Study on Ecosystem Regulating Services in Karst World Heritage Based on Partial Correlation Analysis

Abstract

Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics and interactions of ecosystem regulating services (ERSs) is crucial for safeguarding ecological security in karst world heritage (KWH) sites. Each KWH comprises two functional zones: the heritage site and the buffer zone. This study quantified three key ERSs—water conservation (WC), soil retention (SR), and carbon sequestration (CS)—from 2000 to 2020 within China's Shibing and Libo-Huanjiang KWHs. Results showed increases in SR and CS but a decrease in WC; heritage sites exhibited higher WC and SR but lower CS compared to buffer zones, with WC-CS hotspots located in buffer zones and SR hotspots in heritage sites. Slope, DEM, and mean annual temperature drove ERSs in Shibing, while slope, soil bulk density, and annual precipitation dominated those in Libo-Huanjiang. Strong WC-SR synergies occurred in buffer zones, accompanied by weak SR-CS and WC-CS tradeoffs, with heritage sites showing more pronounced weak SR-CS tradeoffs but fewer WC-CS tradeoffs than buffer zones. This research clarifies the spatiotemporal drivers of ERSs and their interactions, proposes a “heritage site-buffer zone” framework for tradeoff management, and provides a scientific basis for enhanced conservation.