Ecological Indicators最新文献

Evaluating stand structural and functional impacts of understory removal in forests dominated by low-nutrient specialists in South Korea 评估韩国低营养专家主导的森林中林下植被砍伐对林分结构和功能的影响

IF 7 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecological Indicators

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-03-05 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114730

Si Ho Han , Mark Bryan Carayugan , Ji Young An , Woo Bin Youn , Tomonori Kume , Byung Bae Park

Characterizing the impacts of understory removal, a practice regulating stand structural and functional processes through deliberate control of resource competition, is fundamental to advancing the sustainable management of open canopy forests with dense undergrowth. However, whether understory management is effective in areas dominated by conifers that are tolerant of nutrient limitation remains underexplored. This study investigates soil physicochemical properties, overstory metrics, fine root biomass and necromass by depth, and litterfall production by component in Pinus rigida forests with intact (CON) and eradicated (UR) understory strata for up to five years (2015–2020). Understory removal exerted a limited influence on most soil properties, except for available P, which decreased by 70%, and Ca²⁺, which increased by at least twofold in UR (p < 0.05). All overstory metrics remained uniform regardless of the presence or absence of the understory. Both CON and UR followed a similar negative vertical fine root biomass and necromass distribution with depth, whereas annual production of foliar, non-dominant twig, bark, seed, and miscellaneous litter was significantly greater in CON than in UR (p < 0.05). Given the minimal structural and functional gains from understory removal, it is thus more reasonable to maintain an understory layer in forests populated by low-nutrient specialists to refine overstory stem quality and continue the delivery of other forest regulating and supporting ecosystem services. Our findings contribute to the development of effective understory management strategies, providing valuable insights into the sustainable use and management of forest resources.

对林下砍伐的影响进行表征，是通过对资源竞争的刻意控制来调节林分结构和功能过程的一种实践，是推进林下植被密集的开放林冠林可持续管理的基础。然而，在以针叶树为主、能耐受营养限制的地区，林下管理是否有效仍未得到充分探讨。本研究在长达5年（2015-2020年）的时间里，研究了完整（CON）和铲除（UR）林下层土壤的理化性质、林下层指标、细根生物量和坏死质量（深度）以及各组分的凋落物产量。林下植被去除对大部分土壤性质的影响有限，但有效磷降低了70%，Ca2+增加了至少2倍（P < 0.05）。所有的林下度量都保持一致，不管林下是否存在。CON和UR的垂直细根生物量和坏死块随深度呈负分布，CON的叶、非优势枝、树皮、种子和杂凋落物的年产量显著大于UR （p < 0.05）。鉴于砍伐林下植被所带来的结构和功能收益极小，因此更合理的做法是在低营养专家居住的森林中保持林下植被层，以改善林下植被茎的质量，并继续提供其他森林调节和支持生态系统服务。我们的研究结果有助于制定有效的林下植被管理策略，为森林资源的可持续利用和管理提供有价值的见解。

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引用次数: 0

A Priority conservation strategy based on a multi-scale perspective of ecosystem services: a case study of the taihang mountains, china 基于生态系统服务多尺度视角的优先保护策略——以太行山为例

IF 7 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecological Indicators

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-03-03 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114721

Linghui Guo , Muchao Xu , Yang Zhang , Jingjing Yan , Jiangbo Gao , Hebing Zhang , Youfeng Zou , Yang Hu

Ecosystem service (ES) is widely recognized as a valuable perspective for ecosystem management and policymaking. However, where priority protection should be applied and how to incorporate ecosystem services into targeted management decisions remain unclear. In this case study of the Taihang Mountains, we first quantified changes in five ESs and their interactions across three spatial scales from 2000 to 2020 using geographically weighted regression, self-organizing mapping and partial correlation analysis. By integrating the ordered weighted averaging algorithm with ES relationships, we then identified priority conservation areas and provided precise planning and management strategies. The results showed that the spatial patterns of the five ESs remained largely consistent over time, but their high-value areas increased by 2.71 times on average across the three scales after 2010. Six ES pairs consistently demonstrated synergies while ES pairs related to food production generally presented trade-offs at the grid scale, with these relationships shifting more in intensity and less in direction as the scale increased. Priority conservation areas with protection efficiencies for water yield, soil conservation, habitat quality, net primary productivity, and food production of 1.64, 1.42, 1.32, 1.14, and 1.37, respectively and practical spatial planning and management strategies were proposed to realize the maximum value of multiple ESs. Our findings provide a novel framework for priority conservation strategies aimed at promoting targeted ecosystem management.

生态系统服务被广泛认为是生态系统管理和政策制定的一个有价值的视角。然而，在哪里应该优先保护以及如何将生态系统服务纳入有针对性的管理决策仍然不清楚。以太行山为例，利用地理加权回归、自组织映射和偏相关分析，量化了2000 - 2020年5种生态环境的变化及其相互作用。通过将有序加权平均算法与ES关系相结合，确定了优先保护区，并提供了精确的规划和管理策略。结果表明：随着时间的推移，5个生态系统的空间格局基本保持一致，但其高值区域在2010年后平均增加了2.71倍；六个生态系统对始终表现出协同效应，而与粮食生产相关的生态系统对通常在网格尺度上表现出权衡，随着规模的增加，这些关系在强度上变化更多，而在方向上变化更少。提出了产水量、水土保持、生境质量、净初级生产力和粮食生产保护效率分别为1.64、1.42、1.32、1.14和1.37的优先涵养区，并提出了切实可行的空间规划和管理策略，以实现多个ESs的最大化。我们的发现为优先保护策略提供了一个新的框架，旨在促进有针对性的生态系统管理。

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引用次数: 0

Dual-zone framework for ecosystem service governance: linking functional gradients and ecosystem services bundles along an urbanization gradient 生态系统服务治理的双区框架：沿城市化梯度连接功能梯度和生态系统服务束

IF 7 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecological Indicators

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-21 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114707

Xin Li, Xinjie Liu, Leping Liu, Pengfei Sun, Jiajing Li, Xiaoqian Li, Zhi Dong, Xinchuang Chen

Urbanization reshapes interactions among ecosystem services (ES), making it necessary to clarify how urbanization gradients, ecological mechanisms, together with nonlinear driver responses, jointly regulate ES dynamics to support ecological zoning management, especially in mountainous and hilly regions. Focusing on the central-south Shandong hilly region, we delineated developed (E), developing (I), and rural (R) zones through multidimensional clustering, quantified six major ES, and examined their trade-offs, synergies, and nonlinear drivers using Geographically Weighted Regression and XGBoost-SHAP. ES bundles were further identified using a Self-Organizing Map, and a dual-zone framework was established by integrating urban functional zones and ES bundles, with spatially explicit driver threshold characteristics used to support interpretation and management diagnosis. Results reveal a distinct R > I > E gradient in ES supply and increasing spatial heterogeneity toward urban cores. ES interactions shift from synergy-dominated in E to increasingly complex trade-offs in I and R, with water conservation‑carbon storage being the most urbanization-sensitive pair. Driver regimes differ across zones: socioeconomic factors dominate in E, natural-anthropogenic interactions in I, and biophysical constraints in R. Key nonlinear thresholds include forest cover >10%, temperature ranging from 14 to 14.7 °C, and precipitation >900 mm. Linking these nonlinear response characteristics with ES bundles and functional zones enables precise identification of sensitive areas, providing a scientifically grounded pathway for differentiated and zone-specific ES management in urbanizing mountainous regions.

城市化重塑了生态系统服务（ES）之间的相互作用，因此有必要澄清城市化梯度、生态机制以及非线性驱动响应如何共同调节ES动态，以支持生态分区管理，特别是在山地和丘陵地区。以山东中南部丘陵区为研究对象，通过多维聚类方法划分了发达区(E)、发展中区(I)和农村区(R)，量化了6个主要ES，并利用地理加权回归和XGBoost-SHAP分析了它们的权衡、协同效应和非线性驱动因素。利用自组织地图进一步识别ES束，并通过整合城市功能区和ES束建立了双区域框架，并利用空间明确的驾驶员阈值特征来支持解释和管理诊断。研究结果表明，ES供应具有明显的R >； I >； E梯度，且向城市核心的空间异质性日益增强。ES相互作用从E的协同主导转变为I和R的日益复杂的权衡，其中节水-碳储存是对城市化最敏感的一对。不同区域的驱动机制不同：E区以社会经济因素为主，I区以自然-人为相互作用为主，r区以生物物理约束为主。关键的非线性阈值包括森林覆盖率10%，温度范围为14 - 14.7°C，降水900毫米。将这些非线性响应特征与ES束和功能区联系起来，可以精确识别敏感区，为山区城市化中ES的差别化和分区化管理提供科学依据。

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引用次数: 0

Model-based validation of observational data: The OSPAR North Sea eutrophication assessment as a test case 基于模型的观测数据验证：以OSPAR北海富营养化评估为例

IF 7 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecological Indicators

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-24 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114720

Morten D. Skogen , Johanna M. Aarflot , Solfrid Sætre Hjøllo , Sonja M. van Leeuwen

Monitoring of marine ecosystems is essential for assessing environmental conditions and informing policy decisions. Observational data, while critical, are often spatially and temporally limited, and improper extrapolation might lead to potential biases. Therefore, in situ observations should be validated before use. This need for validation is demonstrated in the present work, where a Marine Mechanistic Ecosystem Model is used to validate the representativeness of the OSPAR North Sea COMP4 winter nutrient observational data set used for the assessment of eutrophication state. By comparing in situ measurements with high-resolution data generated by the model, we assess the confidence in the observational data and explore the sensitivity of the resulting classification of the nutrient status to different sampling strategies. The results highlight the need for proper validation of the observational data, as the confidence of the final assessment strongly depends on the sampling model. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis reveals that the timing of sampling can substantially impact the eutrophication status assessment, and that the current monitoring strategies may not fully capture ecosystem dynamics, highlighting the need for optimized sampling models. Given the increasing budget constraints on monitoring programs, the combined use of ecosystem models and in situ observations can improve the reliability of marine environmental assessments.

监测海洋生态系统对于评估环境状况和为决策提供信息至关重要。观测数据虽然至关重要，但往往在空间和时间上受到限制，不适当的外推可能导致潜在的偏差。因此，在使用前应验证现场观察结果。目前的工作证明了这种验证的必要性，其中使用海洋机械生态系统模型来验证用于评估富营养化状态的OSPAR北海COMP4冬季营养观测数据集的代表性。通过将现场测量数据与模型生成的高分辨率数据进行比较，我们评估了观测数据的置信度，并探讨了不同采样策略对营养状况分类结果的敏感性。结果强调需要对观测数据进行适当的验证，因为最终评估的置信度很大程度上取决于抽样模型。敏感性分析表明，采样时间对富营养化状况的评价具有重要影响，当前的监测策略可能无法完全捕捉生态系统动态，因此需要优化采样模型。鉴于监测项目的预算限制日益增加，结合使用生态系统模型和现场观测可以提高海洋环境评估的可靠性。

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引用次数: 0

Urban carbon emissions and sequestration in Beijing, China (2000−2020): A spatiotemporal analysis using the carbon balance index 北京城市碳排放与固存（2000 ~ 2020年）：基于碳平衡指数的时空分析

IF 7 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecological Indicators

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-21 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114699

Kai Zhou , Shoubang Huang , Chutong Chao , Hao Yin , Xi Zheng

Cities are pivotal regulators of the global carbon cycle, yet the fine-scale balance between urban carbon emissions and sequestration remains poorly quantified. Here, we conduct a high-resolution spatiotemporal assessment of Beijing's carbon balance from 2000 to 2020, integrating emission inventories, ecosystem productivity modeling, and machine-learning–based attribution analyses. Over the period 2000–2020, carbon sequestration increased by 2.34 Mt. C while carbon emissions declined by 11.50 Mt. C. Consequently, the city-wide Carbon Balance Index (CBI) improved by 33.8%, narrowing the carbon deficit from 40.94 Mt. C to 27.10 Mt. C. Four distinct carbon transition pathways were identified, ranging from synergistic mitigation—concentrated in ecological zones—to persistent source-dominated regimes in the urban core. Among all drivers, green coverage ratio emerged as the strongest positive regulator, counteracting the negative effects of urbanization intensity, although diminishing marginal returns were evident in highly dense districts. These results demonstrate that targeted strategies—expanding green infrastructure, enhancing landscape connectivity, and moderating excessive urban density—can substantially buffer carbon losses. The integrative framework and empirical evidence presented here offer transferable insights for rapidly urbanizing cities worldwide seeking to accelerate progress toward carbon neutrality.

城市是全球碳循环的关键调节者，但城市碳排放和固存之间的细微平衡仍难以量化。本文采用排放清单、生态系统生产力模型和基于机器学习的归因分析，对2000 - 2020年北京的碳平衡进行了高分辨率时空评估。在2000-2020年期间，碳固存增加了234万吨碳，而碳排放减少了1150万吨碳。因此，全市碳平衡指数（CBI）提高了33.8%，将碳赤字从4094万吨碳收窄至2710万吨碳。研究确定了四种不同的碳过渡途径，从集中在生态区的协同缓解到城市核心的持续源主导机制。在所有驱动因素中，绿色覆盖率表现出最强的正向调节作用，抵消了城市化强度的负面影响，尽管在高密度地区边际收益递减明显。这些结果表明，有针对性的策略——扩大绿色基础设施、加强景观连通性和减缓过度的城市密度——可以大幅缓冲碳损失。本文提出的综合框架和经验证据为寻求加速实现碳中和的全球快速城市化城市提供了可转移的见解。

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引用次数: 0

Cladocerans and copepods as bioindicators of aquatic ecosystem health: Ecological roles, anthropogenic stressors and limitations 枝目和桡足类作为水生生态系统健康的生物指标：生态作用、人为压力源和限制

IF 7 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecological Indicators

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-20 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114712

Rikhi Kesharee Dehingia , Pranay Punj Pankaj , Lakhmi Nandan Kakati , Jyotchna Gogoi , Snigdha Chakraborty

Cladocerans and copepods are dominant crustacean zooplankton groups that play central roles in aquatic ecosystem functioning. As primary consumers, they regulate phytoplankton biomass, facilitate nutrient recycling, and transfer energy to higher trophic levels, particularly fish and macroinvertebrates. Owing to their short life cycles, high sensitivity to environmental variability, and measurable population responses, these organisms have been widely used as bioindicators of water quality and ecosystem health. This review synthesizes peer-reviewed literature on the ecological roles of cladocerans and copepods in freshwater and marine systems, examines their responses to major anthropogenic stressors, including pollution, eutrophication, climate change, and habitat modification and evaluates their applicability and limitations as bioindicators. Evidence indicates that changes in abundance, community composition, reproductive traits, and functional diversity of these zooplankton groups often reflect alterations in nutrient status, contaminant exposure, and climatic conditions. However, their use as indicators is constrained by factors such as short generation times, high seasonal variability, and context-dependent responses. By integrating ecological function with indicator performance, this review highlights both the strengths and limitations of cladocerans and copepods for aquatic biomonitoring and emphasizes the need for system-specific, high-frequency monitoring frameworks.

枝足类和桡足类是主要的甲壳纲浮游动物类群，在水生生态系统功能中起着核心作用。作为主要的消费者，它们调节浮游植物生物量，促进养分循环，并将能量转移到更高营养水平，特别是鱼类和大型无脊椎动物。由于其生命周期短，对环境变化高度敏感，种群响应可测量，这些生物已被广泛用作水质和生态系统健康的生物指标。本文综合了有关枝海和桡足类在淡水和海洋系统中的生态作用的文献，研究了它们对主要人为压力源（包括污染、富营养化、气候变化和栖息地改变）的响应，并评估了它们作为生物指标的适用性和局限性。有证据表明，这些浮游动物群的丰度、群落组成、生殖性状和功能多样性的变化往往反映了营养状况、污染物暴露和气候条件的变化。然而，它们作为指标的使用受到诸如生成时间短、季节性变异性高和环境相关反应等因素的限制。通过将生态功能与指标性能相结合，本文强调了枝海动物和桡足动物在水生生物监测中的优势和局限性，并强调了建立系统特异性高频监测框架的必要性。

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引用次数: 0

Contrasting short- and long-term effects of warming and precipitation on ecosystem multifunctionality in a semiarid grassland 气候变暖和降水对半干旱草原生态系统多功能性的短期和长期影响对比

IF 7 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecological Indicators

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-20 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114714

Zhiqiang Wan , Lingman Dong , Rui Gu , Hasbagan Ganjurjav , Maowei Liang , Huiying Liu , Ze Zhang , Xiling Gu , Guozheng Hu , Qingzhu Gao , Xi Chun , Haijun Zhou , Enliang Guo , Fanhao Meng , Weiqing Zhang

Ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) reflects an ecosystem's capacity to sustain multiple functions simultaneously and is highly sensitive to climate change. However, whether short-term EMF responses to climate change reliably predict long-term trends—and whether the underlying mechanisms remain consistent through time—remains unclear. Here, we analyzed 12 ecosystem functions, primarily related to productivity and nutrient cycling, to quantify ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) in a decade-long warming and increased-precipitation experiment conducted between 2013 and 2024 in a semi-arid grassland in Inner Mongolia, China. We found that short-term increases in precipitation and warming significantly enhanced aboveground multifunctionality (Above-MF), thereby increasing EMF in the context of warming. However, neither treatment produced a marked effect on the belowground multifunctionality (Below-MF) in short- or long-term observations. These results suggest that short-term climate changes do not reliably forecast the long-term impacts of climate change on EMF. Notably, Above-MF exerts greater regulatory influence over EMF during the initial years, whereas the role of Below-MF becomes increasingly prominent over time. Longer experimental durations are important when investigating the regulatory mechanisms governing ecosystem multifunctionality. We identified limitations inherent in extrapolating short-term responses to predict long-term ecosystem outcomes and report an increased influence of abiotic soil functions on ecosystem multifunctionality under prolonged climate change. Short-term EMF responses do not reliably predict outcomes under extended climate manipulation, highlighting a critical temporal dependency in ecosystem responses. Although plants can drive short-term EMF adjustments, soil elements and microbes are more stable and, thus, crucial for sustaining multifunctionality over time. In future research on the impact of climate change on grassland ecosystems, it is necessary to incorporate temporal dynamics and underground processes into climate change prediction models and grassland management measures.

生态系统多功能性（EMF）反映了生态系统同时维持多种功能的能力，对气候变化高度敏感。然而，短期EMF对气候变化的响应能否可靠地预测长期趋势，以及潜在的机制是否随着时间的推移而保持一致，仍不清楚。本文分析了内蒙古半干旱草原2013 - 2024年10年气候变暖与降水增加实验中12个生态系统功能（主要与生产力和养分循环相关），以量化生态系统多功能性（EMF）。我们发现，降水和变暖的短期增加显著增强了地上多功能（Above-MF），从而增加了变暖背景下的EMF。然而，在短期或长期观察中，两种治疗方法都没有对地下多功能（Below-MF）产生显著影响。这些结果表明，短期气候变化不能可靠地预测气候变化对电磁场的长期影响。值得注意的是，在最初的几年里，中频以上对EMF施加了更大的监管影响，而中频以下的作用随着时间的推移变得越来越突出。在研究控制生态系统多功能性的调节机制时，较长的实验时间是重要的。我们发现了外推短期响应以预测长期生态系统结果的固有局限性，并报告了在长期气候变化下非生物土壤功能对生态系统多功能性的影响增加。短期EMF响应不能可靠地预测长期气候操纵下的结果，突出了生态系统响应的关键时间依赖性。虽然植物可以驱动短期EMF调整，但土壤元素和微生物更为稳定，因此对于长期维持多种功能至关重要。在未来气候变化对草地生态系统影响的研究中，有必要将时间动态和地下过程纳入气候变化预测模型和草地管理措施中。

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引用次数: 0

The decoupling effect and its driving factors of carbon emissions in China's three major urban agglomerations 中国三大城市群碳排放的脱钩效应及其驱动因素

IF 7 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecological Indicators

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-20 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114718

Huiping Wang, Shengjie Tan

Achieving decoupling between economic growth and carbon emissions is a core requirement for China to attain its strategic “dual carbon” goals. As the primary spatial entities for economic activities and carbon emissions, urban agglomerations represent a critical battleground in this decoupling process; however, their decoupling pathways may exhibit significant variations due to differing development models. This study takes the three major urban agglomerations in China, namely the Beijing Tianjin Hebei (BTH), the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), and the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), as research objects. It systematically examines the differentiated characteristics of their carbon decoupling status, green catch-up paths, and driving factors from 2013 to 2022. The findings reveal the following: (1) the decoupling process in the BTH exhibits significant volatility, reflecting a strong policy-driven nature. The decoupling status in the YRD remains generally stable, with weak decoupling maintained during most periods, highlighting its structural advantages as a pioneer in green development. The GBA demonstrates notable external sensitivity and structural resilience, with its path highly reliant on energy efficiency improvements and a service-oriented economic structure. (2) compared to benchmark cities, most cities in the BTH ultimately fall into negative catch-up, reflecting obstacles to green transformation under growth pressure and the vulnerability of surrounding areas. Most cities in the YRD shift from negative catch-up to expansionary catch-up, reflecting regional synergies without relying on high energy consumption for growth. The GBA gradually transitions from early negative catch-up in core cities to expansionary catch-up in most cities and even partial green catch-up in some, indicating a favorable development trend. (3) economic development is the dominant factor driving carbon emission growth, energy intensity serves as the core restraining force and plays a prominent role in the YRD and GBA, while the volatility of energy structure factors reveals that the replacement of clean energy still faces profound challenges

实现经济增长与碳排放的脱钩，是中国实现“双碳”战略目标的核心要求。城市群作为经济活动和碳排放的主要空间实体，是这一脱钩过程的关键战场；然而，由于发展模式的不同，它们的解耦途径可能表现出显著的差异。本研究以中国三大城市群京津冀（BTH）、长三角（YRD）和粤港澳大湾区（GBA）为研究对象。系统考察了2013 - 2022年两国碳脱钩状况、绿色追赶路径和驱动因素的差异特征。研究结果表明：(1)北京的脱钩过程具有显著的波动性，反映出较强的政策驱动性质。长三角地区脱钩态势总体稳定，多数时期保持弱脱钩态势，绿色发展先行者的结构性优势凸显。大湾区表现出显著的外部敏感性和结构弹性，其发展路径高度依赖于能效提升和服务型经济结构。(2)与基准城市相比，BTH内大部分城市最终处于负追赶状态，反映了增长压力下绿色转型的障碍和周边地区的脆弱性。长三角大多数城市从负追赶转向扩张性追赶，反映出区域协同效应，而不依赖高能耗实现增长。大湾区从早期核心城市的负追赶逐步过渡到大部分城市的扩张性追赶，部分城市甚至部分绿色追赶，发展态势良好。(3)经济发展是推动碳排放增长的主导因素，能源强度是核心制约因素，在长三角和大湾区中作用突出，而能源结构因素的波动性表明清洁能源替代仍面临深刻挑战

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引用次数: 0

Rapidly declining wetland ecosystem service value indicated by land use/land cover changes in the Elephant Marsh, Malawi 马拉维大象沼泽土地利用/土地覆被变化显示的湿地生态系统服务价值快速下降

IF 7 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecological Indicators

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-23 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114726

Rodgers Makwinja , Christopher J. Curtis , Solomon G. Tesfamichael

Studies on the impact of land use/land cover changes on ecosystem service value (LULCC-ESV) have remained sparse or highly concentrated in specific regions, i.e., Asia, Europe, and North America. In Africa and Latin America, particularly in Ramsar-designated sites, such studies remain historically scarce despite increased exposure of these sites to human activities. This paper applied multi-temporal, high-resolution, and statistical approaches to evaluate i) the spatial-temporal scales of Elephant Marsh LULCC-ESV and ii) the drivers of ESV changes. The main goal is to generate much-needed evidence for real-time decision-making and the enactment of “wise use” principles. The principal findings indicate losses of forest, marshes, shrubland, and area covered by water at annual rates of 205.53 ha, 592.13 ha, 187.66 ha, and 23.43 ha, respectively, during 1998–2022. These land cover types were converted into barren (64.04 ha/yr), cultivated (894.4 ha/yr), and settlement (43 ha/yr). Marshes had the highest ESV in 1998, i.e., US$4.28 billion. However, their ESV declined at an annual rate of 0.87% (declining to US$2.28 billion by 2022). Water, forest, and shrubland experienced annual ESV losses of 0.25%, 1.27%, and 0.94%, respectively. Cultivated and settlement areas gained annual ESV at rates of 0.73% and 0.28%, respectively. Overall, the annual rate of ESV loss due to LULCC was estimated at 0.73% (declining from US$4.40 billion to US$2.54 billion during 1998–2022). Significant (P < 0.01, 0.05, and 0.1) cold and hot spot ESV clusters were observed at several notable sites in the wetland, although some areas also showed no significant (P > 0.01, 0.05, and 0.1) cold or hot spots. Several key factors, including population growth, livestock production, agricultural production, extreme weather events, policy conflicts, and irrigation expansion, significantly contributed to the ESV loss (P < 0.01 or 0.05). From a Ramsar Convention perspective, our findings offer valuable insights into actionable ecological restoration and management of designated arid and semi-arid Sub-Saharan wetlands.

关于土地利用/土地覆盖变化对生态系统服务价值（LULCC-ESV）影响的研究仍然很少或高度集中在特定区域，即亚洲、欧洲和北美。在非洲和拉丁美洲，特别是在拉姆萨尔指定的地点，尽管这些地点越来越多地受到人类活动的影响，但这种研究在历史上仍然很少。本文采用多时相、高分辨率和统计方法评估了象沼泽LULCC-ESV的时空尺度和ESV变化的驱动因素。主要目标是为实时决策和制定“明智使用”原则提供急需的证据。主要研究结果表明，1998-2022年间，森林、沼泽、灌丛和水覆盖面积的年损失率分别为205.53、592.13、187.66和23.43公顷。这些土地覆盖类型依次为荒地（64.04 ha/yr）、耕地（894.4 ha/yr）和定居（43 ha/yr）。1998年沼泽的ESV最高，为42.8亿美元。然而，它们的ESV以每年0.87%的速度下降（到2022年降至22.8亿美元）。水、森林和灌丛年ESV损失分别为0.25%、1.27%和0.94%。耕地区和聚落区年ESV增长率分别为0.73%和0.28%。总体而言，由于LULCC造成的ESV年损失率估计为0.73%（1998-2022年期间从44亿美元下降到25.4亿美元）。在湿地的几个显著站点上观测到显著（P < 0.01, 0.05和0.1）的冷热点和热点群集，但也有一些区域没有显著（P > 0.01, 0.05和0.1）的冷热点或热点群集。人口增长、畜牧业生产、农业生产、极端天气事件、政策冲突和灌溉扩张等几个关键因素对ESV损失有显著影响（P <； 0.01或0.05）。从拉姆萨尔公约的角度来看，我们的研究结果为撒哈拉以南地区指定的干旱和半干旱湿地的生态恢复和管理提供了有价值的见解。

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引用次数: 0

Governance - pressure inversion and asynchronous recovery in urbanized coastal ecosystems: A spatially explicit DPSIR assessment of Jiaozhou Bay 城市化沿海生态系统的治理压力反转与非同步恢复：胶州湾DPSIR空间显式评价

IF 7 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecological Indicators

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-26 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114723

Longjiang Han , Haolun Li , Wei Zheng , Dewen Ding , Honghua Shi

Traditional environmental assessments often treat urbanized bays as homogeneous units, failing to detect localized degradation hotspots. Consequently, semi-enclosed bays remain the frontline of anthropogenic and natural conflicts where cumulative stressors often outpace resilience, a dynamic often hidden from aggregate metrics. To address these complexities, this study established a high-resolution “Drivers-Pressure-State-Impact-Response” (DPSIR) framework comprising 81 comprehensive indicators. A spatially explicit assessment was conducted across five distinct functional zones (e.g., mariculture, shipping, and wetland conservation areas) in Jiaozhou Bay, China, from 2013 to 2022. Quantitative analysis reveals a distinct recovery trajectory: the composite Environmental Quality Index (EQI) escalated by 135% from 0.31 (“Poor”, Class IV) in 2013 to 0.73 (“Moderate/Good”, Class II–III) in 2022, with 2017 identified as the critical inflection point. After 2017, a “Governance–Pressure Inversion” mechanism emerged, where governance intensity (R) structurally surpassed pollution accumulation (P). This phase transition effectively uncoupled economic growth from environmental degradation. However, recovery was not spatially uniform. We identified a distinct “Asynchronous Recovery” phenomenon: hydrodynamic “dead zones” lagged 2–3 years behind well-flushed areas, constrained by sediment memory effects. These findings challenge “one size fits all” governance models. We propose a “Zone-based Adaptive Management” strategy that prioritizes sediment remediation in the inner bay while focusing on risk prevention in port areas, offering a blueprint for sustainable governance in semi-enclosed coastal ecosystems globally.

传统的环境评价往往将城市化的海湾视为同质单元，未能发现局部的退化热点。因此，半封闭海湾仍然是人为和自然冲突的前线，累积的压力因素往往超过弹性，这一动态往往隐藏在总体指标中。为了解决这些复杂问题，本研究建立了一个高分辨率的“驾驶员-压力-状态-影响-响应”（DPSIR）框架，包括81个综合指标。2013年至2022年，对中国胶州湾五个不同功能区（如海水养殖区、航运区和湿地保护区）进行了空间明确评估。定量分析显示了明显的恢复轨迹：综合环境质量指数（EQI）从2013年的0.31（“差”，IV类）上升到2022年的0.73（“中/好”，II-III类），上升了135%，2017年被确定为关键拐点。2017年以后，出现了治理强度(R)结构性超过污染积累(P)的“治理压力反转”机制。这一阶段转变有效地将经济增长与环境退化脱钩。然而，恢复在空间上并不均匀。我们发现了一种明显的“异步恢复”现象：受沉积物记忆效应的限制，水动力“死区”落后于冲水井区域2-3年。这些发现挑战了“一刀切”的治理模型。我们提出了一种“基于区域的适应性管理”策略，优先考虑内湾的沉积物修复，同时关注港区的风险防范，为全球半封闭沿海生态系统的可持续治理提供了蓝图。

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引用次数: 0