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The conflict between socio-economic development and ecological environmental protection presents a significant challenge to achieving regional and urban sustainable development. In Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province, China, this conflict arises from the interplay between urban expansion and ecological environmental protection land, creating a fundamental tension between built-up and non-built-up ecosystems. This study focuses on investigating the spatial characteristics of expansion, constructing an ecological security pattern based on ecosystem service functions and sensitivity, and utilizing integrated models to simulate urban expansion paths and analyze their formation mechanisms. The results highlight that Zhaotong City has undergone rapid urban expansion, characterized by linear growth surrounding the central city, specifically in the east, north, and west directions. The expansion between urban areas exhibits a discontinuous dotted-star distribution, with concentrated urbanization and a distinct urban boundary observed in Zhaoyang District. In contrast, other areas experience scattered expansion, indicative of random land encroachment. Through simulation, three primary urban expansion axes are identified: the western town sprawl belt, central town development axis, and resource-rich town corridor. Ecological conflicts primarily arise in Zhaoyang District, Zhenxiong County, and Yanjin County. By combining these findings, the study analyzes the scenario pattern of urban expansion evolution in Zhaotong City, revealing a transition from the spreading spillover expansion of a single center (Zhaoyang and Ludian) during the circle expansion phase to a polycentric expansion and spreading spillover pattern centered around Zhaoyang District along three primary axial radial paths. In conclusion, this study contributes to our understanding of the challenges posed by the conflict between socio-economic development and ecological environmental protection in Zhaotong City. The findings underscore the importance of integrating ecological considerations into urban planning processes and highlight the need for sustainable development practices to achieve a harmonious coexistence between urban expansion and ecological security. The insights gained from this research offer guidance for fostering sustainable urban development in Zhaotong City and beyond.

Habitat fragmentation is a critical contributor to biodiversity degradation and species extinction, as illustrated by the severely fragmented habitat of the western black-crested gibbon (Nomascus concolor), a critically endangered species in the Hengduan Mountains, China. An integrated simulation model, including the random forest algorithm (RFA), empirical bayesian kriging regression (EBKR), and the least-cost path model (LCP), is introduced to determine ecological corridors for western black-crested gibbons in the Hengduan Mountains. In this study, we identified habitat variables and movement behaviors of western black-crested gibbons through RFA and then proposed EBKR, which is combined with LCP to determine potential corridors. Model simulation results suggest that the western black-crested gibbons' habitat is mostly dependent on forests with an altitude of about 2,000 m and a 20° slope, areas undisturbed by human activities. Two land use and cover classes predominate inside the corridors, tree cover and mostly natural vegetation, corresponding to 67.55% and 18.54% of total land use, respectively. A total of nine corridors were planned in Hengduan Mountains via LCP. The shortest corridor, which has recently been incorporated into national park planning, is 7.40 km, and is a route that has no need for bridge construction. The longest corridor is 95.74 km and would require construction of three bridges. Mobility of western black-crested gibbons can increase by 39.49% using our simulated corridors. The planned corridor is an optimized route for western black-crested gibbons in the Hengduan Mountains, and provides the best opportunities for security, food, and survival. The proposed integrated model is an efficient method for designing and estimating habitat suitability using competitively predictive performance and simultaneously quantifying model uncertainties.