Dynamic mechanism between human activities and ecosystem services: A case study of Qinghai lake watershed, China

Human activities seriously threaten the structure and function of ecosystems. Therefore, to establish a bridge between requirements of humans and provision of ecosystem services is crucial for regional ecological security, sustainable development and human well-being. In this study, the human footprint index of Qinghai lake watershed (QHLW) from 2010 to 2018 was calculated. Subsequently, five ecosystem services including carbon storage, habitat quality, nitrogen and phosphorus load, soil erosion and water yield were simulated and analyzed using the Integrated Valuation of Environmental Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model. Finally, the impact of human footprint on ecosystem services is discussed. The results show that human activity was increasing in the QHLW from 2010 to 2018, with significant spatial heterogeneity. Carbon storage remained unchanged in the area of 90% of the total. The area of habitat quality variation accounted for 4.29% of the total area. Nitrogen load, phosphorus load and water yield presented an upward trend from 2010 to 2018. Approximately 10.38% of the total area experienced the reduction of soil erosion. Anthropogenic variables do affect the provisioning of ecosystem services. Nitrogen and phosphorus load increased with the enhancement of human activities. However, carbon storage, habitat quality and soil erosion were decreasing with the increase of human activities. Human activities affected water yield by increasing water consumption and modifying surface permeability.