Impacts of land use changes on ecosystem services at different elevations in an ecological function area, northern China

Land use changes affect the supply of ecosystem services, which are related to human health and well-being. Demonstration the interaction of land use and ecosystem services play a great role on the social-economic sustainable development. As a typical greatly land use changes and an important ecological function area, Zhangjiakou and Chengde city (Zhangcheng District) exert a profound impact on the sustainable development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in northern China. Based on InVEST model, the variations in water yield and soil retention at different elevations in the Zhangcheng District during 2011 and 2015 were illustrated. And the responses of water yield and soil retention to land use changes were revealed as well. The natural and man-made land use have exactly opposite effects on ecosystem services. With the increase of cultivated land, the capacity of water yield increases significantly, while soil retention decreases largely at all elevations (p < 0.05). However, with the increase of arbor land, shrub land, grassland, and water bodies, the capacity of water yield decreases, while soil retention increases at all elevations (p < 0.05). Comparably, the effect of land use changes on water yield depth is greater than that on soil retention; the whole effect of land use changes on ecosystem services is significantly highest at middle elevation. Generally, the lower water yield depth forms, the higher soil retention occurs. This study is helpful for rational regulation of land uses and protection of ecosystem services for both our study area and similar regions.