The study of waters ecosystem and their population carrying capacity demonstrates the role of these ecosystems in economic and social development and provides a theoretical basis for the management and allocation of aquatic ecosystems. In this study, the concept of waters ecosystem population carrying capacity was defined and developmental trends in the population carrying capacity of waters ecosystem in China were evaluated. Results show that waters ecosystem population carrying capacity in China increased from 0.176×109 person year-1 in 2000 to 0.255 × 109 person year-1 in 2010; the population carrying capacity of the standard sea remained at 0.2-0.3 person ha 1; and the standard inland waters population carrying capacity increased from 1.8 to 3.2 person ha-1. This analysis indicates notable regional difference in waters population carrying capacity. In southeastern coastal China and Yangtze River drainage areas where inland waters are widely distributed and aquaculture is developed, the population carrying capacity is higher; however, in northwest China where water resource are deficient and the distribution is relatively small, the waters population carrying capacity is low. The waters ecosystem population carrying capacity of China in 2030 was predicted and results indicate strong potential for increasing waters population carrying capacity.
Ecosystem services related to water supply are now a hot topic in ecology and hydrology. Here, water supply service in the Lancang River basin was evaluated using the newly developed model InVEST. We found the mean annual water supply in Lancang River basin is approximately 7.24E＋10 m3 y-1 with 23.87% from main stream and 76.13% from the tributaries. There is an increasing trend downstream. Grasslands and forests contribute 71.66% of the total water. A comparison of water supply capacity per unit area for ecosystems of different composition indicates that there is a decreasing trend from broad- leafed forest, mixed coniferous and broad-leafed forest, bamboo forest, coniferous forest, shrub forest and grassland. Two-thirds of the total water is provided by an area covering 40% of the total basin area. This study provides guidelines for the efficient management of water resources in the Lancang River basin.
Water footprint of production can be used to identify pressure on national or regional water resources generated by production activities. Water stress is defined as the ratio of water use （the difference between a re- gional water footprint of production and a green water footprint） to renewable water resources available in a country or region. Water stress can be used to identify pressure on national or regional water resources generated by production activities. This paper estimates the water footprint of production and the water stress in China during the years 1985-2009. The result shows that China＇s water footprint of production increased from 781.58×109 m^3 in 1985 to 1109.76 × 10^9 m^3 in 2009. Mega-cities and regions with less agriculture production due to local climatic conditions （Tibet and Qinghai） had lower water footprint of production, while the provinces （Henan, Shandong） with higher agriculture production had higher footprint. Provinces with severe water stress increased from 6 in 1985 to 9 in 2009. High to severe water stress exists mainly in mega-cities and agricultural areas located in the downstream areas of the Yellow River and the Yangtze River in North and Central China. The outlook for water resources pressure in China is not optimistic, with areas of stress expanding from northern to southern of China.
Using the 3-year observational data from ChinaFlux （Chinese Terrestrial Ecosystem Flux Research Network）, we studied the gas regulation flux dynamics and cumulative process of gas regulation value in Qianyanzhou middle subtropical plantation （QYF） and Changbai Mountain temperate mixed forest （CBF）. The gas regulation service was differentiated into vegetation gas regulation service and net ecosystem gas regulation service. Carbon tax approach, reforestation cost approach and industrial oxygen approach were employed to calculate gas regulation value. Results show that there was significant seasonal variation in vegetation gas regulation flux. Daily CO2 uptake fluxes averaged 82.00 kg·ha^-·d^-1 and 59.37 kg·ha^-·d^-1 and the corresponding 02 emission fluxes were 59.65 kg·ha^-·d^-1 and 43.19 kg·ha^-·d^-1 for QYF and CBF, respectively. The cumulative curves of vegetation gas regulation value always followed a sigmoid shape, and the annual gas regulation value produced by vegetation was RMB 14342.69 yuan·ha^-1 and RMB 10384.18 yuan·ha^-1 for both QYF and CBF, respectively. In terms of monthly net ecosystem gas regulation service, QYF appeared as a CO2 sink and O2 source for the whole year, while CBF appeared to be a CO2 sink and O2 source mainly in the period between May and September. The cumulative curves of net ecosystem gas regulation value presented a sigmoid （＂S＂） shape for QYF, while a unimodal type curve for CBF. The annual net ecosystem gas regulation value was 8470.52 yuan·ha^-1 and 5091.98yuan·ha^-1 for QYF and CBF, respectively. The economic value of both the vegetation gas regulation service and net ecosystem gas regulation service were mainly produced between May and October.
