Uncovering the ecosystem service legacies of wetland loss using high‐resolution models

摘要: Ecosystem services provided by contemporary landscapes are different from those of the past, and this difference is influenced legacies policies that incentivized wetland drainage without considering impact on ecosystem services. Heterogeneity in service rarely acknowledged or documented. Even less understood relative role historical type (e.g., swamps, fens) land cover shaping these heterogeneous outcomes. Here, we contrasted with a scenario no Ruamahanga Basin, New Zealand, region historically rich wetlands. Using high‐resolution Land Use Capability Indicator model, mapped nitrogen retention, phosphorous sediment agricultural productivity, flood mitigation at 5‐m spatial resolution under two scenarios. Our work supports broad understanding productivity has increased landscapes, while nutrient retention have decreased. Net losses occurred for majority wetlands, net gains were common. However, spatially divergent responses to changes reinforced need models untangle range factors affecting provisioning. Contemporary explained very little variation Initial conditions, however, played an important determining outcomes swamps being particularly problematic loss The maps produced, algorithms underlying them, provide tools envision both local‐ broad‐scale effects drainage.