Human impacts on hydrological health and the provision of ecosystemservices: a case study of the eMthonjeni–Fairview Spring Wetland,Grahamstown, South Africa

Wetland hydrological health and the provision of indirect ecosystem services in the eMthonjeni–Fairview Spring Wetland, Grahamstown, South Africa, were assessed in 2008, using the newly developed wetland assessment tools WET-Health and WET-EcoServices. Variation in health and ecosystem services were assessed over time, based on aerial photograph interpretation and the use of the score sheets in these assessment tools. Hydrological health and indirect ecosystem services of the wetland have been altered since 1949, due to human activities both in the catchment and the wetland. The most significant human intervention on the wetland's hydrological health was the result of road construction and invasion by alien plants. Water use by local residents had an unmeasurable effect on hydrological health. Wetland health is related to the provision of wetland ecosystem services, and cumulative impacts in the catchment and wetland have reduced the provision of many indirect wetland ecosystem services.     

图们江下游湿地生态系统健康评价

湿地是世界上具有独特结构与功能的生态系统,图们江流域湿地生态系统的健康对该区乃至东北亚地区综合生态系统网络的建设具有重要意义。选择图们江流域下游为研究区,基于压力-状态-响应(PSR)模型,在压力系统、状态系统、响应系统三个层面选取30个指标构建了图们江下游湿地生态系统健康评价指标体系,运用层次分析法和多级模糊综合评判法对研究区湿地生态健康状况进行综合评价,其结果为0.5878,处于亚健康状态。其中,压力系统的健康指数为0.5292,响应系统的健康指数为0.6866,状态系统的健康指数为0.5116,各等级隶属度S=(16.83%, 25.37%, 16.76%, 16.97%,24.07%)。主要表现在研究区域湿地的补水水质差,导致湿地水质污染加重,富营养化现象严重;并且由于人为因素,湿地大面积退化,景观破碎化加剧,功能逐渐丧失,生产力水平下降;急需对本区域湿地进行保护与管理。     

Plankton respiration and biomass as functional indicators of recovery in restored prairie wetlands

Reliable ecological indicators of wetland integrity are necessary for assessing recovery of restored wetlands; yet, little consensus currently exists on which indicators are most appropriate. We employed indicators derived from simple, standard measures of ecosystem function selected on the basis of ecological succession theory developed by [Science 164 (1969) 262; Bioscience 35 (1985) 419], which suggests that respiration:biomass ratios should increase in disturbed systems due to the diversion of energy from growth to maintenance. This hypothesis holds potential for the development of a simple ecological indicator and therefore was tested among prairie wetlands restored after drainage disturbance. No difference was observed in respiration:biomass ratios in restored wetlands and reference wetlands designated as controls. Plankton respiration or biomass may be poor indicators of disturbance because plankton responds quickly to re-establishment of a wetland hydrology regime and/or because different plankton species may have redundant function. We suggest employing more revealing assessment techniques that employ simultaneous examination of ecosystem structure and function to better characterize subtle or lingering effects of wetland disturbance after restoration.     

Vulnerability of ecosystem services provisioning to urbanization: A case of China

Vulnerability assessment has gradually emerged as a basic tool in analyzing the response of regional and global environment to external events. Many studies have evidenced the increasing urbanization pressures on ecosystems and the threat to their potential for the provision of services. However, rather few efforts have been spared to characterize the vulnerability of ecosystem services provisioning to urbanization. This paper presents an integrated index to determine the vulnerability of ecosystem services provisioning to urbanization in China. It was based on the Exposure-Sensitivity-Capacity framework and integrated 16 indicators of ecological and socioeconomic dimensions. Quantitative analysis verified the effectiveness of the integrated index, and spatiotemporal patterns of vulnerability were obtained. Horizontal comparisons demonstrated that vulnerability was higher in the eastern provinces. The western and central provinces were roughly the same vulnerability level; however, the profiles of vulnerability for these regions were substantially different, particularly in sensitivity and capacity, respectively. The longitudinal comparisons highlighted the vulnerability degree of the eastern and central provinces was intensified between 1979 and 2010. The developed index could be further applicable to other locations and facilitate environmental management.     

The EBM-DPSER Conceptual Model: Integrating Ecosystem Services into the DPSIR Framework

There is a pressing need to integrate biophysical and human dimensions science to better inform holistic ecosystem management supporting the transition from single species or single-sector management to multi-sector ecosystem-based management. Ecosystem-based management should focus upon ecosystem services, since they reflect societal goals, values, desires, and benefits. The inclusion of ecosystem services into holistic management strategies improves management by better capturing the diversity of positive and negative human-natural interactions and making explicit the benefits to society. To facilitate this inclusion, we propose a conceptual model that merges the broadly applied Driver, Pressure, State, Impact, and Response (DPSIR) conceptual model with ecosystem services yielding a Driver, Pressure, State, Ecosystem service, and Response (EBM-DPSER) conceptual model. The impact module in traditional DPSIR models focuses attention upon negative anthropomorphic impacts on the ecosystem; by replacing impacts with ecosystem services the EBM-DPSER model incorporates not only negative, but also positive changes in the ecosystem. Responses occur as a result of changes in ecosystem services and include inter alia management actions directed at proactively altering human population or individual behavior and infrastructure to meet societal goals. The EBM-DPSER conceptual model was applied to the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas marine ecosystem as a case study to illustrate how it can inform management decisions. This case study captures our system-level understanding and results in a more holistic representation of ecosystem and human society interactions, thus improving our ability to identify trade-offs. The EBM-DPSER model should be a useful operational tool for implementing EBM, in that it fully integrates our knowledge of all ecosystem components while focusing management attention upon those aspects of the ecosystem most important to human society and does so within a framework already familiar to resource managers.     

区域湿地生态系统结构与功能变化对生态系统服务价值的影响——以海口市为例

利用海口市1959年地形图和1976、1985、1995、2005、2018年5个年份影像数据的精确配准与解译,基于当量因子的生态系统服务价值(Ecosystem services value,ESV)评估方法,构建了湿地生态系统结构与功能变化对其ESV影响的评估模型,分析了湿地ESV的动态变化。结果显示：(1)基于面积效应的ESV计算结果表明,1959 - 2018年全市ESV损失10.73亿元。1959 - 2018年各项ESV中仅供给服务ESV增加0.58亿元,调节服务、支持服务、文化服务ESV分别减少5.09、1.87、0.47亿元;(2)ESV动态模型修订后的生态系统服务价值当量显示,仅浅海水域、淤泥质海滩和海水养殖场的ESV当量有所增加;沙石海滩、红树林、三角洲/沙洲/沙岛、洪泛湿地/内陆滩涂、淡水湖、河流、水库的ESV当量损失严重;淡水养殖场、农用池塘/坑塘水面、水田、其他用地的ESV当量损失较轻;建设用地ESV当量持续减少;(3)不同空间尺度的湿地ESV损失结果存在差异。湿地ESV评估中,湿地的自我调节和恢复能力不容忽视,外界干扰下湿地生态服务功能变化的阈值有待于进一步研究。     

A conceptual framework to assess the effects of environmental change on ecosystem services

A new conceptual framework is presented for the assessment of the impacts of environmental change drivers on ecosystem service provision and the policy and management responses that would derive from the valuation of these impacts. The Framework for Ecosystem Service Provision (FESP), is based on an interpretation of the widely-used Drivers-Pressures-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework. FESP differs from the DPSIR by offering clarity in the definitions of the various DPSIR components as well as introducing novel elements of relevance to the ecosystem service approach. The value of a common framework lies in making the comparison across competing services accessible and clear as well as highlighting the conflicts and trade-offs between not only multiple ecosystem services, but also multiple service beneficiaries. The framework is explicit, for example, in recognising as state variables not only the attributes of the Ecosystem Service Providers (ESPs), but also the attributes of the Ecosystem Service Beneficiaries (ESBs). That a service depends as much on the attributes of the people whose well-being benefits from the service as on the attributes of the biology providing the service is an important step in integrated social-ecological thinking. FESP also identifies the mechanisms of either mitigation or adaptation to the environmental change problem through the effect of these response strategies on specific pressure or state variables. In this way, FESP can contribute to the policies and strategies that are used to support conservation management. This paper describes the principles of FESP and presents some indicative examples of its practical implementation.     

Hydrological services and the role of forests: Conceptualization and indicator-based analysis with an illustration at a regional scale

Forests are among the most important ecosystems for the provision of hydrological services. These include water supply and water damage mitigation, in the dimensions of quantity, timing and quality. Although the hydrological role of forests is well documented in the literature, a conceptual framework integrating these three dimensions is still missing. In this study, a comprehensive conceptual framework to improve the assessment of hydrological services provided by forests was developed. In addition, the framework was tested by an illustration for northern Portugal, a region with both Mediterranean and Atlantic climatic influences. The TEEB (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity) framework of ecosystem services was adapted to the relation between forests and water. Then, this new framework was complemented with a set of spatially-explicit indicators that quantify the supply and demand of hydrological services. In addition, the implications of the framework were discussed in the context of the social-ecological systems, using the DPSIR (Drivers, Pressures, State, Impacts, and Responses) model. Finally, the framework and the indicators were illustrated for northern Portugal using the water supply (quantity) and soil erosion control as examples. Results show that the proposed conceptual framework is a useful tool to support land planning and forest management, adapting the provision of hydrological services to the regional biophysical and social conditions. The test of the framework across a heterogeneous region suggests that a spatially explicit combination of system property, function, service and benefit indicators can be an effective way of analysing and managing the supply and demand of the hydrological services.     

重点生态功能区农户对生态系统服务的感知——以甘南高原为例

农户作为重点生态功能区的主要经济活动主体,其对生态系统服务的感知直接影响着环境行为,这不仅关系到生态保护计划的执行效果,更关系到该区主体功能的发挥。以地处青藏高原东缘的甘南高原为例,基于入户调查数据,分析了农户对草地、森林、湿地、农田生态系统服务的感知,并运用多元线性回归模型分析了影响农户生态系统服务感知的关键因素。结果表明:(1)甘南高原农户对森林、草地、农田、湿地生态系统服务的多样化感知依次减弱,其中,半农半牧区农户对各类生态系统服务的多样化感知强于农牧区;(2)农户对森林、草地、农田、湿地生态系统服务重要性、可管理性、脆弱性、损害度的感知度依次降低,且不同区域农户的属性感知存在差异;(3)个体特征、家庭特征是影响农户生态系统服务多样化感知的重要因素,个体特征、家庭特征、环境政策是影响农户生态系统服务属性感知的重要因素。     

厦门市土地利用变化下的生态敏感性

当前,城市化与全球变化背景叠加,海岸带生态系统发生了巨大的变化,沿海城市在全球变化下的脆弱性、敏感性与适应能力等问题已经成为政府和科学界关注的重要问题.土地利用变化是导致生态系统敏感性的重要因素之一.以厦门市作为沿海城市的典型代表,对近20 a土地利用变化下的生态敏感性进行系统研究.分析了城市建设用地扩张、围填海等主要土地利用活动对生态敏感性的影响机制;其次建立土地利用变化下的生态敏感性指数,并分析其变化过程;最后通过ArcGIS图层叠加计算功能,获得生态敏感性空间分布状况.结果表明:1987-2007年厦门市城市建设用地面积由1987年的67.48 km2,增加为2007年的308.21 km2,扩张了4.57倍,主要为蚕食农业用地和林地而来;海岸线长度由1987年的290.19 km,增加为1992年的343.23 km,而后减小为2007年的299.93 km,围垦养殖活动使得岸线变得曲折,填海造地活动导致岸线变得平滑.厦门市土地利用强度由1987年的2.44逐年增加为2007年的2.52,生态系统服务价值总体呈现减小的趋势,由1987年的7.39×109元减少到2007年的7.02× 109元,土地利用强度与生态系统服务价值呈现负相关关系.土地利用变化下的生态敏感性指数由1992年的1.50增加为1997年的4.94,而后减小为2002年的4.12,再增加为2007年的4.47.整体而言,近20a来厦门市生态系统对土地利用变化的敏感性灵敏响应程度不很剧烈,生态敏感性高的区域主要位于沿海区域.     

全球环境变化对典型生态系统的影响研究:现状、挑战与发展趋势

随着全球环境变化和人类活动对生态系统影响的日益加深,生态系统结构和功能发生强烈变化,生态系统提供各类资源和服务的能力在显著下降。在这种背景下,全面认识生态系统的结构功能与全球环境变化的关系已成为当前生态学研究的热点之一。本文综述了全球环境变化对典型生态系统(包括森林生态系统、河口湿地生态系统、城市生态系统)影响以及全球环境变化适应的研究现状,分析研究面临的困难及挑战。在此基础上,提出对未来研究发展趋势的展望。在森林生态系统与全球环境变化研究上,未来应重视能更好模拟现实情景的、多因子、长期的全球环境变化控制试验,并注重不同生物地球化学循环之间的耦合作用。在湿地生态系统与全球环境变化研究上,未来应加强氮沉降、硫沉降及盐水入侵对湿地生态系统碳氮循环的影响,明晰滨海湿地的蓝碳功能,加强极端气候和人类干扰影响下湿地生态系统结构和功能变化及恢复力的研究。在城市生态系统与全球环境变化研究上,未来应深化城市生物地球化学循环机制研究,实现城市生态系统的人本需求侧重与转向,并开展典型地区长期、多要素综合响应研究。在全球环境变化适应研究上,未来应构架定量化、跨尺度的适应性评价体系,加强典型区域/部门的适应性研究以及适应策略实施的可行性研究,注重适应与减缓对策的关联研究及实施的风险评估。期望本综述为我国生态系统与全球环境变化研究提供一些参考。     

城市化地区湿地生态系统服务干扰评价——以深圳坪山河流域为例

城市化地区的湿地生态系统服务研究在湿地评价领域相对薄弱,现有的基于环境经济分析的评价模式也难以反映人为活动的干扰影响.本文从城市湿地生态系统服务的内涵确定和人为干扰方式辨识入手,建立表征干扰影响的评价因子体系,并运用层次决策分析法确定指标权重,采用两级式模糊综合评价模型考察人为活动干扰强度和干扰方式的空间分布异质性.以深圳市坪山河流域这一快速城市化典型地区为例进行试验性研究.结果显示：1）自然地理条件是影响坪山河流域湿地生态系统服务干扰的基础要素;2）南部丘陵山区以单一的植被覆被退化为主要干扰方式,干扰强度较低,但保护和管理不容忽视;3）北部平原宽谷地区的干扰强度普遍高于南部丘陵山区,且干扰方式多样化,干扰影响在空间上呈从干流上游至下游先增强、再减弱的趋势,与土地利用格局特征一致,但干扰方式的分布并不连续;4）模糊综合评价模型在湿地生态系统服务干扰评价中具有较好的实用性.     

Land use change and its drivers in Kurt Bahir wetland,north-western Ethiopia

The effects of land-use change on ecosystem services in Kurt Bahir wetland were investigated during 2013 to 2014 using LANDSAT satellite images from 1973, 1986, 2002 and 2013 to identify and map changes in land-use classes over time. To understand perceptions of changes in ecosystem services that resulted from observed land-use changes discussions were held with local key informants and focus group participants. Accuracy assessment was done on the 2013 classified image. In 1973, the land-use classes of the wetland comprised wetland and grazing land, with area coverages of 764.5 and 268.4 ha, respectively. The land-use classes in 1986 were wetland, grazing land and cultivated land, with area coverages of 585.7, 198.3 and 248.9 ha, respectively. The land use of the study area in 2002 was similar to that of 1986. In 2013–2014, however, there was a substantial increase in cultivation and grazing lands at the expense of the wetland, as compared to 2002. Respondents confirmed that free grazing, the harvesting of vegetation, deforestation and expansion of cultivated land were the major threats. This study indicated that land-use change is the main driver of wetland degradation and loss. It is recommended that government organisations should give due emphasis to overcome the anthropogenic effects and to develop a management plan for the sustainable utilisation of the wetland’s ecosystem services.     

Review of the ecosystem service implications of mangrove encroachment into salt marshes

Salt marsh and mangrove have been recognized as being among the most valuable ecosystem types globally in terms of their supply of ecosystem services and support for human livelihoods. These coastal ecosystems are also susceptible to the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels, with evidence of global shifts in the distribution of mangroves, including encroachment into salt marshes. The encroachment of woody mangrove shrubs and trees into herbaceous salt marshes may represent a substantial change in ecosystem structure, although resulting impacts on ecosystem functions and service provisions are largely unknown. In this review, we assess changes in ecosystem services associated with mangrove encroachment. While there is quantitative evidence to suggest that mangrove encroachment may enhance carbon storage and the capacity of a wetland to increase surface elevation in response to sea‐level rise, for most services there has been no direct assessment of encroachment impact. On the basis of current understanding of ecosystem structure and function, we theorize that mangrove encroachment may increase nutrient storage and improve storm protection, but cause declines in habitat availability for fauna requiring open vegetation structure (such as migratory birds and foraging bats) as well as the recreational and cultural activities associated with this fauna (e.g., birdwatching and/or hunting). Changes to provisional services such as fisheries productivity and cultural services are likely to be site specific and dependent on the species involved. We discuss the need for explicit experimental testing of the effects of encroachment on ecosystem services in order to address key knowledge gaps, and present an overview of the options available to coastal resource managers during a time of environmental change.     

A multi-criteria,ecosystem-service value method used to assess catchment suitability for potential wetland reconstruction in Denmark

Wetlands provide a range of ecosystem services such as drought resistance, flood resistance, nutrient deposition, biodiversity, etc. This study presents a new multi-criteria, ecosystems service value-driven method to drive the optimal placement of restored wetlands in terms of maximizing selected ecosystem services which a wetland can provide or affect. We aim to answer two questions: 1) which of the ecosystem services indicators defines the placement of wetlands today? 2) Based on the ecosystem services indicator assessment, what are the recommendations for future selection of catchments for potential wetland reconstruction (i.e. restoration)?Five key ecosystem services indicators produced or affected by wetlands in Denmark were mapped (recreational potential, biodiversity, nitrogen mitigation potential, inverse land rent, and flash-flood risk). These services were compared to current placements of wetlands. Furthermore, scenario testing and hotspot analysis were combined to provide future recommendations for optimal placements of wetlands. The scenarios investigated were Climate Adaptation and Protection of Aquatic Environment, Land-Based Economy, and Rich Nature. Based on these scenarios, the most suitable areas for wetland reconstruction were mapped, taking both the scenarios and attached weightings of ecosystem services indicators into account.According to statistical results current reconstructed wetlands are situated in catchments with lower biodiversity, higher nitrogen mitigation potential, higher land rent (i.e. agricultural intensive areas), and to some extent higher flash flood risk compared to the median of catchments with wetlands. Hence, recreation potential, high biodiversity, and low land rent has not been prioritized. 35 out of the 3023 catchments investigated were identified with an especially high suitability when optimizing all scenarios. This coincides with a high suitability around peri-urban and urban areas and near natural areas, hence capturing both supply and demand services. Of the 35 identified catchments with potentially high suitability, only 2 actually hold a presently reconstructed wetland. This indicates a prior placement with almost no consideration of maximizing ecosystem services benefits.We recommend a systematic approach, such as the ecosystem service value-driven method demonstrated in the present case study, to target more services and improve the overall benefit from wetlands. This approach seeks to inform decision makers of synergies in the landscape, which is likely to transcend future policy implementations.     

基于生态系统服务视角的山水林田湖草生态保护与修复——以洞庭湖流域为例

山水林田湖草系统保护与修复的重要目标是维护和提升区域生态系统服务。基于山水林田湖草生命共同体理念,以维护和提升人类福祉所需的重要生态系统服务为目标,提出生态系统服务视角下的山水林田湖草系统治理框架,以实现流域生态系统整体保护、质量提升和格局优化。基于该框架,以洞庭湖流域为例,通过流域生态系统格局、生态系统质量状况分析、流域生态系统服务重要性评估和生态问题识别,构建流域生态安全格局,为实现可持续的山水林田湖草生命共同体提出系统保护与修复布局建议。通过洞庭湖流域的分析案例为流域山水林田湖草生态保护与修复重要区域的识别提供了可借鉴的指标和定量分析方法,为流域尺度构建生态安全格局、实现山水林田湖草系统保护和修复提供思路和途径。     

论湿地生态系统服务的多维度价值评估方法

为了维系湿地生态系统的功能并制定合理的保护与开发规划,有必要量化湿地生态系统服务的价值。目前学术界尚未形成统一的湿地价值评估方法,而不同的选取方法、评估角度、评估对象等,会导致计算结果存在很大差异,尤其是在对时空差异性服务价值评估和湿地生态系统服务的总价值评估中存在难以量化和重复计算现象。针对上述问题,从湿地生态系统服务的定义、分类和受益人出发,提出了多维度价值评估方法,以定量计算时空差异性服务价值和系统的总服务价值,并探讨了该方法在淮河流域八里河湿地生态系统中的应用以及对其他类型生态系统服务研究的借鉴意义。     

滨海红树林湿地生态系统健康的诊断方法和评价指标

健康的红树林湿地生态系统是指系统组分之间及系统整体维持动态的平衡,在适度的自然与人为干扰下,红树林生态系统服务功能发挥正常。本文筛选并评述了包括指示物种法、结构功能指标法、生态系统失调综合症诊断法、生态系统健康风险评估法、生态脆弱性和稳定性评价、生态功能评价法等6种可用于红树林湿地生态系统健康的诊断方法,分析了各自的应用前景。以压力-状态-响应模型为主线,构建了红树林湿地生态系统健康评价指标体系。在未来研究中,需进一步加强指标的筛选、评价标准与权重的确定,将生态系统健康水平与其生态服务功能相关联,开展具体案例分析。     

生物多样性适应气候变化的国家政策和措施: 国际经验及启示

气候变化已成为威胁生物多样性及生态系统服务功能的主要因素之一, 许多国家已经意识到必须提高本国生物多样性适应气候变化的能力。一些国家出台了国家战略, 采取增加连通性、改进现有保护区域的管理和恢复措施等基于生态系统的适应措施, 采用跨学科与跨部门协作手段加强生物多样性适应气候变化的监测和评估, 并且从制度和资金等方面加强政策措施的落实。作者对部分发达国家和发展中的生物多样性大国的生物多样性适应气候变化的相关政策和措施进行了梳理, 并结合我国现状提出以下建议: (1)把生物多样性适应气候变化作为国家整体适应战略中的优先措施之一; (2)将提高生物多样性和生态系统的恢复力作为适应气候变化的基础性原则; (3)整合并完善国家生物多样性监测网络, 参考国际通行标准制定信息和数据收集标准, 并且尽快对气候变化下我国生物多样性脆弱性开展全面且持续的评估。     

Valuing wetland conservation: A contingent valuation analysis among Iranian beneficiaries

Wetland ecosystems conservation is a critical environmental policy and practice challenge. Though policy protection mechanisms ostensibly establish a commitment to long-term protection, the level and types of wetland threats are growing. Management of sustainable wetland resources requires community commitments to protection amongst predominantly rural stakeholders that draw upon wetland ecosystem services for their livelihoods and is vital to forming a policy strategy. This empirical study uses contingent valuation methodology with rural residents around four key wetlands areas in the ecologically fragile Khuzestan province in Iran. We find that 65% of the residents are willing to pay an amount of personal income to protect wetland ecosystems. The estimated Logit model with 84% prediction accuracy showed the variables of education and job relationship with the wetland had a positive effect on the probability of price acceptance, and the variables of living costs and marital status had a negative effect on the probability of price acceptance. In total, the conservation value of wetlands is estimated at 103351.52 USD. Finally, we assess the policy-relevance of our findings towards community windfall payments, tax disbursements, community resource management schemes, public participation, and social outreach programs to improve social learning buy-in to long-term conservation practices.