Ecosystem services dynamics response to tremendous reclamation in a coastal island city

Abstract

Introduction: Ecosystem services are the benefits delivering from the natural environment to human society. Ecosystem services are regarded as important tools for decision-makers to understand the impacts of land use and land cover (LULC) change. Outcomes: The dynamic of four primary ecosystem service indicators were assessed over 1984–2014 based on InVEST model and their responses to LULC changes have been analyzed by the ecosystem service change index (ESCI) and ecosystem service state index (ESSI). Our results confirmed the significant increment in land reclamation in Zhoushan City and over half of the reclamation area was used for human-induced urbanization and over a quarter for the fishery. For the whole territory, the most significant LULC conversions were observed between agricultural land and urban. The study period witnessed the degradation of habitat quality and soil sediment, an increment of the water yield and no significant change of carbon storage. Discussion and Conclusion: Most changes in LULC are significantly related to the dynamics of ecosystem services, which were more impacted in the reclamation area than the rest of the city. Our study highlights the importance of ecosystem service assessments for sustainable land planning and securing economic development.