Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-19DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114715
Robin J. Pakeman , Jenni A. Stockan
Studies of the impacts of climate change on invertebrates have largely been concentrated on large, easy to identify groups such as butterflies, dragonflies and moths. Taking advantage of trend data calculated for a wider set of invertebrate species in the UK, a wider assessment was carried out by evaluating the relationships between both long-term and short-term species trends and Species Climate Indices. Across all invertebrate species there was a positive relationship between both January and July Temperature Indices and both long-term and short-term trends, and a negative relationship between Species Precipitation Index and long-term trends. A subset of species groups showed similar responses, including the first evidence using this approach for differential responses of species within the Hemipteran groups Aquatic bugs, Plant bugs and Shield bugs, Craneflies, the Dipteran groups Fungus gnats, Empididae, Hybotidae & Dolichopodidae and Soldier flies, Millipedes, Spiders (including Araneae, Pseudoscorpiones, Opiliones) and Wasps. Combining trend information with information on the climate preferences of species provides a means of broadening understanding beyond groups that are the focus of specific recording schemes.
{"title":"Species Climate Indices predict changes in occurrence of some UK invertebrate groups.","authors":"Robin J. Pakeman , Jenni A. Stockan","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114715","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114715","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Studies of the impacts of climate change on invertebrates have largely been concentrated on large, easy to identify groups such as butterflies, dragonflies and moths. Taking advantage of trend data calculated for a wider set of invertebrate species in the UK, a wider assessment was carried out by evaluating the relationships between both long-term and short-term species trends and Species Climate Indices. Across all invertebrate species there was a positive relationship between both January and July Temperature Indices and both long-term and short-term trends, and a negative relationship between Species Precipitation Index and long-term trends. A subset of species groups showed similar responses, including the first evidence using this approach for differential responses of species within the Hemipteran groups Aquatic bugs, Plant bugs and Shield bugs, Craneflies, the Dipteran groups Fungus gnats, Empididae, Hybotidae & Dolichopodidae and Soldier flies, Millipedes, Spiders (including Araneae, Pseudoscorpiones, Opiliones) and Wasps. Combining trend information with information on the climate preferences of species provides a means of broadening understanding beyond groups that are the focus of specific recording schemes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"184 ","pages":"Article 114715"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147407721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-25DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114701
Niclas Müller , Kristin Franz , Matthias Dieter
Ecosystem services represent a significant contribution that forest enterprises make to human well-being. However, the extent to which these services are recognized by society and politics varies considerably. On the one hand, political attention has so far been limited to a narrow range of ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration and biodiversity. On the other hand, there is a lack of data availability, especially at the forest operational level, which impedes a comprehensive representation of ecosystem services. This is of particular relevance, as every operational decision has a direct impact on ecosystems and their associated services. To address this gap, politically relevant ecosystem services were first identified. Subsequently, a scoping review was conducted to determine applicable indicators for their representation. For these indicators to be integrated in an existing Forest Accountancy Network, they had to meet specific criteria. These criteria were evaluated through two separate surveys assessing the feasibility and suitability of these indicators at the forest operational level. Feasibility was examined through a survey of forest enterprises, whereas suitability was evaluated by a dedicated survey of ecosystem service experts. The results provide a set of applicable indicators that allow for representation of specific ecosystem groups at the forest operational level. In doing so, this research lays the foundation for a more transparent and precise evaluation of forest enterprise performance, thereby enhancing comparability among forest enterprises and offering policymakers and society a clearer understanding of the multifunctional contributions made by forest enterprises.
{"title":"Monitoring forest ecosystem services in Germany: How do data demand and operational supply match","authors":"Niclas Müller , Kristin Franz , Matthias Dieter","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114701","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114701","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ecosystem services represent a significant contribution that forest enterprises make to human well-being. However, the extent to which these services are recognized by society and politics varies considerably. On the one hand, political attention has so far been limited to a narrow range of ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration and biodiversity. On the other hand, there is a lack of data availability, especially at the forest operational level, which impedes a comprehensive representation of ecosystem services. This is of particular relevance, as every operational decision has a direct impact on ecosystems and their associated services. To address this gap, politically relevant ecosystem services were first identified. Subsequently, a scoping review was conducted to determine applicable indicators for their representation. For these indicators to be integrated in an existing Forest Accountancy Network, they had to meet specific criteria. These criteria were evaluated through two separate surveys assessing the feasibility and suitability of these indicators at the forest operational level. Feasibility was examined through a survey of forest enterprises, whereas suitability was evaluated by a dedicated survey of ecosystem service experts. The results provide a set of applicable indicators that allow for representation of specific ecosystem groups at the forest operational level. In doing so, this research lays the foundation for a more transparent and precise evaluation of forest enterprise performance, thereby enhancing comparability among forest enterprises and offering policymakers and society a clearer understanding of the multifunctional contributions made by forest enterprises.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"184 ","pages":"Article 114701"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147407893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-27DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114710
Huiliang Wang , Fan Wang , Hong Lv , Zhilei Yu
Against the backdrop of global climate change, ecosystems in arid inland river basins are experiencing increasing environmental pressures. Long-term, high-resolution monitoring of vegetation dynamics is therefore essential for assessing ecological conditions and identifying potential risks. Based on the annual maximum NDVI time series from 1990 to 2024 in the Heihe River Basin, this study systematically characterizes the spatiotemporal patterns of vegetation change by integrating trend analysis, the Geodetector model, residual diagnostics, and time-lag zoning methods. Furthermore, it quantitatively examines the relative influences of climatic factors and human activities on vegetation dynamics and their phased adjustment characteristics. The results reveal a significant overall greening trend across the Heihe River Basin during the study period, with NDVI exhibiting a clear spatial gradient characterized by higher values in the upstream regions and lower values downstream. Geodetector analysis indicates that hydrological factors—particularly precipitation and soil moisture—consistently exert strong explanatory power on vegetation change, with q values generally exceeding 0.59 throughout the study period. Meanwhile, the explanatory power of aridity indices for NDVI shows a long-term declining trend, suggesting phased adjustments in the statistical relationship between vegetation dynamics and aridity conditions. Residual diagnostics further demonstrate marked differences in the relative contributions of non-climatic factors to vegetation change around the year 2000. Hurst index analysis suggests that approximately 96% of the basin exhibits stable or persistently improving vegetation trends, while potential degradation risks are mainly concentrated in desert fringe areas. Overall, this study elucidates the pronounced spatiotemporal heterogeneity of vegetation dynamics and their driving mechanisms in the Heihe River Basin.
{"title":"Analysis of spatiotemporal variations and driving forces of NDVI based on random forest and Geodetector: A case study of the Heihe river basin in China","authors":"Huiliang Wang , Fan Wang , Hong Lv , Zhilei Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114710","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114710","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Against the backdrop of global climate change, ecosystems in arid inland river basins are experiencing increasing environmental pressures. Long-term, high-resolution monitoring of vegetation dynamics is therefore essential for assessing ecological conditions and identifying potential risks. Based on the annual maximum NDVI time series from 1990 to 2024 in the Heihe River Basin, this study systematically characterizes the spatiotemporal patterns of vegetation change by integrating trend analysis, the Geodetector model, residual diagnostics, and time-lag zoning methods. Furthermore, it quantitatively examines the relative influences of climatic factors and human activities on vegetation dynamics and their phased adjustment characteristics. The results reveal a significant overall greening trend across the Heihe River Basin during the study period, with NDVI exhibiting a clear spatial gradient characterized by higher values in the upstream regions and lower values downstream. Geodetector analysis indicates that hydrological factors—particularly precipitation and soil moisture—consistently exert strong explanatory power on vegetation change, with q values generally exceeding 0.59 throughout the study period. Meanwhile, the explanatory power of aridity indices for NDVI shows a long-term declining trend, suggesting phased adjustments in the statistical relationship between vegetation dynamics and aridity conditions. Residual diagnostics further demonstrate marked differences in the relative contributions of non-climatic factors to vegetation change around the year 2000. Hurst index analysis suggests that approximately 96% of the basin exhibits stable or persistently improving vegetation trends, while potential degradation risks are mainly concentrated in desert fringe areas. Overall, this study elucidates the pronounced spatiotemporal heterogeneity of vegetation dynamics and their driving mechanisms in the Heihe River Basin.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"184 ","pages":"Article 114710"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147407715","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-03-07DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114741
Laura M. Norman , Roy E. Petrakis , Natalie R. Wilson , Barry R. Middleton , Miguel L. Villarreal , Michael Pollock , Thomas A. Minckley , Dean Hendrickson
Ciénegas are rare wetlands in arid landscapes of the North American Southwest, historically providing critical ecological and hydrological functions but increasingly threatened by changing climate and land use pressures. This study quantifies changes in ciénega condition and floodplain dynamics using a state-and-transition model (STM) informed by expert knowledge and remote sensing. Key factors include woody plant encroachment, water availability, and soil aggradation. We mapped 31 ciénegas with high-resolution imagery and analyzed Landsat data (1985–2023) to assess vegetation health and moisture using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Infrared Index (NDII). Results show substantial interannual variability in phenology, water stress, and soil moisture, with regional drying and elevation strongly influencing ciénega resilience. We classified ciénegas into three functional states—healthy, desiccated, and dormant—and mapped their 2023 condition. Trend analyses indicate most ciénegas exhibit greening despite drought, though localized variability underscores the need for site-specific management. None are in a stable climax (reference) state; rather, they transition among states in response to external drivers. Increasing woody plant cover and surface drying, likely linked to declining regional water tables, favor deep-rooted species over wetland grasses—a pattern mirrored in adjacent control plots. Spatially explicit analysis revealed intra-ciénega variability often masked by aggregated data, highlighting the importance of high-resolution monitoring. Seasonal and long-term trends provide context for understanding ciénega dynamics, including degradation and restoration pathways. This study emphasizes the importance of groundwater conservation and demonstrates how remote sensing supports long-term monitoring. The STM framework offers a practical tool for adaptive management to sustain freshwater resources in arid environments.
{"title":"Satellite time series analysis to quantify changing climax ciénegas using a state and transition model approach","authors":"Laura M. Norman , Roy E. Petrakis , Natalie R. Wilson , Barry R. Middleton , Miguel L. Villarreal , Michael Pollock , Thomas A. Minckley , Dean Hendrickson","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114741","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114741","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ciénegas are rare wetlands in arid landscapes of the North American Southwest, historically providing critical ecological and hydrological functions but increasingly threatened by changing climate and land use pressures. This study quantifies changes in ciénega condition and floodplain dynamics using a state-and-transition model (STM) informed by expert knowledge and remote sensing. Key factors include woody plant encroachment, water availability, and soil aggradation. We mapped 31 ciénegas with high-resolution imagery and analyzed Landsat data (1985–2023) to assess vegetation health and moisture using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Infrared Index (NDII). Results show substantial interannual variability in phenology, water stress, and soil moisture, with regional drying and elevation strongly influencing ciénega resilience. We classified ciénegas into three functional states—healthy, desiccated, and dormant—and mapped their 2023 condition. Trend analyses indicate most ciénegas exhibit greening despite drought, though localized variability underscores the need for site-specific management. None are in a stable climax (reference) state; rather, they transition among states in response to external drivers. Increasing woody plant cover and surface drying, likely linked to declining regional water tables, favor deep-rooted species over wetland grasses—a pattern mirrored in adjacent control plots. Spatially explicit analysis revealed intra-ciénega variability often masked by aggregated data, highlighting the importance of high-resolution monitoring. Seasonal and long-term trends provide context for understanding ciénega dynamics, including degradation and restoration pathways. This study emphasizes the importance of groundwater conservation and demonstrates how remote sensing supports long-term monitoring. The STM framework offers a practical tool for adaptive management to sustain freshwater resources in arid environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"184 ","pages":"Article 114741"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147407846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-26DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114729
Shuyuan Zheng , Guohua Liu , Linfan Wan , Jiajia Li , Lingli Zuo , Kui Luo , Xukun Su
Artificial grassland is a key intervention for restoring degraded grasslands, and rapid large-scale mapping via remote sensing is essential. Current approaches remain highly dependent on field surveys and have notable limitations. To address these issues, we developed a framework that exploits multi-temporal Landsat series imagery together with the Continuous Change Detection and Classification algorithm to identify candidate locations and establishment dates of artificial grasslands. By integrating inferred planting times with annual phenological peak metrics to construct discriminative features, and applying a Random Forest classifier, we delineated planted artificial grassland areas. Ground validation yielded an overall accuracy of 89.87%, and comparisons with previous studies showed higher accuracies (>82.93%). Applying the framework to map 2021–2023 plantings in Qinghai Province produced a correlation coefficient r = 0.8843 (p < 0.05) with statistical records. These results indicate strong generalizability and accuracy across regions and years, demonstrating the framework's reliability for advancing artificial grassland mapping.
{"title":"A novel framework for identifying artificial grassland planting areas using time-series multispectral imagery with enhanced accuracy","authors":"Shuyuan Zheng , Guohua Liu , Linfan Wan , Jiajia Li , Lingli Zuo , Kui Luo , Xukun Su","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114729","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114729","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Artificial grassland is a key intervention for restoring degraded grasslands, and rapid large-scale mapping via remote sensing is essential. Current approaches remain highly dependent on field surveys and have notable limitations. To address these issues, we developed a framework that exploits multi-temporal Landsat series imagery together with the Continuous Change Detection and Classification algorithm to identify candidate locations and establishment dates of artificial grasslands. By integrating inferred planting times with annual phenological peak metrics to construct discriminative features, and applying a Random Forest classifier, we delineated planted artificial grassland areas. Ground validation yielded an overall accuracy of 89.87%, and comparisons with previous studies showed higher accuracies (>82.93%). Applying the framework to map 2021–2023 plantings in Qinghai Province produced a correlation coefficient <em>r</em> = 0.8843 (<em>p</em> < 0.05) with statistical records. These results indicate strong generalizability and accuracy across regions and years, demonstrating the framework's reliability for advancing artificial grassland mapping.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"184 ","pages":"Article 114729"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147407719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-27DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114735
Yi Sun , Bo Huang , Yifei Luo , Yu Qin , Xiong Zhao He , Shuhua Yi
Reliable absence data remain a major limitation in the development and application of species distribution models (SDMs). Both field-sampled absences and algorithmically generated pseudo-absences are fundamental to model parameterization, yet efficient approaches for obtaining robust absence information and how absence data shape SDM outcomes are still lacking. Here, using Biodiversity Modelling (BIOMOD2), we systematically assessed SDM performance across multiple pseudo-absence generation strategies and sample sizes, leveraging a presence/absence dataset (n = 2261; 1743 presences and 518 absences) for plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) derived from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveys on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. UAV-derived absence data consistently produced the highest model accuracy, particularly for Random Forest models (Kappa = 0.566; TSS = 0.611; AUC = 0.863). Among pseudo-absence strategies, the surface range envelope (SRE) strategy performed the best, whereas sample size showed relatively minor influence. Importantly, the spatial configuration of absence samples altered the weighting of environmental predictors, resulting in pronounced differences in model performance. Our findings demonstrate that absence data are pivotal to SDM accuracy and that UAV technology fundamentally advances the acquisition of presence/absence data by enabling efficient, spatially extensive, and reliable sampling. These methodological innovations are essential for improving biodiversity forecasting and informing management strategies under accelerating climate change and intensifying anthropogenic pressures.
{"title":"UAV-derived absence data improve species distribution model performance for the plateau pika","authors":"Yi Sun , Bo Huang , Yifei Luo , Yu Qin , Xiong Zhao He , Shuhua Yi","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114735","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114735","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Reliable absence data remain a major limitation in the development and application of species distribution models (SDMs). Both field-sampled absences and algorithmically generated pseudo-absences are fundamental to model parameterization, yet efficient approaches for obtaining robust absence information and how absence data shape SDM outcomes are still lacking. Here, using Biodiversity Modelling (BIOMOD2), we systematically assessed SDM performance across multiple pseudo-absence generation strategies and sample sizes, leveraging a presence/absence dataset (<em>n</em> = 2261; 1743 presences and 518 absences) for plateau pika (<em>Ochotona curzoniae</em>) derived from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveys on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. UAV-derived absence data consistently produced the highest model accuracy, particularly for Random Forest models (Kappa = 0.566; TSS = 0.611; AUC = 0.863). Among pseudo-absence strategies, the surface range envelope (SRE) strategy performed the best, whereas sample size showed relatively minor influence. Importantly, the spatial configuration of absence samples altered the weighting of environmental predictors, resulting in pronounced differences in model performance. Our findings demonstrate that absence data are pivotal to SDM accuracy and that UAV technology fundamentally advances the acquisition of presence/absence data by enabling efficient, spatially extensive, and reliable sampling. These methodological innovations are essential for improving biodiversity forecasting and informing management strategies under accelerating climate change and intensifying anthropogenic pressures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"184 ","pages":"Article 114735"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147407701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-20DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114703
Changshun Li , Junxi Chen , Junfu Pan , Tiancheng Li , Jing Chen , Chaochao He , Yue Xie , Chencheng Zheng , Ziwei Wang , Jinfu Liu , Zhongsheng He
Diagnosing the structural imbalance between ecological assets and operational capacity is essential for reconciling wellness tourism with conservation at the micro-county scale. This study evaluates seven candidate sites in Songxi County, China, using an integrated PEEST-InVEST framework. Forest therapy potential is quantified by coupling InVEST-derived habitat metrics with a hybrid AHP-Entropy Weight-TOPSIS methodology. Results confirm an “Ecological Foundation” weighting, with the “Habitat Quality Index” (7.292%) as the primary driver. However, site ranking reveals a critical Resource-Performance Mismatch: top-tier suitability is achieved not by ecological supremacy, but through superior management and infrastructure. Analysis of obstacle factors delineates two constraint typologies: Service Lag (Type I) in lower-tier sites and Ecological Ceiling (Type II) in high-tier sites where the ecological substrate becomes the limiting “short board.” This finding elucidates the spatial decoupling of ecological supply from service capacity and advocates a paradigm shift toward a “Diagnose-Rank-Prescribe” model of precision management. Differentiated strategies are proposed, emphasizing active ecological restoration for mature sites to align natural capital with service capabilities. This study provides a replicable, quantitative framework for evidence-based planning of forest therapy bases globally.
{"title":"Evaluation of development potential of candidate sites for forest therapy bases using a PEEST-InVEST framework: A case study of Songxi, China","authors":"Changshun Li , Junxi Chen , Junfu Pan , Tiancheng Li , Jing Chen , Chaochao He , Yue Xie , Chencheng Zheng , Ziwei Wang , Jinfu Liu , Zhongsheng He","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114703","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114703","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Diagnosing the structural imbalance between ecological assets and operational capacity is essential for reconciling wellness tourism with conservation at the micro-county scale. This study evaluates seven candidate sites in Songxi County, China, using an integrated PEEST-InVEST framework. Forest therapy potential is quantified by coupling InVEST-derived habitat metrics with a hybrid AHP-Entropy Weight-TOPSIS methodology. Results confirm an “Ecological Foundation” weighting, with the “Habitat Quality Index” (7.292%) as the primary driver. However, site ranking reveals a critical Resource-Performance Mismatch: top-tier suitability is achieved not by ecological supremacy, but through superior management and infrastructure. Analysis of obstacle factors delineates two constraint typologies: Service Lag (Type I) in lower-tier sites and Ecological Ceiling (Type II) in high-tier sites where the ecological substrate becomes the limiting “short board.” This finding elucidates the spatial decoupling of ecological supply from service capacity and advocates a paradigm shift toward a “Diagnose-Rank-Prescribe” model of precision management. Differentiated strategies are proposed, emphasizing active ecological restoration for mature sites to align natural capital with service capabilities. This study provides a replicable, quantitative framework for evidence-based planning of forest therapy bases globally.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"184 ","pages":"Article 114703"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147408458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-23DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114693
Yuanbo Lu , Yang Yu , Jianming Deng , Lingxiao Sun , Chunlan Li , Jing He , Zengkun Guo , Ruide Yu
Clarifying the spatiotemporal patterns and driving mechanisms of vegetation growth and sensitivity is critical for assessing ecosystem stability and formulating conservation strategies. Taking Northwest China (NWC)—the core of global mid-latitude arid regions and China's “Northern Ecological Security Barrier”—as the study area, we analyzed vegetation growth (via EVI) and sensitivity (via VSI) dynamics, and their climatic drivers (temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation) (2000−2022) using a novel EVI-VSI synergetic framework, combined with growing-season EVI data, China's national climate/vegetation zoning, and statistical methods (ANOVA, Mann-Kendall trend test, 11-year moving window). The results show that: 1) EVI showed significant zonal differences (all P < 0.001): under climate zoning, mean EVI followed “humid (0.46 ± 0.06) > semi-humid (0.31 ± 0.08) > semi-arid/arid (0.21–0.22)”; VSI (regional mean: 47.10 ± 20.01) had no zonal differences (P > 0.05), with low spatial overlap between high-EVI and high-VSI areas. 2) EVI increased significantly (0.0021 a−1, P < 0.01), with 88.21% of the region improving (highest in humid zones: 99.16%); VSI decreased non-significantly (−0.021 a−1, P > 0.05), with wetlands showing a lower decline (45.56%) due to human disturbance (grazing, tourism). 3) climatic drivers exhibited distinct zoning differences, with a post-2010 trend of “weakened temperature dominance, enhanced radiation dominance”: semi-arid zones saw the proportion of radiation-dominated areas undergo a marked surge across the study period, rising from its lowest point (9.51% in 2007) to its peak (46.35% in 2017), making it the dominant driver; arid zones had 34.90% precipitation-dominated areas (significantly higher than humid zones' 12.86%); humid/semi-humid zones showed increased precipitation/radiation sensitivity but decreased temperature sensitivity. This study innovatively reveals the “radiation substitution for temperature” driving transition of vegetation sensitivity in arid/semi-arid regions, and provides scientific support for precise ecosystem conservation and climate adaptation in NWC, as well as a reference for vegetation management in global mid-latitude arid zones (e.g., Central Asia, North American Great Plains).
明确植被生长和敏感性的时空格局和驱动机制，对评估生态系统稳定性和制定保护策略具有重要意义。本文以全球中纬度干旱区和中国“北方生态安全屏障”的核心中国西北地区为研究区，结合生长季EVI数据、中国国家气候/植被分区和统计方法（方差分析、Mann-Kendall趋势检验），采用新的EVI-VSI协同框架，分析了植被生长（通过EVI）和敏感性（通过VSI）动态及其气候驱动因素（温度、降水和太阳辐射）（2000 - 2022）。11年搬家窗口)。结果表明：1)EVI具有显著的地带性差异（P均为0.001），在气候分区下，平均EVI依次为湿润（0.46±0.06）>，半湿润（0.31±0.08）>，半干旱/干旱（0.21 ~ 0.22）；VSI（区域平均值：47.10±20.01）无地域性差异（P > 0.05），高evi区与高VSI区空间重叠度低。2) EVI显著增加（0.0021 a−1,P < 0.01），有88.21%的区域改善，其中湿润区改善最多，达99.16%；VSI下降不显著（- 0.021 a - 1, P > 0.05），湿地因人为干扰（放牧、旅游）下降幅度较小（45.56%）。③气候驱动因子呈现明显的分区差异，2010年后呈现“温度优势减弱，辐射优势增强”的趋势：半干旱区辐射优势区所占比例在研究期内呈显著上升趋势，从2007年的最低点（9.51%）上升至2017年的峰值（46.35%），成为主导驱动因子；干旱区降水占34.90%，显著高于湿润区12.86%；湿润/半湿润地区降水/辐射敏感性增加，温度敏感性降低。本研究创新性地揭示了“辐射替代温度”驱动干旱/半干旱区植被敏感性转变，为NWC生态系统的精准保护和气候适应提供科学支撑，并为全球中纬度干旱区（如中亚、北美大平原）植被管理提供参考。
{"title":"Vegetation sensitivity shift from temperature to radiation dominance in Northwest China's drylands—Implications for ecosystem stability in mid-latitude drylands","authors":"Yuanbo Lu , Yang Yu , Jianming Deng , Lingxiao Sun , Chunlan Li , Jing He , Zengkun Guo , Ruide Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114693","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114693","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Clarifying the spatiotemporal patterns and driving mechanisms of vegetation growth and sensitivity is critical for assessing ecosystem stability and formulating conservation strategies. Taking Northwest China (NWC)—the core of global mid-latitude arid regions and China's “Northern Ecological Security Barrier”—as the study area, we analyzed vegetation growth (via EVI) and sensitivity (via VSI) dynamics, and their climatic drivers (temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation) (2000−2022) using a novel EVI-VSI synergetic framework, combined with growing-season EVI data, China's national climate/vegetation zoning, and statistical methods (ANOVA, Mann-Kendall trend test, 11-year moving window). The results show that: 1) EVI showed significant zonal differences (all <em>P</em> < 0.001): under climate zoning, mean EVI followed “humid (0.46 ± 0.06) > semi-humid (0.31 ± 0.08) > semi-arid/arid (0.21–0.22)”; VSI (regional mean: 47.10 ± 20.01) had no zonal differences (<em>P</em> > 0.05), with low spatial overlap between high-EVI and high-VSI areas. 2) EVI increased significantly (0.0021 a<sup>−1</sup>, <em>P</em> < 0.01), with 88.21% of the region improving (highest in humid zones: 99.16%); VSI decreased non-significantly (−0.021 a<sup>−1</sup>, <em>P</em> > 0.05), with wetlands showing a lower decline (45.56%) due to human disturbance (grazing, tourism). 3) climatic drivers exhibited distinct zoning differences, with a post-2010 trend of “weakened temperature dominance, enhanced radiation dominance”: semi-arid zones saw the proportion of radiation-dominated areas undergo a marked surge across the study period, rising from its lowest point (9.51% in 2007) to its peak (46.35% in 2017), making it the dominant driver; arid zones had 34.90% precipitation-dominated areas (significantly higher than humid zones' 12.86%); humid/semi-humid zones showed increased precipitation/radiation sensitivity but decreased temperature sensitivity. This study innovatively reveals the “radiation substitution for temperature” driving transition of vegetation sensitivity in arid/semi-arid regions, and provides scientific support for precise ecosystem conservation and climate adaptation in NWC, as well as a reference for vegetation management in global mid-latitude arid zones (e.g., Central Asia, North American Great Plains).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"184 ","pages":"Article 114693"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147408456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-18DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114702
Lixin Dang , Hangnan Yu , Meng Yuan , Meizhu Hou , Lan Li
The identification of ecosystem service bundles (ESBs) and analysis of ecosystem service flows (ESFs) provide important pathways for enhancing our understanding of regional ecosystems, transitioning from static characteristics to dynamic processes. However, current studies have predominantly focused on either the static identification of ESBs or the analysis of individual ESFs, failing to organically integrate their spatial patterns and, thus, hindering the systematic identification of holistic characteristics within regional ecosystems. This study analyzed the Changbai Mountain Area, with particular focus on holistic characteristics, and used a three-dimensional framework of “supply–demand-measurement–bundle-identification–flow analysis” to quantitatively evaluate nine important service categories. Using the self-organizing mapping method to identify ESBs and then analyze ESF characteristics, the spatial matching relationship between supply zones and beneficiary zones was clarified. The results revealed spatial supply–demand mismatches across all nine ecosystem services, with hydrological regulation services showing the most prominent cross-regional mismatch—reflecting the core “upstream supply–downstream demand” contradiction. Furthermore, ESBs with coexisting surpluses and deficits were identified in the same sub-basins, with their spatial patterns and dominant service types clarified, and a strong correlation was confirmed between the “topography–land-use–human activity” gradient and ESB formation. In addition, the ESB types exhibited three ESF patterns (comprehensive, nature-pathway-dominated, human-pathway-dominated), and all bundles formed bidirectional “service provider–beneficiary” networks. This study provides a foundational reference for ecological conservation and management.
{"title":"Identification of ecosystem service bundles and flow characteristics in the Changbai Mountain area","authors":"Lixin Dang , Hangnan Yu , Meng Yuan , Meizhu Hou , Lan Li","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114702","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114702","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The identification of ecosystem service bundles (ESBs) and analysis of ecosystem service flows (ESFs) provide important pathways for enhancing our understanding of regional ecosystems, transitioning from static characteristics to dynamic processes. However, current studies have predominantly focused on either the static identification of ESBs or the analysis of individual ESFs, failing to organically integrate their spatial patterns and, thus, hindering the systematic identification of holistic characteristics within regional ecosystems. This study analyzed the Changbai Mountain Area, with particular focus on holistic characteristics, and used a three-dimensional framework of “supply–demand-measurement–bundle-identification–flow analysis” to quantitatively evaluate nine important service categories. Using the self-organizing mapping method to identify ESBs and then analyze ESF characteristics, the spatial matching relationship between supply zones and beneficiary zones was clarified. The results revealed spatial supply–demand mismatches across all nine ecosystem services, with hydrological regulation services showing the most prominent cross-regional mismatch—reflecting the core “upstream supply–downstream demand” contradiction. Furthermore, ESBs with coexisting surpluses and deficits were identified in the same sub-basins, with their spatial patterns and dominant service types clarified, and a strong correlation was confirmed between the “topography–land-use–human activity” gradient and ESB formation. In addition, the ESB types exhibited three ESF patterns (comprehensive, nature-pathway-dominated, human-pathway-dominated), and all bundles formed bidirectional “service provider–beneficiary” networks. This study provides a foundational reference for ecological conservation and management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"184 ","pages":"Article 114702"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147407665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-25DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114717
Minwen He , Zilin Wang , Chonghuai Yao
Green plot ratio (GPR) is an ecological measure for urban greenspace, and an appropriate GPR is crucial in providing ecosystem services for urban residents, but the characteristics of GPR among different cities are still not clear, especially in built-up areas. Taking 110 Chinese cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt as a case, this study quantitatively analyzed the index variations and spatial gradients of GPR in different urban built-up areas. First, from the river-basin level down to the provinces/municipalities and then to prefecture-level cities, the GPR results reveal significant heterogeneity across hierarchical spatial gradients. The middle reaches of the Yangtze River Economic Belt show the highest average greenspace and regional GPR (3.86 and 1.16). Specifically, cities in Hubei Province exhibit notable advantages in waterfront GPR (3.79), while Chongqing leads in greenspace and mountain-hill GPR (4.63 and 5.38). Second, GPR varies significantly across cities with different natural environments and city scales. Mountain-hill dominant cities exhibit the highest greenspace GPR with average values of 3.98, whereas plain dominant cities show the lowest GPR due to intensive urban construction. City scale corresponds to GPR patterns: large cities achieve the highest regional and greenspace GPR (1.27 and 3.83) with strong economic and infrastructural support, medium cities excel in waterfront and mountain-hill GPR (3.68 and 5.05), and small cities lag behind in all GPR indicators. This study develops evidence-based GPR references from spatial regulation and setting thresholds for eco-city development policy, and proposes setting differentiated goals based on individual cities' natural and scale-related attributes.
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