Effects of road networks on ecosystem service value in the Longitudinal Range-Gorge Region.

Based on the land use (LU) (in 1985 and 2000) and road networks (RN) data in the Longitudinal Range- Gorge Region (LRGR), ecosystem services value (ESV) loss under the disturbance of road networks was estimated by using landscape degradation index (LDI) to clarify the effects of human activities on ecosystem service function (ESF). Results show that the ESV decreased more than 65×108 Yuan (RMB) due to the transformation of ecosystems in the study area during the past 16 years. The ecosystems influenced by road networks of different grades account for 5.4% of the total land in the study area. The ecosystems lost their ESV of 1900×108 Yuan (RMB) by the disturbance of RN. The effect of RN on the ESV decreased exponentially. The forecast shows that ESV will be decreased 1.2%/a on average in 2010 and 2020 due to RN projects. The effect of ecosystem structure change on ESV was complex and nonlinear. The disturbance of RN, one of the human activities influencing ESF is considered, further study and new method should be developed to accurately estimate the loss of ESV and the ecosystem function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]