Spatiotemporal patterns and determinants of ecosystem services in road-effect zones of transportation networks: evidence from Guangdong Province, China

Although the rapid expansion of transportation networks adversely affects ecosystem services (ESs), few studies have comparatively analyzed the ESs changes within the road-effect zones of different types of transportation infrastructure. This study used the InVEST model and remote sensing data to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics and determinants of ESs within 10 km buffers around expressways and high-speed railways (HSR) in Guangdong, China (2000–2020). Random Forest and MGWR models were employed to identify distance trend and their spatially heterogeneous effects on ESs. The results indicate that ESs exhibited a clear distance-decay effect, with HSR zones experiencing more pronounced short-range losses and earlier stabilization than expressway zones. Topography emerged as the principal determinant of carbon storage and soil retention, while temperature significantly influenced habitat quality. Socioeconomic factors exerted stronger effects on ESs within expressway zones. These findings advocate targeted ecological management strategies tailored to different types of transportation infrastructure.