Spatio-temporal dynamics of grassland ecosystem services and the segmentation effects of their drivers: A case in South China Karst

Maintaining grassland stock and improving its ecosystem services (ES) are critical yet challenging for ecological and economic sustainability. However, the diversity and spatial heterogeneity of global grasslands pose significant challenges to studying the spatio-temporal coupling characteristics of...

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Main Authors: Yongyao Li, Kangning Xiong, Wenfang Zhang, Shuai Xiang, Baoshan Zhang, Rong Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Global Ecology and Conservation
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424005961
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author Yongyao Li
Kangning Xiong
Wenfang Zhang
Shuai Xiang
Baoshan Zhang
Rong Li
author_facet Yongyao Li
Kangning Xiong
Wenfang Zhang
Shuai Xiang
Baoshan Zhang
Rong Li
author_sort Yongyao Li
collection DOAJ
description Maintaining grassland stock and improving its ecosystem services (ES) are critical yet challenging for ecological and economic sustainability. However, the diversity and spatial heterogeneity of global grasslands pose significant challenges to studying the spatio-temporal coupling characteristics of grassland area and ES changes, especially in the karst desertification control (KDC) regions. This study quantified the grassland area, grassland ES, and the elasticity of grassland ES in response to changes in grassland area within the KDC region of South China. The Moran index was applied to analyze spatio-temporal evolution characteristics, and a quantile regression model was used to explored the segmentation effects of influencing factors. Results showed that: (1) During 2000–2020, despite a 4.36 % decrease in grassland area (399,205 hm2) within the KDC region of South China, the comprehensive index of grassland ES increased from 0.99 to 1.03. Furthermore, counties where the elasticity index of grassland ES exceeded 1 constituted 73.52 %, indicating a general improvement in ES supply capacity. (2) Factors influencing grassland ES in the KDC region demonstrated clear segmentation effects, with the intensity and direction of the same factors varying significantly across different thresholds. The significance of socio-economic factors has been increasing steadily. (3) Within the framework of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030, differentiated ecological engineering measures should be tailored based on the specific constraints of grassland ES in the KDC region. Our research results open a new perspective for the study of the impact mechanism of grassland ES. It can enrich the understanding of grassland ES and offer valuable insights to guide future initiatives for ecosystem restoration and sustainable development in ecologically fragile, particularly karst, areas.
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spelling doaj-art-7139877365b74dc08dbd8cb3a3bb9c5a2025-01-23T05:27:00ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942025-01-0157e03392Spatio-temporal dynamics of grassland ecosystem services and the segmentation effects of their drivers: A case in South China KarstYongyao Li0Kangning Xiong1Wenfang Zhang2Shuai Xiang3Baoshan Zhang4Rong Li5School of Karst Science, State Engineering Technology Institute for Karst Desertfication Control, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China; Bijie Institute of Science and Technology Information, Bijie Science and Technology Bureau, Bijie 551700, ChinaSchool of Karst Science, State Engineering Technology Institute for Karst Desertfication Control, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China; Correspondence to: School of Karst Science, Guizhou Normal University, Siya Road, Huaxi District, Guiyang 550001, China.School of Karst Science, State Engineering Technology Institute for Karst Desertfication Control, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, ChinaSchool of Karst Science, State Engineering Technology Institute for Karst Desertfication Control, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, ChinaSchool of Karst Science, State Engineering Technology Institute for Karst Desertfication Control, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, ChinaSchool of Karst Science, State Engineering Technology Institute for Karst Desertfication Control, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, ChinaMaintaining grassland stock and improving its ecosystem services (ES) are critical yet challenging for ecological and economic sustainability. However, the diversity and spatial heterogeneity of global grasslands pose significant challenges to studying the spatio-temporal coupling characteristics of grassland area and ES changes, especially in the karst desertification control (KDC) regions. This study quantified the grassland area, grassland ES, and the elasticity of grassland ES in response to changes in grassland area within the KDC region of South China. The Moran index was applied to analyze spatio-temporal evolution characteristics, and a quantile regression model was used to explored the segmentation effects of influencing factors. Results showed that: (1) During 2000–2020, despite a 4.36 % decrease in grassland area (399,205 hm2) within the KDC region of South China, the comprehensive index of grassland ES increased from 0.99 to 1.03. Furthermore, counties where the elasticity index of grassland ES exceeded 1 constituted 73.52 %, indicating a general improvement in ES supply capacity. (2) Factors influencing grassland ES in the KDC region demonstrated clear segmentation effects, with the intensity and direction of the same factors varying significantly across different thresholds. The significance of socio-economic factors has been increasing steadily. (3) Within the framework of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030, differentiated ecological engineering measures should be tailored based on the specific constraints of grassland ES in the KDC region. Our research results open a new perspective for the study of the impact mechanism of grassland ES. It can enrich the understanding of grassland ES and offer valuable insights to guide future initiatives for ecosystem restoration and sustainable development in ecologically fragile, particularly karst, areas.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424005961Grassland ecosystem servicesQuantile regressionMoran indexKarst desertification controlSouth China Karst
spellingShingle Yongyao Li
Kangning Xiong
Wenfang Zhang
Shuai Xiang
Baoshan Zhang
Rong Li
Spatio-temporal dynamics of grassland ecosystem services and the segmentation effects of their drivers: A case in South China Karst
Global Ecology and Conservation
Grassland ecosystem services
Quantile regression
Moran index
Karst desertification control
South China Karst
title Spatio-temporal dynamics of grassland ecosystem services and the segmentation effects of their drivers: A case in South China Karst
title_full Spatio-temporal dynamics of grassland ecosystem services and the segmentation effects of their drivers: A case in South China Karst
title_fullStr Spatio-temporal dynamics of grassland ecosystem services and the segmentation effects of their drivers: A case in South China Karst
title_full_unstemmed Spatio-temporal dynamics of grassland ecosystem services and the segmentation effects of their drivers: A case in South China Karst
title_short Spatio-temporal dynamics of grassland ecosystem services and the segmentation effects of their drivers: A case in South China Karst
title_sort spatio temporal dynamics of grassland ecosystem services and the segmentation effects of their drivers a case in south china karst
topic Grassland ecosystem services
Quantile regression
Moran index
Karst desertification control
South China Karst
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424005961
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