Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Driving Factors of Ecosystem Regulation Services Value at the Plot Scale

Abstract

The value of ecosystem regulation services (ERSV) is a crucial aspect of gross ecosystem product (GEP). Understanding and mastering the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and driving factors of ERSV is essential for the efficient management of regional ecosystems. This study proposes an ERSV accounting model at the plot scale and uses the barycentric analysis method, the optimal parameters-based geographical detector model (OPGD), and the constraint line extraction method to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics, main driving factors, and constraint rules of ERSV in Yunyang District, Hubei Province in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2021. The results show that (1) In the temporal dimension, the overall ERSV of the district increased by CNY 1.664 billion from 2016 to 2021, with an increase rate of 3.68%. The contribution values of climate regulation function and water retention function to ERSV was significant. (2) In the spatial dimension, the ERSV was high in the north and south and low in the middle, with high-value areas mainly located in woodland and wetland areas. The center of gravity of the ERSV increase shifted to the southwest by 12,455.42 m, while the center of gravity of the reduction shifted to the southwest by 3582.79 m from 2016 to 2021. (3) The interaction of any two driving factors had greater explanatory power for the spatial differentiation of ERSV than that of a single driving factor, and all of them showed nonlinear or double factor enhancement characteristics. The human active index (HAI) and construction land proportion (CLP) were the leading anthropogenic factors, while the land surface temperature (LST) and NDVI were the leading natural factors. (4) The ERSV could maintain a high and stable value output when the HAI was less than 0.3, CLP was less than 15%, LST was between 18 and 22 °C, and NDVI was greater than 0.5. These results can guide the practices of ecology, production, and life in Yunyang District and contribute to the high quality and sustainable development of the regional ecology and economy.