Multiscale Analysis of Ecosystem Services Interactions and Driving Factors in the Anning River Basin: Implications for Ecological Management

ABSTRACT Clarifying the interaction relationships between ecosystem services (ESs) and their driving factors at various spatial scales is crucial for achieving effective ecological management. Previous research has focused less on multiple‐level basin scale, and the driving mechanisms behind ESs interactions remain unclear. To address this gap, taking the Anning River Basin as a study area, this study quantified five typical ESs (i.e., soil retention, grain production, water yield, habitat quality and carbon storage) at grid and sub‐basin scales (including five‐levels), identifying their characteristics through spatial autocorrelation, trade‐offs, synergies, and ESs bundles. RDA analysis was used to identify dominant socio‐ecological factors at different scales, while the quantile regression revealed the segmentation impact of key driver on ESs. Results indicated that: (1) The spatial distribution pattern of ESs in this basin remains relatively stable and exhibits strong autocorrelation characteristics. (2) The direction of ESs interactions exhibited scale stability, whereas their intensity showed scale variability. (3) Natural factors primarily influence ESs and their interrelationships, with the explanatory power of key drivers (i.e., slope) increasing with scale. (4) All ESs showed nonlinear responses and scale‐dependent to slope changes. The study provides an important reference for regional ecological management, emphasizing the importance of comprehensively considering the interaction relationships and driving factors of ESs at different basin scales.