Coastal waterbird eco-habitat stability assessment in Zhangjiangkou Mangrove National Nature Reserve Based on habitat function-coordination coupling

Potential distribution projections of mangrove forests and invasive plants under climate change: case insights from mangrove management in Guangdong Province, China

Mangrove ecosystems are vital for maintaining biodiversity, purifying water, sequestering carbon, and mitigating climate change in coastal regions. The geographical distribution of mangrove forests has been severely affected by global warming; therefore, it must be predicted under future climate scenarios to provide a scientific basis for conservation and restoration. In this study, we employed the MaxEnt model to predict the potential distribution of suitable mangrove areas in Guangdong Province under current conditions and two future climate scenarios (2030s and 2090s): SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5. The potential distributions of introduced mangrove plants (Laguncularia racemosa and Sonneratia apetala) were assessed to evaluate their suitability for mangrove restoration. Furthermore, we investigated the invasive potential of Spartina alterniflora, a biologically invasive species in mangrove ecosystems, under different climate scenarios. Finally, a conservation gap analysis was conducted to identify priority areas for mangrove protection. We observed the following: i) main environmental factors affecting the distribution pattern of mangroves in Guangdong Province were temperature and water quality; ii) hotspots of mangrove distribution are mainly concentrated in the Beibu Gulf coastline, Leizhou Gulf coastline, Zhenhai Bay-Dongping Harbor-Beijin Bay coastline, Zhuhai Harbor-Guangzhou Bay-Humen-Mawan Bay, Shuangyue Bay, and Rongjiang River estuary; iii) optimal zone of mangroves was the largest under the SSP5-8.5 scenario, and the potential suitable zone and geometric center of mangroves gradually shifted to higher latitudes; iv) the protection and restoration of mangroves should be prioritized in the future in the zones of Anpu Harbor, Leizhou Bay, Zhenhai Bay, and Huangmaohai and coastline of Pearl River Estuary.

Study on the spatial and temporal evolution of ecosystem service value based on land use change in Xi'an City

Ecosystem service value (ESV) is essential for understanding regional ecological benefits and resources. This study utilizes the fourth phase of land use data from the Resource and Environment Science Data Centre of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. We corrected the ESV coefficient using the equivalent factor method for value per unit area and integrated the biomass factor of farmland ecosystems in Shaanxi Province. This allowed us to adjust the equivalent factor for China's terrestrial ecosystem on a geographic scale. Based on these corrections, we analyzed changes in land use and the evolution of ecosystem service value over the past two decades in Xi'an, China. Our findings indicate that the proportions of cultivated and forest land in Xi'an remained stable from 2000 to 2020, despite an increase in construction land and a decrease in cultivated areas. Forest and unused lands remained stable, while grassland and water bodies fluctuated. The ESV related to land use in Xi'an increased by 938.8 million yuan during this period, with high-value areas primarily located in the forested regions south of the Qinling Mountains and along the Weihe, Bahe, and Chanhe Rivers. Low-value zones were concentrated in the urban core. This research enhances methodologies for quantifying urban ESV, providing vital support for land resource management, ecological conservation, and high-quality urban development in major cities in China. These findings will inform policy-making for sustainable urban growth.

Wetland habitats supporting waterbird diversity: Conservation perspective on biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationship

Wetlands, as core habitats for supporting waterbird diversity, provide a variety of ecosystem services through diverse ecosystem functioning. Wetland degradation and wetland-habitat loss undermine the relationship between biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF), affecting the diversity of habitats and waterbirds. The conservation of waterbird diversity is closely linked to the proper functioning of wetland ecosystems (nutrient cycling, energy storage, and productivity). Waterbirds have complex habitat preferences and sensitivities, which affect biotic interactions. By highlighting the importance of temporal and spatial scales guided by BEF, a habitat-waterbird conservation framework is presented (BEF relationships are described at three levels: habitat, primary producers, and waterbird diversity). We present a novel perspective on habitat conservation for waterbirds by incorporating research on the effects of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning to address the crucial challenges in global waterbird diversity loss, ecosystem degradation, and habitat conservation. Last, it is imperative to prioritize strategies of habitat protection with the incorporation of BEF for future waterbird conservation.