Dynamic Changes of Water Conservation Service of Typical Ecosystems in China within a Year Based on Data from CERN

In this study, we compared and analyzed the dynamic changes of water conservation and its value of some typical forests, grasslands, and farmlands in China within a year based on the dataset of the Chinese Ecosystem Research Net (CERN). Results showed that forest, grassland, and farmland provide different kinds of water conservation services which vary in size and dynamic processes within a year. Water conservation of forest consisted of water regulation service, here referred to as water retaining service, and water supply service, while water conservation of grassland and farmland was mainly water regulation service. Different types of forests/grasslands/farmlands can serve different water conservation services in both size and change patterns. In general, the water conservation service and value of forests is the largest (Xishuangbanna forest being $712·hm −2 ·year −1 , Dingshu Mountains forest being $823·hm −2 ·year −1 , and Changbai Mountains forest being $366·hm −2 ·year −1 ), and then is the farmlands (Yucheng farmland being $147·hm −2 ·year −1 , Changshu farmland being $92·hm −2 ·year −1 , Qianyanzhou farmland being $247 hm −2 ·year −1 ), and that of the grasslands is the least (Haibei alpine meadow being $75·hm −2 ·year −1 , Mongolia grassland being $30·hm −2 ·year −1 ). The monthly water conservation and its value of each ecosystem had its own changing pattern throughout the year.