature. We then investigated the spatial hotspots of water yields in typical periods (February, April and October, annual average water yield) to determine spatially priority conservation areas for water resources in terms of their different protection targets. The results also indicated that the areas of spatial optimal protection for water yields across different periods dynamically changed from spatial and temporal standpoints. The optimal priority conservation areas were concentrated in the southwest, north and southeast of Teshio watershed through comprehensively taking into account water yields in typical periods. Our results indicated that combination of hydrology and systematic conservation models would improve sustainable management of water resources across the watershed.

Responses of the water-yield ecosystem service to climate and land use change in Sancha River Basin, China

Water supply is a key ecosystem service, directly influencing sustainable development of the social economy and ecological systems. Climate and land use change are two important factors that affect water supply. Since the 1990s, China has implemented a series of land use policies, such as the grain-for-green program, which have significantly changed land use patterns. However, the effect of global climate change on water resources in China is growing, resulting in water shortages and deterioration of the aqueous environment. In this context, China's land use change, concurrent with the impacts of climate change on regional water resources, has become an issue worthy of discussion. This work analyzed the effect of land use and climate change on water yield in 1990 and 2010 using the Sancha River Basin as a case study. The variations in water yield in Sancha River Basin were simulated using the water-yield module in the InVEST (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs) model for three scenarios. The first scenario incorporated land use and climate change into the model in accordance with actual conditions. The second scenario was a simulation without climate change, and the third was without land use change. Water yield in Sancha River Basin increased by 17% between the two time periods in the actual scenario. In the scenario without climate change, land use conversions led to a 0.46% reduction in water yield. In the scenario without land use change, climate change led to a 17.50% increase in regional water yield due to precipitation. The impact of rainfall change on the Sancha River Basin water yield was as high as 97.44% while that of land use change was only 2.56%. This study shows that the grain-for-green program has negatively impacted water yield. Furthermore, to improve the ecological environment of the river basin, a comprehensive scheme for controlling water and soil erosion should be implemented according to the actual variation in water yield. This would give full consideration to the utility of water resources.

Empirical validation of the InVEST water yield ecosystem service model at a national scale

A variety of tools have emerged with the goal of mapping the current delivery of ecosystem services and quantifying the impact of environmental changes. An important and often overlooked question is how accurate the outputs of these models are in relation to empirical observations. In this paper we validate a hydrological ecosystem service model (InVEST Water Yield Model) using widely available data. We modelled annual water yield in 22 UK catchments with widely varying land cover, population and geology, and compared model outputs with gauged river flow data from the UK National River Flow Archive. Values for input parameters were selected from existing literature to reflect conditions in the UK and were subjected to sensitivity analyses. We also compared model performance between precipitation and potential evapotranspiration data sourced from global- and UK-scale datasets. We then tested the transferability of the results within the UK by additional validation in a further 20 catchments.Whilst the model performed only moderately with global-scale data (linear regression of modelled total water yield against empirical data; slope=0.763, intercept=54.45, R2=0.963) with wide variation in performance between catchments, the model performed much better when using UK-scale input data, with closer fit to the observed data (slope=1.07, intercept=3.07, R2=0.990). With UK data the majority of catchments showed <10% difference between measured and modelled water yield but there was a minor but consistent overestimate per hectare (86m3/ha/year). Additional validation on a further 20 UK catchments was similarly robust, indicating that these results are transferable within the UK. These results suggest that relatively simple models can give accurate measures of ecosystem services. However, the choice of input data is critical and there is a need for further validation in other parts of the world.