The impact of ecological vulnerability on ecosystem service value and threshold identification: a case study of the Zhangjiakou-Chengde area, China

IntroductionUnderstanding ecological vulnerability and its impact on ecosystem services is essential for promoting sustainable environmental management, particularly in ecologically fragile areas. This study focuses on the Zhangjiakou–Chengde area (ZC area), a representative ecologically sensitive a...

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Main Authors: Ye Wang, Zhong-cai Xue, Yue Yang, Wei Ren, An-qi Ju
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Environmental Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1583841/full
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author Ye Wang
Ye Wang
Zhong-cai Xue
Zhong-cai Xue
Yue Yang
Yue Yang
Wei Ren
An-qi Ju
author_facet Ye Wang
Ye Wang
Zhong-cai Xue
Zhong-cai Xue
Yue Yang
Yue Yang
Wei Ren
An-qi Ju
author_sort Ye Wang
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionUnderstanding ecological vulnerability and its impact on ecosystem services is essential for promoting sustainable environmental management, particularly in ecologically fragile areas. This study focuses on the Zhangjiakou–Chengde area (ZC area), a representative ecologically sensitive area, and explores the mechanisms through which ecological vulnerability influences ecosystem service value.MethodsBased on the evaluation results of the ecosystem service value (ESV) and the ecological vulnerability index (EVI), this study employs Geodetector and constraint line analysis methods to examine their interrelationships.ResultsThe results indicate that: (1) from 2000 to 2020, there was a significant negative spatial correlation between ESV and EVI in the ZC area, with clusters of low ESV–high EVI in the west and high ESV–low EVI in the east; (2) among all the driving factors of EVI, fractional vegetation cover, land use intensity index, average annual precipitation, and population density were identified as the most influential factors on ESV. These variables exhibited clear threshold effects: ESV initially increased with the variable but began to decline after a certain threshold was exceeded; and (3) EVI itself also demonstrated threshold effects on ESV. In 2000 and 2010, ESV growth slowed and then turned negative once EVI exceeded 0.41 and 0.36, respectively. By 2020, EVI showed a consistently suppressive effect on ESV.DiscussionThese findings underscore the importance of identifying critical thresholds in ecosystem management to enhance the protection and sustainable improvement of ecosystem services in ecologically vulnerable areas.
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spelling doaj-art-eaf4a10eeee042fd935b3e9b3d35c0592025-08-20T02:23:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2025-06-011310.3389/fenvs.2025.15838411583841The impact of ecological vulnerability on ecosystem service value and threshold identification: a case study of the Zhangjiakou-Chengde area, ChinaYe Wang0Ye Wang1Zhong-cai Xue2Zhong-cai Xue3Yue Yang4Yue Yang5Wei Ren6An-qi Ju7College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Hebei Minzu Normal University, Chengde, Hebei, ChinaHebei Key Laboratory of Mountain Geological Environment, Chengde, Hebei, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Hebei Minzu Normal University, Chengde, Hebei, ChinaHebei Key Laboratory of Mountain Geological Environment, Chengde, Hebei, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Hebei Minzu Normal University, Chengde, Hebei, ChinaHebei Key Laboratory of Mountain Geological Environment, Chengde, Hebei, ChinaHebei Key Laboratory of Mountain Geological Environment, Chengde, Hebei, ChinaCollege of Beiyan Business, Hebei Minzu Normal University, Chengde, Hebei, ChinaIntroductionUnderstanding ecological vulnerability and its impact on ecosystem services is essential for promoting sustainable environmental management, particularly in ecologically fragile areas. This study focuses on the Zhangjiakou–Chengde area (ZC area), a representative ecologically sensitive area, and explores the mechanisms through which ecological vulnerability influences ecosystem service value.MethodsBased on the evaluation results of the ecosystem service value (ESV) and the ecological vulnerability index (EVI), this study employs Geodetector and constraint line analysis methods to examine their interrelationships.ResultsThe results indicate that: (1) from 2000 to 2020, there was a significant negative spatial correlation between ESV and EVI in the ZC area, with clusters of low ESV–high EVI in the west and high ESV–low EVI in the east; (2) among all the driving factors of EVI, fractional vegetation cover, land use intensity index, average annual precipitation, and population density were identified as the most influential factors on ESV. These variables exhibited clear threshold effects: ESV initially increased with the variable but began to decline after a certain threshold was exceeded; and (3) EVI itself also demonstrated threshold effects on ESV. In 2000 and 2010, ESV growth slowed and then turned negative once EVI exceeded 0.41 and 0.36, respectively. By 2020, EVI showed a consistently suppressive effect on ESV.DiscussionThese findings underscore the importance of identifying critical thresholds in ecosystem management to enhance the protection and sustainable improvement of ecosystem services in ecologically vulnerable areas.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1583841/fullecological vulnerabilityecosystem service valuethreshold effectdriving factorsecologically fragile area
spellingShingle Ye Wang
Ye Wang
Zhong-cai Xue
Zhong-cai Xue
Yue Yang
Yue Yang
Wei Ren
An-qi Ju
The impact of ecological vulnerability on ecosystem service value and threshold identification: a case study of the Zhangjiakou-Chengde area, China
Frontiers in Environmental Science
ecological vulnerability
ecosystem service value
threshold effect
driving factors
ecologically fragile area
title The impact of ecological vulnerability on ecosystem service value and threshold identification: a case study of the Zhangjiakou-Chengde area, China
title_full The impact of ecological vulnerability on ecosystem service value and threshold identification: a case study of the Zhangjiakou-Chengde area, China
title_fullStr The impact of ecological vulnerability on ecosystem service value and threshold identification: a case study of the Zhangjiakou-Chengde area, China
title_full_unstemmed The impact of ecological vulnerability on ecosystem service value and threshold identification: a case study of the Zhangjiakou-Chengde area, China
title_short The impact of ecological vulnerability on ecosystem service value and threshold identification: a case study of the Zhangjiakou-Chengde area, China
title_sort impact of ecological vulnerability on ecosystem service value and threshold identification a case study of the zhangjiakou chengde area china
topic ecological vulnerability
ecosystem service value
threshold effect
driving factors
ecologically fragile area
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1583841/full
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