Urban afforestation is an important strategy for promoting sustainable urban development. In cities where large new green spaces are not available, the planting of curbside trees is deemed to be an important afforestation strategy. However, variations in the ecosystem services provided by street tree assemblages across socioeconomic gradients have been unexplored. We examined such variations in ecosystem services provided by street tree assemblages along an urban–suburban continuum. Our findings were as follows. (i) Not all ecosystem services showed increasing trends along the urban–suburban continuum. Some ecosystem services at the street tree assemblage level, such as air purification and rainfall interception were prominent in areas of high urbanization intensity. (ii) Diverse ecosystem service trends were found in relation to differential characteristics of street trees assemblages. Structural properties of street tree assemblages, such as tree density and age structure, are likely key factors influencing variations. (iii) Although street tree density could partially compensate for the loss of large old trees, the protection of such trees is important because of their close associations with key ecosystem services, such as total carbon storage. To maximize the value of street trees in promoting urban sustainable development, trade-offs among multiple ecosystem services should be integrated within the overall planning process and adjustments of planting regimes.
摘要：
城市行道树集合生态服务功能变化研究及对城市可持续发展管理的启示
城市造林是促进城市可持续发展的一项重要策略，而在没有新的大面积造林空间的城市里，行道
树被认为是一项重要的城市造林策略。然而，目前仍缺乏行道树集合生态服务的变化特征研究，
特别是社会经济梯度上的变化特征。本研究从行道树集合水平及个体水平两个尺度，研究了城
市-城郊连续体的行道树生态服务变化特征。结果发现：(i)在城市-城郊连续体上，并不是所有的生态服务
都呈现上升的趋势。在行道树集合水平，部分生态服务，如空气净化、雨水截留，在高城市化强度的区
域最高。(ii)行道树生态服务的空间变化特征与该生态服务相关联的行道树集合的特征密切相关。行道树
集合的结构，如行道树密度和年龄结构很可能是主要的影响因子。(iii)尽管行道树密度可以一定程度上
弥补大树的损失，但是一些重要的生态服务功能，如总碳汇，与大树的数量密切相关。因此，大树遗产的保护应该受到重视。为了最大化行道树在促进城市可持续发展中的作用，多生态服务的权衡分析应
该整合到行道树的种植和调整规划中。
关键词:
大气污染物去除,
雨水截留,
土地利用改变,
自然生境,
i-Tree
