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Identifying the evolution of sloping cultivated land (SCL) abandonment and its influencing factors in China's karst mountainous areas (KMA) is highly significant to ensuring the sustainable utilization of cultivated land and ecological environment restoration in mountainous regions. Based on the highresolution remote sensing images and digital elevation model (DEM) of the Huajiang Canyon (HC) from 2004 to 2020, this paper analyzes the distribution pattern, evolutionary rule, driving mechanism, and effect of SCL abandonment in the KMA of southwestern China in the micro spatial unit through the landscape pattern index, buffer analysis, and spatial autocorrelation analysis. The results show that: (1) the abandonment of SCL in the HC mainly occurs in the karst peak cluster and trough valley areas of southwestern, southern, and the northeastern areas, with severe rocky desertification having scarce SCL and relatively little abandoned cultivated land (ACL); (2) The trend of the ACL in KMA from 2004 to 2020 shows continuous growth, and the ACL patches are fragmented; (3) Abandonment of SCL is more pronounced at higher elevations, and the possibility of abandonment of SCL is greater at steeper slopes, with the ACL mainly evolving into low-covered grassland, shrub forests, and Zanthoxylum bungeanum forests; (4) The abandonment of SCL around rural settlements in the HC is a process from far to near, with farmers being the first to abandon SCL far from their settlements, but the abandonment of SCL around the roads is distributed in a fluctuating trend; (5) The abandonment of SCL in KMA is the result of the interaction of numerous factors, with socio-economic factors being the dominant ones. The abandonment of SCL has brought ecological and economic benefits to the KMA, and provided evidence of global greening in the micro-space. The results of this study can provide scientific references for rational land management and ecological environment restoration in mountainous areas around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Giant Panda National Park (GPNP) and its surrounding areas constitute a comprehensive ecosystem aimed at protecting the natural habitat of giant pandas, maintaining biodiversity, and ensuring ecological balance. Investigating the spatial correlation between landscape pattern indices and ecological sensitivity (ES) in this area is a crucial step in the construction of ecological civilization and contributes significantly to ecological conservation, restoration, and environmental management. This study utilized Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Fragstats software to select nine ecological evaluation factors and four landscape pattern indices to comprehensively evaluate the ES and landscape patterns of the GPNP and its surrounding areas. This study discovered that the ecological sensitivity of the GPNP is substantially higher than that of the neighboring areas, with the northern Qionglai Mountain area and the western Minshan area showing the highest concentrations of exceptionally high sensitivity. Highly sensitive areas account for 35.22% of the study region, concentrated in areas within the national park, except the Qinling area, as well as the western and southern surrounding areas. The distribution of moderately sensitive areas is more uniform, while low and insensitive areas are found primarily in the northern and eastern areas, along with the national park's environs. Patch density (PD) within the GPNP is lower than in surrounding areas, with higher PD in the northern and central parts. The landscape division index (DIVISION) decreases from west to east, and the landscape disturbance index (LDI) is significantly lower within the national park than in surrounding areas, with small areas of high LDI in the entire study region. Moran's index analysis of the GPNP and its surrounding areas shows that ecological sensitivity is positively correlated with landscape pattern indices (PD, SPLIT, DIVISION, and LDI), with the strongest correlation between DIVISION and ecological sensitivity. Spatially, the internal areas of the national park have lower landscape pattern indices but higher ecological sensitivity, while the eastern region exhibits severe landscape fragmentation. Major clusters of high and low values are found around the Qionglai-Daxiangling area, indicating that these areas of high ecological sensitivity have complex landscape structures, numerous habitat edges, and significant impacts on biodiversity and ecological processes. Overall, the areas surrounding the GPNP exhibit lower ecological sensitivity levels and higher landscape fragmentation, emphasizing the need for focused ecological protection in the northern part of the QLS region and the western part of the MS region. Additionally, attention should be given to the impact of landscape fragmentation in the surrounding areas in the interior of the GPNP. These results provide scientific evidence for the sustainable development of the GPNP and its surrounding areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the changes in landscape metrics with varying spatial resolution from Sentinel-2 (10 m), SPOT 7 (1.5 m), Pleaides (0.5 m), and Worldview-4 (0.3 m) images. We implemented Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis (GEOBIA) techniques to all images to identify 21 land use and land cover (LULC) classes, which were then used to calculate several landscape metrics. We performed the Welch hypothesis testing on the class-level landscape metrics and applied Standardized Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with the correlation matrix to reveal the multivariate pattern of landscape metrics. Our results showed that 10 m and even the 1.5 m spatial resolutions cannot guarantee the identification of all LULC classes, and class areas change with varying spatial resolution (sometimes with 200% differences). Sentinel-2 images have some limitations, specifically from the landscape ecological planning perspective; on the other hand, Pleaides and Worldview-4 seem good alternatives to understand habitats' viability and landscape isolation/connectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land cover analysis is a key method used to understand past land use patterns and explore the driving forces and processes behind them. This study focuses on land cover in 18 counties and cities of Hainan Island, delving into the driving factors of land cover in specific areas of Hainan Island, including the southern, northern, eastern, western, inland, and coastal regions. The effects of socio-economic factors, landscape pattern, and urban functional units on land cover are considered, and three hypotheses are proposed to explain the observed trends. The results indicate that house prices are positively correlated with construction area, woodlands land, and urban green space, thereby supporting the luxury effect hypothesis on land cover. In addition, construction age was negatively correlated with the woodlands area, confirming the role of the inverse legacy effect hypothesis in land cover. Other relationships between urban functional units and land cover emphasized the importance of the land use hypothesis in land cover planning. These results will help decision-makers and managers to better understand the current drivers of land cover, allowing for a more scientific basis when planning and managing urban land cover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kuye River is the second largest tributary of the middle Yellow River. (1) Background: The Kuye River Basin, a typical erosion area of the Loess Plateau region, faces significant environmental challenges and intense human activities. Balancing environmental sustainability and economic development in this region is urgent. (2) Methods: This study analyses the phenomena, evolutionary processes, driving mechanisms, and future development trends. We assess ecological risks and drivers of land use change using data from 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2022. (3) Results: Farmland, grassland, and construction land are the main land use types, accounting for 85.63% of the total area. Construction land increased by 7.95 times over 22 years, mainly due to the conversion of woodland, grassland, and farmland. The landscape pattern increased in patches from 4713 in 2000 to 6522 in 2022. Patch density decreased from 0.0945 to 0.0771 between 2000 and 2015, then rose to 0.0788 in 2022. Post-2015, increased human intervention and urban development led to significant landscape fragmentation and higher ecological risk, expected to persist until 2030. Geographical detector analysis identified distance from roads, distance from cities, night light, and precipitation as key factors influencing landscape ecological risk. The interaction of anthropogenic disturbance with other factors showed a non-linear increase in risk, with combined factors having a greater impact than individual ones. (4) Conclusions: The Kuye River Basin's landscape ecological risk is influenced by both natural conditions and human activities. To achieve sustainability, it is essential to protect critical areas, regulate development, and improve the adaptive management of ecological risks through innovative policies, integrated regulations, and technological solutions for ecosystem restoration. These findings provide empirical evidence to support decision-making and underscore the need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate ecological risks and promote sustainable development in the Kuye River Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landscape pattern is one of the most intuitive manifestations of land use change. In order to evaluate the evolution of land use and landscape pattern in Luoyang city, and then provide reference for land resource management and ecosystem protection in Luoyang City, based on the remote sensing monitoring data of land use in China from 2000 to 2020 and the PLUS model, the changes of land use type and landscape pattern under the inertia development scenario and ecological protection scenario in Luoyang City in 2030 were simulated and predicted. The results show that from 2000 to 2020, the land use types of Luoyang are mainly cultivated land, forest land and grassland, and the overall regional land use fluctuation is small, and land use is in the development stage. In 2030, under the inertia development scenario, the land evolution rate of Luoyang City is increased, and the ecological land use shows a shrinking trend. Under the ecological protection scenario, the expansion of construction land is limited, the ecological land area increased, and the regional ecological benefit increased significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining an appropriate grain size is crucial in landscape pattern analysis and ecological research. In order gain deeper insights into the spatial diversity and dynamic characteristics of landscape pattern, based on the survey data of the 12 hm² large plot in Jiangxi Guanshan National Nature Reserve in 2015 and 2020, the grain size effect of landscape indices in eight different landscape types within the range of 5-50 meters were analyzed; the variation coefficients were used to reveal the changing characteristics of different landscape pattern indices as the grain size increased, and the optimal grain size was selected based on the inflection points of changes in various landscape indices. The results were as follows: (1) Based on the importance value analysis, eight different landscape types were identified in the arbor layer of the plot, including forest gap, bamboo forest, Cunninghamia lanceolata forest, Pinus massoniana forest, broad-leaved forest, bamboo and Cunninghamia lanceolata mixed forest, bamboo and Pinus massoniana mixed forest, Cunninghamia lanceolata and Pinus massoniana mixed forest. (2) The overall distribution of patches in the landscape was relatively balanced, and the distribution pattern remained relatively stable. At larger spatial grain size, the aggregation of each landscape type increased, leading to a higher probability of landscape merging. In contrast, at smaller granularity, there was a noticeable trend of fragmentation in landscape types, providing a more comprehensive display of the quantity, density, and shape of each landscape type. Patch density (PD), number of patches (NP), edge density (ED), landscape shape index (LSI), mean fractal dimension index (FRAC_MN), contagion index (CONTAG) exhibited significant negative correlations with increasing grain size, while mean patch area (AREA_MN), Shannon's diversity index (SHDI), Shannon's evenness index (SHEI) exhibited significant positive correlations with increasing grain size. (3) The coefficients of variation for landscape indices PD, NP, ED, LSI, and AREA_MN were the highest, combining landscape structural stability and diversity, the changes in different landscape indices were primarily concentrated around the inflection point at 5 meters. These results illustrate the diversity of landscape types, with the coefficient of variation reflecting the most sensitive characteristics of landscape pattern changes. This study suggests that a grain size of 5 meters is optimal for studying the landscape pattern of subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests in Guanshan, Jiangxi. This study provides favorable evidence for the restoration of forest resources and stand stucture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the spatio-temporal distribution and evolution trends of water resources in large regions plays an important role in the study of regional water resource planning, regional economic and social development, and water disasters. In this study, a Landsat multi-index relationship and water probability thresholding method is developed based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, which can support the integration of multiple Landsat satellites. The algorithm jointly combines multiple remote sensing metrics along with the calculation of water probability to produce an interannual water body product for the Jianghan Plain on a 20-year time series. The results indicate that the Landsat multi-index relationship algorithm used in this study has high accuracy in extracting long-term water bodies in extensive, flat terrain areas such as the Jianghan Plain, with an overall accuracy (OA) of 97.23%. By analyzing the water body products and landscape patterns, we have identified the following features: (1) From 2002 to 2021, the changes in river water bodies in the Jianghan Plain were relatively small, and some lakes experienced a shrinkage in area. Overall, there is a strong correlation between water distribution and precipitation. (2) The complexity index of water bodies shows a strong negative correlation with effective irrigation area and population, indicating a strong mutual influence between water bodies and socio-economic activities. (3) Through the study of the distribution characteristics of built-up areas and the water system, it was found that for large rivers, the larger the size of the river, the more built-up areas are nearby. Most extensive built-up areas are located near large rivers. This study contributes to providing methods and data support for urban planning, water resource management, and disaster research in the Jianghan Plain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agricultural Science & Technology (1008-0864) is the property of Journal of Agricultural Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Bulletin of Soil & Water Conservation is the property of Bulletin of Soil & Water Conservation Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Beijing University of Civil Engineering & Architecture is the property of Journal of Beijing University of Civil Engineering & Architecture Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Context: Birds, as indicators of biodiversity, are experiencing habitat reduction and loss due to landscape changes. Evidence is mounting that the response of bird richness to landscape patterns remains controversial on a global scale. In this study, we conducted a quantitative global synthesis to gain a comprehensive understanding of this relationship. Our findings contribute to the development of bird conservation strategies that align with the objectives of SDG15. Objective: Through a quantitative review, this study investigated the effects of landscape patterns on bird richness and analyzed the sources of heterogeneity in the results. Methods: A random-effects model was utilized to merge the impacts of landscape metrics on bird richness, and a meta-regression analysis was performed to investigate the origins of heterogeneity. Results: The review encompassed 101 articles from 51 countries worldwide. Field sampling emerged as the primary method for acquiring bird data, with multiple linear regression and generalized linear models as the main analytical approaches. The meta-analysis results highlighted landscape area as a crucial factor influencing bird richness. Regarding landscape composition, the proportions of forests, shrublands, and water bodies positively impacted bird richness, while agricultural land and urban land had negative effects. The relationship between landscape complexity and bird richness is influenced by factors, including net primary productivity (NPP) and precipitation. Landscape heterogeneity was identified as a contributing factor to increased species richness. Conclusion: Compared to landscape complexity, indicators of landscape composition and heterogeneity are more suitable as reference tools for bird conservation. The results of landscape complexity exhibit variation. Moreover, our findings underscore the crucial role of preserving forested areas in supporting bird diversity, emphasizing the necessity to account for regional variations when establishing forest cover thresholds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-scale agroforestry patches possess irreplaceable value compared to large-scale patches. In southwestern mountainous cities of China, the complex terrain and urbanization have led to the presence of numerous small, fragmented agroforestry patches around urban areas. These patches serve as crucial habitats for endemic species and provide essential space for wild food sources, thereby contributing to a range of ecosystem services. Consequently, their proper conservation and utilization planning are of paramount importance. This study investigates the transformation characteristics of landscape patterns of mountainous small-scale agroforestry patches and their constituent elements across urban–rural gradients, identifying the driving factors behind these transformations to support conservation and utilization planning. From an urban–rural gradient perspective, four directional transects were selected and divided into uniform sample grids. Using Fragstats 4.3, landscape indices of small-scale agroforestry patches were calculated, analyzing the transformation characteristics of these patches and their elements across different gradients. Spearman correlation coefficients in SPSS were employed to assess the influence of terrain and relevant anthropogenic factors on the transformation of agroforestry patches. The findings reveal the following: (1) Small-scale agroforestry patches and their elements exhibit similar patterns in terms of size, fragmentation, dispersion, and connectivity, showing an "increasing trend in size and connectivity, decreasing fragmentation, and fluctuating dispersion" from urban centers to natural areas, with slight variations in orchard patches. However, patch cohesion and shape complexity display nonlinear differentiated transformation characteristics. (2) Overall, small-scale agroforestry patches are significantly influenced by anthropogenic construction factors, with the landscape pattern of forest patches notably affected by terrain factors. (3) Across urban–rural gradient zones, the landscape patterns of small-scale agroforestry patches in urban centers, suburbs, and rural natural areas are more affected by terrain factors, whereas those in urban construction zones are significantly influenced by anthropogenic construction factors. The findings of this study provide a scientific basis for the conservation and planning of mountainous small-scale agroforestry patches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid urbanization observed in major Chinese cities has resulted in the degradation of both urban and rural environments. In response to this challenge, the concept of regional green spaces has emerged as an innovative approach to coordinate and manage green space resources across urban and rural areas. This study focuses on conducting a comprehensive analysis of the evolution, driving factors, and future scenarios of regional green spaces in Changzhou, which serves as a representative Type I large city in China. To accomplish this analysis, Landsat satellite images from 1992, 2002, 2012, and 2022 were utilized. Various methodologies, including landscape pattern indices for quantitative evaluation, the CLUE-S model, logistic regression for qualitative evaluation, and the Markov–FLUS model, were employed. The findings indicate a continuous decline in the area of regional green spaces in Changzhou, decreasing from 248.23 km2 in 1992 to 204.46 km2 in 2022. Landscape pattern analysis reveals an increase in fragmentation, complexity, irregularity, and human interference within these green spaces. Logistic regression analysis identifies key driving factors influencing regional green spaces, including elevation, urban population, and proximity to water bodies and transportation. The scenario simulations provide valuable insights into potential future trends of regional green spaces. According to the economic priority scenario, a modest increase in regional green spaces is anticipated, while the ecological priority scenario indicates substantial growth. Conversely, the inertial development scenario predicts a continued decline in regional green spaces. This research emphasizes the significance of achieving a harmonious coexistence between economic progress and environmental preservation. It emphasizes the necessity of optimizing the arrangement of green areas within a region while fostering public engagement in the conservation of these spaces. The findings contribute to the protection and sustainable development of the urban environment in the Yangtze River Delta region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Guangxi Normal University - Natural Science Edition is the property of Gai Kan Bian Wei Hui and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study meticulously investigates landscape alterations within the Mu Us Sandy Land, a critical region for desertification control in China. The research dissects the dynamic characteristics and inter-conversion of landscape elements across eleven distinct periods by employing multi-source remote sensing imagery spanning 1963 to 2020, alongside visual interpretation, random forest classification, and the desertification difference index (DDI). The analysis uncovers significant landscape transformations within the Mu Us Sandy Land over the past six decades, following a precise chronological sequence. A pivotal shift occurred around 1986, characterized by opposing trends within fixed and shifting sandy land. The earlier stage (pre-1986) witnessed a substantial decrease (66.9%) in the fixed sandy land area, accompanied by a corresponding rise (38.7%) in shifting sandy land. Conversely, the later stage (post-1986) era exhibited a remarkable increase (309.7%) in fixed sandy land, alongside a significant decline (78.9%) in shifting sand land coverage. This study identifies two stages of landscape transformation: a pre-1986 phase dominated by the conversion of fixed sandy land to semi-fixed sandy land and a post-1986 reversal toward shifting sand land into fixed sandy land. These sequential transformations have shaped the landscape pattern alterations observed in the Mu Us Sandy Land since 1963. The dramatic landscape improvements observed after 1986 can be primarily attributed to the implementation and continued investment in large-scale ecological restoration projects. This study's findings, which reveal the intricate landscape dynamics and their implications for ecosystem management, provide a scientific foundation for refining and formulating comprehensive strategies to control desertification and manage the Mu Us Sandy Land's unique ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the island biogeography theory and the habitat amount hypothesis, species richness and alpha diversity increase with an increase in connectivity and habitat amount, and high environmental heterogeneity usually maintains high plant alpha diversity. However, the mechanism of landscape pattern on plant community similarity, another dimension of plant diversity, are still poorly understood. We sampled 420 plant communities at 28 sampling sites comprising mobile, semi-fixed, and fixed sandy dunes, and lowland grasslands. The plant community similarity index was modelled as a response variable in stepwise linear regression models to select the primary landscape metrics. A general linear model was then used to identify the contribution of selected landscape metrics to plant network parameters. The results demonstrate that patch shape complexity, rather than habitat amount or area, was positively associated with plant community similarity (p < 0.05), as well as connection or aggregation, and not landscape heterogeneity (and/or landscape diversity). Such influences are closely linked to plant community network characteristics, which are determined by the sandy fragmented landscape. These findings suggest that shape complexity and edge traits of patches influence plant community similarity; consequently, at the landscape level, patch connection and aggregation influence plant community networks, while habitat amounts or landscape heterogeneity were less affected. These various underlying mechanisms need to be considered in management plans and reserve design for sandy grassland ecosystems to protect grasslands in sandy landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mainstream basin of the Tarim River serves as a vital ecological security barrier that prevents the merging and expansion of deserts and an important strategic corridor directly linking Qinghai and Xinjiang. With society's development and climate change, ecological issues such as river interruption, vegetation degradation, and land desertification in the basin have notably intensified, and the ecological security is facing a critical test. Exploring the characteristics of landscape changes and their driving factors within the basin is crucial in improving the ecological environment system's management. Based on land use data from 1980 to 2020, this study analyzed the characteristics of the spatiotemporal changes and pattern evolution of the landscape through a landscape transfer matrix and landscape pattern indices. It further revealed the impact factors of the landscape pattern through canonical correspondence analysis. The results showed that (1) in 1980–2020, the areas of desert, forest, farmland, and settlement landscapes increased, while the area of grassland landscape decreased, and the water landscape showed an "increasing–decreasing–recovery" pattern. The landscape transition types mainly included the transition from grassland to desert; mutual transitions among farmland, grassland, and forests; mutual transitions between water and grassland; and the transition from farmland to settlements. (2) The overall landscape pattern demonstrated increased fragmentation, shape complexity, and evenness with decreased aggregation. Furthermore, different landscapes exhibited distinct characteristics of landscape pattern changes; for instance, grassland landscape showed severe fragmentation, while desert landscape displayed the strongest dominance. (3) The landscape pattern was a result of the combined impact of natural and human factors, with the soil thickness (SOT), road density (ROD), annual actual evapotranspiration (AAE), population density (POD), and mean annual temperature (MAT) exhibiting significant influences. Specifically, the settlement and farmland landscapes were mainly influenced by the mean annual relative humidity (MAH), POD, GDP density (GDP), and distance to artificial water (DAW); the forest, grassland, and water landscapes were mainly influenced by the SOT, soil organic matter content (SOM), AAE, ROD, elevation (ELE), MAT, slope (SLP), and distance to natural water (DNW); and the desert landscape was mainly influenced by the DAW, DNW, SLP, AAE, SOT, SOM, and ROD. These findings can provide a scientific reference for landscape management and restoration, as well as sustainable social and economic development, in the mainstream basin of the Tarim River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Landscape patterns result from complex social-ecological interactions, such as urban-rural integration which is especially notable in China. However, the impacts of urban-rural integration on landscape sustainability remain understudied. Objectives: Our objectives were to examine the impacts of urban-rural integration on landscape patterns and to explore its implications for landscape sustainability. Methods: The study area is the Changsha metropolitan area in central China, which has undergone urban-rural integration since 2005. A three-step approach was used to (1) assess the spatiotemporal patterns of urban-rural integration dynamics with a multidimensional indicator system, (2) quantify landscape pattern dynamics using landscape metrics, and (3) explore the main drivers and processes involved in urban-rural integration responsible for the observed changes in landscape patterns through a time-fixed effects model. Results: Our findings reveal a significant increase in the level of urban-rural integration in the Changsha metropolitan area from 2005 to 2020. Concurrently, the regional landscape has experienced increasing trends characterized by the loss and fragmentation of natural and agricultural patches, as well as heightened connectivity among constructed patches. Urban-rural integration exerts notable impacts on landscape patterns through processes such as societal convergence, economic interaction, technology sharing, and spatial interlinkage, subsequently influencing landscape (un)sustainability. Conclusions: The different drivers and processes of urban-rural integration have varying effects on landscape patterns, with complex and intertwined impacts on landscape sustainability. Therefore, integrated landscape governance is imperative for addressing the disadvantages of urban-rural integration while strategically leveraging its advantages in various social-ecological contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sanjiangyuan region, situated on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, constitutes an exceptionally delicate ecological environment. Alterations in the region's ecological landscape stem not only from natural factors but also from significant anthropogenic influences, exerting a notable impact on the sustainable economic and social development of the region's middle and lower reaches. Consequently, investigating changes in the landscape pattern of Sanjiangyuan National Park holds paramount importance for comprehending the formation mechanism of spatial landscape distribution in the area. This study analyzes the ecological sensitivity and landscape pattern of Sanjiangyuan National Park in Qinghai Province, China, utilizing ArcGIS 10.8 and Fragstats 4.2. Employing the bivariate spatial autocorrelation analysis method, the research uncovers the spatial distribution characteristics between ecological sensitivity and landscape pattern, along with their aggregated change traits. The findings reveal that ecological sensitivity areas within the park encompass varying degrees, ranging from extremely sensitive to insensitive. The area of moderately sensitive zones in the Yellow River source region is 7279.67 km2 (39.17%), whereas the corresponding area in the Yangtze River source region is 32,572.34 km2 (36.30%). The eastern and northern parts of the Sanjiangyuan National Park exhibit significant landscape fragmentation. Ecological sensitivity varies markedly across different regions, with the southern and some northern areas showing higher sensitivity. In the Lancang River source park and the southern part of the Yellow River source park, the Largest Patch Index (LPI) and Ecological Sensitivity Index exhibit a high–high (HH) clustering pattern, indicating strong ecological connectivity in these areas. These regions also feature high Total Edge (TE), Number of Patches (NP), Patch Density (PD), and Edge Density (ED), indicating a complex landscape structure and abundant habitat edge areas. The study recommends restoring ecological connectivity in highly fragmented areas and implementing strict protection measures in sensitive regions to maintain ecosystem health and biodiversity. These findings provide a foundation for developing targeted ecological protection measures to enhance ecosystem health and biodiversity conservation in the area. This research aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Climate Action, Life on Land, and Clean Water and Sanitation, by promoting sustainable ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind power has been developing rapidly as a key measure to mitigate human-driven global warming. The understanding of the development and impacts of wind farms on local climate and vegetation is of great importance for their rational use but is still limited. In this study, we combined remote sensing and on-site investigations to identify wind farm locations in Inner Mongolia and performed landscape pattern analyses using Fragstats. We explored the impacts of wind farms on land surface temperature (LST) and vegetation net primary productivity (NPP) between 1990 and 2020 by contrasting these metrics in wind farms with those in non-wind farm areas. The results showed that the area of wind farms increased rapidly from 1.2 km2 in 1990 to 10,755 km2 in 2020. Spatially, wind farms are mainly clustered in three aggregation areas in the center. Further, wind farms increased nighttime LST, with a mean value of 0.23 °C, but had minor impacts on the daytime LST. Moreover, wind farms caused a decline in NPP, especially over forest areas, with an average reduction of 12.37 GC/m². Given the impact of wind farms on LST and NPP, we suggest that the development of wind farms should fully consider their direct and potential impacts. This study provides scientific guidance on the spatial pattern of future wind farms.

[Objective] The Dabie Mountain area in western Anhui Province is an important ecological transition area between the Yangtze River Basin and the Huaihe River Basin in Anhui Province. The study on the landscape pattern and soil erosion and their relationship in this area is helpful to provide a reference for the regulation of landscape pattern and soil erosion control in this area. [Methods] The RULSE model was used to calculate the soil erosion modulus in the Dabie Mountains of western Anhui in the recent 30 years. The changes of landscape pattern were described by landscape index, and the influence of landscape index on soil erosion was explored by partial least squares regression (PLSR). [Results] In recent 30 years, the soil erosion modulus showed a trend of decreasing first and increasing later. The areas with serious soil erosion were mainly concentrated in the central and western regions and the southern mountainous areas. In most areas, the soil erosion intensity was mainly slight and mild, and the erosion intensity of different land use types had obvious difference, which was grassland > cultivated land > forest land. The land use type and landscape pattern were generally stable. The change of landscape pattern was mainly manifested in the reduction of landscape fragmentation and the improvement of landscape heterogeneity and connectivity. Shannon’s Diversity Index (SHDI), Edge Density Index (ED), Proportion of Like Adjacencies (PLADJ), and Landscape Shape Index (LSI) had significant explanatory significance for the Dabie Mountain area in west Anhui Province. Shannon’s Diversity Index (SHDI), Edge Density Index (ED), and Landscape Shape Index (LSI) had significant positive effects on soil erosion, while Proportion of Like Adjacencies (PLADJ) had significant negative effects on soil erosion. [Conclusion] In the Dabie Mountains of western Anhui, the increase of landscape fragmentation and the decrease of landscape connectivity will significantly promote soil erosion.

Abstract Landscape stability is a paramount concern within the field of landscape ecology. Indices of landscape patterns not only facilitate an effective analysis of land use transformations but also delve into the mechanisms of landscape disturbances across various spatial and temporal dimensions. Utilizing land use data spanning from 2014 to 2022 for the Shibing and Libo-Huanjiang South China Karst (SCK) World Heritage Sites (WHSs), this study delves into the landscape dynamics of these areas over the past 8 years. This investigation employs landscape pattern indices and a moving window technique to construct a landscape stability evaluation model, incorporating indices such as the Contagion Index, Patch Density, and Total Edge Contrast. Moreover, the study employs Moran's I, a spatial autocorrelation index, to scrutinize the shifts in geographical heterogeneity of landscape stability within the said period. The findings reveal: (1) Between 2014 and 2022, the landscape patterns of the Shibing and Libo-Huanjiang WHSs have undergone significant transformations, with Woodland emerging as the predominant landscape type and its area exhibiting an upward trend in recent years. (2) The level of fragmentation within the research area has decreased, landscape diversity has diminished, and the aggregation index has risen, according to the landscape pattern indices from 2014 to 2022, indicating that conservation measures have significantly influenced the evolution of landscape patterns. (3) Throughout most of the study period, landscape stability predominantly remained at a relatively stable level, albeit with noticeable fluctuations in years heavily impacted by human activities. (4) The areas of high-high agglomeration and the hotspots of the heritage sites were primarily concentrated within the core zones of these sites, suggesting focused areas of conservation and landscape integrity.

ObjectiveFarmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization in hilly and mountainous areas can alter the landscape pattern, elevation, slope and microgeomorphology of cultivated land. It is of great significance to assess the ecological risk of cultivated land to provide data reference for the subsequent farmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization. This study aims to assess the ecological risk of cultivated land before and after farmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization in hilly and mountainous areas, and to explore the relationship between cultivated land ecological risk and cultivated land slope.MethodsTwenty counties in Tongnan district of Chongqing city was selected as the assessment units. Based on the land use data in 2010 and 2020 as two periods, ArcGIS 10.8 and Excel software were used to calculate landscape pattern indices. The weights for each index were determined by entropy weight method, and an ecological risk assessment model was constructed, which was used to reveal the temporal and spatial change characteristics of ecological risk. Based on the principle of mathematical statistics, the correlation analysis between cultivated land ecological risk and cultivated land slope was carried out, which aimed to explore the relationship between cultivated land ecological risk and cultivated land slope.Results and DiscussionsComparing to 2010, patch density (PD), division (D), fractal dimension (FD), and edge density (ED) of cultivated land all decreased in 2020, while meant Patch Size (MPS) increased, indicating an increase in the contiguity of cultivated land. The mean shape index (MSI) of cultivated land increased, indicating that the shape of cultivated land tended to be complicated. The landscape disturbance index (U) decreased from 0.97 to 0.94, indicating that the overall resistance to disturbances in cultivated land has increased. The landscape vulnerability index (V) increased from 2.96 to 3.20, indicating that the structure of cultivated land become more fragile. The ecological risk value of cultivated land decreased from 3.10 to 3.01, indicating the farmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization effectively improved the landscape pattern of cultivated land and enhanced the safety of the agricultural ecosystem. During the two periods, the ecological risk areas were primarily composed of low-risk and relatively low-risk zones. The area of low-risk zones increased by 6.44%, mainly expanding towards the northern part, while the area of relatively low-risk zones increased by 6.17%, primarily spreading towards the central-eastern and southeastern part. The area of moderate-risk zones increased by 24.4%, mainly extending towards the western and northwestern part, while the area of relatively high-risk zones decreased by 60.70%, with some new additions spreading towards the northeastern part. The area of high-risk zones increased by 16.30%, with some new additions extending towards the northwest part. Overall, the ecological safety zones of cultivated relatively increased. The cultivated land slope was primarily concentrated in the range of 2° to 25°. On the one hand, when the cultivated land slope was less than 15°, the proportion of the slope area was negatively correlated with the ecological risk value. On the other hand, when the slope was above 15°, the proportion of the slope area was positively correlated with the ecological risk value. In 2010, there was a highly significant correlation between the proportion of slope area and ecological risk value for cultivated land slope within the ranges of 5° to 8°, 15° to 25°, and above 25°, with corresponding correlation coefficients of 0.592, 0.609, and 0.849, respectively. In 2020, there was a highly significant correlation between the proportion of slope area and ecological risk value for cultivated land slope within the ranges of 2° to 5°, 5° to 8°, 15° to 25°, and above 25°, with corresponding correlation coefficients of 0.534, 0.667, 0.729, and 0.839, respectively.ConclusionsThe assessment of cultivated land ecological risk in Tongnan district of Chongqing city before and after the farmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization, as well as the analysis of the correlation between ecological risk and cultivated land slope, demonstrate that the farmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization can reduce cultivated land ecological risk, and the proportion of cultivated land slope can be an important basis for precision guidance in the farmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization. Considering the occurrence of moderate sheet erosion from a slope of 5° and intense erosion from a slope of 10° to 15°, and taking into account the reduction of ecological risk value and the actual topographic conditions, the subsequent farmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization in Tongnan district should focus on areas with cultivated land slope ranging from 5° to 8° and 15° to 25°.

[Objective] Through the spatio-temporal dynamic analysis of landscape ecological pattern and habitat quality, the response of habitat quality before and after the implementation of soil and water conservation measures in PU River Basin of Shenyang City was deeply studied, aiming to provide scientific basis for soil and water conservation strategies in small river basins, so as to promote the coordinated growth of the eco-economy and the sustainable and healthy development of regional ecology. [Methods] Based on the land use data and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of PU River Basin in 2000, 2010 and 2020, combined with the FRAGSTATS and InVEST models, land use transfer matrix, landscape pattern index, habitat quality and habitat degradation degree were used to analyze land use change and explore quality response situation. [Results] (1) During the period from 2000 to 2010, the cultivated land development activities in the PU River Basin were frequent, resulting in a significant decline in the proportion of forest, grassland and other land types; In the period from 2010 to 2020, the construction of the PU River ecological corridor will promote the change of land use, and the cultivated land area will flow to artificial surfaces, forests and grasslands. (2) During 2000 to 2020, the overall landscape pattern of the PU River Basin experienced a process of first becoming complete and then fragmentary. The landscape on both sides of the Puhe River formed a dense pattern of multiple elements, and the habitat in the northern edge of the urban center continued to fragment. (3) From the overall analysis of the basin, the average habitat quality in 2000, 2010, and 2020 was 0.349, 0.329, and 0.354, respectively, showing a trend of first decreasing and then increasing. The mean values of habitat degradation were 0.098, 0.112, and 0.086, which were consistent with the trend in habitat quality. With the construction of the PU River Ecological Corridor, the quality of habitat will be improved significantly in 2020, and the threats to the ecosystem will be reduced. From the analysis of spatial pattern, the northeast and southwest show obvious spatial distribution characteristics. The quality of habitat in the mountainous areas of northeast China and the wetlands of southwest China is generally good, but there is a threat of habitat degradation. [Conclusion] Under the influence of soil and water conservation measures, the ecological pattern of the PU River Basin can be and the degradation of habitat can be effectively inhibited.

[Objective] In order to understand the spatiotemporal changes in the wetland of the Genhe Basin, the impacts of climate change and land use change on wetland landscape pattern was clarified. [Methods] The driving factors of changes in wetland landscape pattern in the Genhe Basin between 1990 and 2019 were investigated by analyzing the changes in wetland extent and combining them with climate change during the same period. [Results] The results showed that over the past 30 years, the area of wetlands in the Genhe Basin had decreased by 31.89%, the number of patches had increased by 3.74%, and the landscape fragmentation index had increased by 4.48. The overall degradation of wetland areas in the watershed was significant, while the overall number of wetland patches in the watershed had increased. From 1990 to 2004, wetland areas in the watershed showed a significant degradation trend (p0.05), and the average annual temperature showed a non-significant increasing trend (p>0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between landscape fragmentation index and average annual temperature, which might be due to the melting of shallow permafrost in the watershed due to rising temperatures, leading to a decrease in wetland fragmentation during this period. [Conclusion] The research results are of great significance for maintaining biodiversity and stability of wetland ecosystems in the Genhe Basin, promoting coordinated and interactive wetland-dryland relationships, and ensuring sustainable development of wetland resources.

Landscape stability is a paramount concern within the field of landscape ecology. Indices of landscape patterns not only facilitate an effective analysis of land use transformations but also delve into the mechanisms of landscape disturbances across various spatial and temporal dimensions. Utilizing land use data spanning from 2014 to 2022 for the Shibing and Libo-Huanjiang South China Karst (SCK) World Heritage Sites (WHSs), this study delves into the landscape dynamics of these areas over the past 8 years. This investigation employs landscape pattern indices and a moving window technique to construct a landscape stability evaluation model, incorporating indices such as the Contagion Index, Patch Density, and Total Edge Contrast. Moreover, the study employs Moran's I, a spatial autocorrelation index, to scrutinize the shifts in geographical heterogeneity of landscape stability within the said period. The findings reveal: (1) Between 2014 and 2022, the landscape patterns of the Shibing and Libo-Huanjiang WHSs have undergone significant transformations, with Woodland emerging as the predominant landscape type and its area exhibiting an upward trend in recent years. (2) The level of fragmentation within the research area has decreased, landscape diversity has diminished, and the aggregation index has risen, according to the landscape pattern indices from 2014 to 2022, indicating that conservation measures have significantly influenced the evolution of landscape patterns. (3) Throughout most of the study period, landscape stability predominantly remained at a relatively stable level, albeit with noticeable fluctuations in years heavily impacted by human activities. (4) The areas of high-high agglomeration and the hotspots of the heritage sites were primarily concentrated within the core zones of these sites, suggesting focused areas of conservation and landscape integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomena of global climate change and comprehensive urban expansion have precipitated significant and unprecedented transformations in landscape patterns. To enhance the assessment of these spatio−temporal changes and their driving forces at a regional level, we developed a comprehensive landscape index (CLI) to quantify these patterns and conducted a detailed analysis of the spatio−temporal variations in Minnesota over the last two decades. Our analysis of the CLI was conducted by examining both its quantitative relationships and spatial distribution patterns. The findings indicate a consistent increase in Minnesota's CLI over this period, marked by an escalation in landscape fragmentation and diversity, alongside a decline in landscape connectivity. Temporally, the CLI experienced a notable shift in 2010. Spatially, the clustering characteristics of landscape patterns have largely remained stable. Our analysis reveals that the CLI is most sensitive to total population (POP) and gross domestic product (GDP) factors, underscoring the significant impact of human activity on landscape patterns. Notably, the explanatory capacity of interactions between factors is substantially greater than that of individual factors, with the GDP and vegetation structure (VS) interaction demonstrating the greatest influence on the spatial distribution of landscape patterns. This highlights the critical role of the interplay between human socio−economic activity and vegetation coverage in shaping landscape configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve the transition of rural areas from traditional to modern, the visualization of rural landscape data and feature evaluations are essential. Landscape character assessment (LCA) is a well-established tool that was developed to assess and understand rural landscape features. In recent years, drones have become increasingly attractive for various applications and services due to their low costs and relative ease of operation. Unlike most previous studies that relied solely on drone-based remote sensing or visual esthetic evaluations, this study proposes an innovative assessment method based on landscape characteristic assessment (LCA) and oblique drone photography technology, supported by specific data and survey results. These include various landscape metrics, such as the Shannon diversity index (SHDI), Shannon evenness index (SHEI), vegetation coverage, landscape character zoning, and delineations of various ecologically sensitive areas. This method was applied to study Zhanqi Village in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China and revealed some unique characteristics of this village. By categorizing and describing the landscape features, the study makes judgments and decisions about them. This is a beneficial attempt to apply the scientific methods of landscape assessments to the production management of aerial drone surveys. This method provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating rural landscape features and demonstrates that the combination of LCA and oblique drone photography technology is feasible for rural landscape research. Additionally, this study emphasizes the need for further research to explore the potential application of this method in continuously evolving urban and rural environments in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective]The study aims to explore the effects of soil and water conservation investment on regional landscape patterns, ecosystem services value(ESV), and the agricultural economy. This investigation can provide rational reference for regional ecological construction and high-quality development.[Methods]The data focusing on soil and water conservation investment and land use from 2009 to 2020 in Henan Province were utilized. The contribution of this investment to the agricultural economy was measured through Cobb-Douglas production function and an evaluation method of input-output performance. The evolution of landscape patterns, transformations in different land use patterns, and the spatial-temporal variation of ESV in Henan Province were analyzed using landscape pattern indices, land use transfer matrix, and the equivalent factor method.[Results]A general upward trend was found in the economic benefits and the input-output ratio(ROI)of soil and water conservation investment in agriculture sector of Henan Province between 2009 and 2020.However, the investment efficiency exhibited a decrease trend, reaching its lowest point in 2018.A significant correlation was observed between the ESV, patch area index, patch density index, patch cohesion index, and the ROI of soil and water conservation investment exhibited a significant correlation. The connectivity and aggregation of forest and grass patch landscapes experienced a decline, contributing to an intensification of landscape fragmentation. The ESV exhibited a trend of initial decrease followed by subsequent increase, with the most increase occurring between 2012 and 2017, accompanied by an average annual growth of CNY 842 million. Spatially, changes in landscape pattern and ESV occurred along a herringbone curve that combines contour lines with the boundaries of natural geomorphic zones. However, landscape pattern and ESV changed little within the area divided by the curve.[Conclusion]The role of soil and water conservation investment in enhancing the natural environment of agriculture is gradually surpassing its role in generating economic value within the agricultural sector. Optimizing the investment structure can enhance the restoration and improvement of the ecological environment in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective]The study aims to explore the effects of soil and water conservation investment on regional landscape patterns, ecosystem services value(ESV), and the agricultural economy. This investigation can provide rational reference for regional ecological construction and high-quality development. [Methods]The data focusing on soil and water conservation investment and land use from 2009 to 2020 in Henan Province were utilized. The contribution of this investment to the agricultural economy was measured through Cobb-Douglas production function and an evaluation method of input-output performance. The evolution of landscape patterns, transformations in different land use patterns, and the spatial-temporal variation of ESV in Henan Province were analyzed using landscape pattern indices, land use transfer matrix, and the equivalent factor method. [Results]A general upward trend was found in the economic benefits and the input-output ratio(ROI)of soil and water conservation investment in agriculture sector of Henan Province between 2009 and 2020. However, the investment efficiency exhibited a decrease trend, reaching its lowest point in 2018. A significant correlation was observed between the ESV, patch area index, patch density index, patch cohesion index, and the ROI of soil and water conservation investment exhibited a significant correlation. The connectivity and aggregation of forest and grass patch landscapes experienced a decline, contributing to an intensification of landscape fragmentation. The ESV exhibited a trend of initial decrease followed by subsequent increase, with the most increase occurring between 2012 and 2017, accompanied by an average annual growth of CNY 842 million. Spatially, changes in landscape pattern and ESV occurred along a herringbone curve that combines contour lines with the boundaries of natural geomorphic zones. However, landscape pattern and ESV changed little within the area divided by the curve. [Conclusion]The role of soil and water conservation investment in enhancing the natural environment of agriculture is gradually surpassing its role in generating economic value within the agricultural sector. Optimizing the investment structure can enhance the restoration and improvement of the ecological environment in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective]The aims of this study are to examine the response of ecosystem service value(ESV)to the change in land use and landscape pattern, and to provide reference for maintaining the functional stability of the ecosystem in northeast of Jiangxi Province and building a regional ecological safety barrier.[Methods]Based on four periods of land use data from 1990 to 2020, the spatial and temporal change of land use, landscape pattern and ESV in northeast Jiangxi were measured by spatial analysis and statistics within Geographic Information System(GIS)package. Meanwhile, the elasticity coefficient and Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression(GTWR)model were respectively introduced to explore the impacts of land use and landscape pattern change on ESV.[Results](1)Woodland and cultivated land were the main land use types, and except for the increase in waters and urban area, other land use had experienced a decrease, which made regional landscape fragmented and complicated.(2)The total amount of ESV had gained an increase with woodland and waters being the main contributors to the ecosystem, accounting for over 89％of the total. The distribution and changes of ESV in various counties were mainly influenced by waters, woodland and urban area.(3)The regions with the highest elasticity coefficient(EC)(＞5)were mainly located along the Poyang Lake and its water system, and around the prosperous area of each county center, while the areas with high EC(i.e., 3＜EC≤5)mainly distributed around the borders of the study area, (4)The influence of the Interspersion and Juxtaposition Index(IJI)and Splitting Index(SPLIT)on ESV in each county was mainly a negative inhibition, and the influence of the Euclidean Nearest Neighbor Distance(ENN)was transitional from negative to positive while the influence of the Shannon's Diversity Index(SHDI)was generally positive and its intensity had been gradually increasing.[Conclusion]The influence intensity of the four landscape indices shows a clear spatiotemporal difference. The effect of change in land use and landscape pattern on ESV are also of spatiotemporal variability and should be treated differently in ecological and environmental protection in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With rapid urbanization, environmental problems such as soil erosion and resource shortages have emerged. Ecological environmental quality is decreasing, and ecological security issues are becoming increasingly prominent; thus, relevant research is particularly urgent. The ecological security issue is complex due to many influencing factors. The transformation of landscape type is the most important factor affecting ecological security. Therefore, there is an urgent need to optimize and screen for the indicator factors that affect ecological security, carry out a dynamic evaluation of ecological security based on landscape pattern analysis, and analyze the driving forces behind ecological security changes. Song County is located in the ecological core area of the Funiu Mountains in western Henan, with complex topography and geomorphology; large changes in landscape patterns in recent years; frequent geological disasters, which have posed a greater threat to people's life and property safety; and significant ecological security problems. This paper takes Song County as the research area, using the decision tree model to obtain the land use classification results of four periods in Song County in 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 based on remote sensing images. Landscape pattern analysis is conducted from two aspects: patch level and landscape level. On this basis, ecological security evaluation indicators are constructed from three levels: pressure, state, and response, and the comprehensive index model is used to obtain the results of four ecological security evaluations. Exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) is used to conduct research and prediction on spatiotemporal differentiation. Finally, the spatial heterogeneity relationship between the ecological security level and its driving factors in Song County is quantitatively analyzed using a geographic detector model. The results clearly show that the overall landscape form gradually tends to develop in the direction of complex irregularity. Due to frequent geological disasters and strong human engineering activities near the core areas of the Luhun Reservoir and Yi River basin, as well as Baihejie Village in Baihe Township and Che Village in Muzhijie Township, the landscape pattern is changing considerably. The self-restoration ability of the land's ecosystem is gradually weakening, and the degree of ecological damage is gradually accelerating. The ecological security level is unsafe, the area of unsafe security is gradually increasing, and the ecological security index (ESI) will continue to decrease in the future. To improve ecological security, we recommend paying attention to land conservation and rational utilization while pursuing economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of the evolution process and characteristics of the production-living-ecological space pattern is of paramount importance for the optimization of land resource allocation and the promotion of coordinated regional development. This study takes Jingzhou City as its focus, leveraging land use data from the years 2000 to 2020. By employing a suite of analytical tools, including the dynamic degree of production-living-ecological space, transfer matrix, center of gravity migration model, and landscape pattern indices, the study provides a comprehensive examination of the evolutionary characteristics of the production-living-ecological space pattern. The results indicate that agricultural production space and aquatic ecological space are the predominant types within the production-living production space and other ecological spaces, while other types of production-living-ecological space have experienced a certain degree of expansion. The evolution of the production-living-ecological space is primarily characterized by the mutual transformation between agricultural ecological space and aquatic ecological space, as well as the transition of agricultural production space into other types of spaces. The migration of the gravity centers for rural living space, forest ecological space, and grassland ecological space has been relatively minimal, indicating a stable distribution for these particular spaces. In contrast, more pronounced shifts in gravity centers have been observed for other production-living-ecological space types. The landscape pattern of production-living-ecological space exhibits an increasing trend toward fragmentation and complexity, with a concomitant decline in spatial connectivity. The primary drivers rural construction on agricultural land and the execution of wetland conservation and restoration initiatives. To address these challenges, regional food and ecological security and fostering the harmonious co-development of economic, social, and ecological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological base investigation is a fundamental work for scientifically assessing the ecological and environmental conditions in the area of comprehensive land consolidation projects. Through the investigation, we can accurately grasp the overall ecological status of the remediation area, scientifically guide the planning design and implementation of ecological engineering in the projeet area, which helps to achieve the overall protection, restoration, and comprehensive management of the metropolitan suburban space. We taken the comprehensive land consolidation project in Maogang Town, Songjiang District, Shanghai as an example. By conducting research on the ecological foundation conditions such as landscape patterns, biological elements, and environmental elements in the ecosystem of the area, we could accurately identify the existing ecological problems in the area and propose targeted repair measures. The results indicated that the habitat connectivity is well, but there are ecological obstacles in the water conservation forests, and the biodiversity is relatively lower than others. We will enhance the ecosystem service function and improve the habitat quality by optimizing land use layout, connecting ecological corridors, setting up ecological buffer zones, and planting more native plants. This study can provide a reference for rural ecological protection and restoration practices in Shanghai and the whole country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal is China's main resource, with open-pit mining accounting for a significant portion of global production. However, this activity, including mining and ecological restoration, can have a definite impact on ecosystem carbon storage and its distribution; its associated factors are also unclear. In this paper, we quantify the carbon storage changes in Haerwusu coal mine, a typical large-scale coal mine in China, based on land use/land cover (LULC) characteristics, and analyze the impact factors of carbon density from 2007 to 2022 by integrating the InVEST model with the landscape ecological function contribution ratio and multiple regression model. The results are as follows. (1) Carbon storage decreased from 159.95 x 104 to 147.51 x 104 from 2007 to 2017 and then increased to 151.91 x 104 to 2022. (2) The degree of coordination between carbon storage forest and grassland area landscape pattern coupling ranged from 0.887 to 0.867 from 2007 to 2022, with the lowest point at 0.720 in 2012. (3) Carbon storage was significantly related to vegetation indices, temperature, and elevation, and these factors can explain 37.5% of the carbon storage spatial variability; stepwise regression analysis showed that the integration of landscape patterns, such as Shannon's diversity index (SHEI) and the aggregation index (AI), could improve the explanation by 1.4%. (4) Based on the analysis of the landscape ecological function contribution ratio, the carbon storage-sensitive areas can be classified into three levels: extremely sensitive areas ranging 0 to 4 km from the mine, sensitive areas ranging 4 to 8 km, and insensitive areas ranging beyond 8 km. This study proposes a strategy for analyzing changes of carbon storage in coal mines, highlights the important role of landscape patterns in influencing carbon storage, and provides a reliable reference support for the ecological management of coal mines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The degradation of urban ecology, particularly in metropolitan areas distinguished by dense populations and impervious surfaces, presents a worldwide challenge linked to swift urban expansion. Despite extensive documentation of urbanization's impact on broad regions or specific urban ecosystems over defined time periods, there remains a scarcity of studies investigating the spatiotemporal dynamics of landscape pattern (LP) changes in specific ecosystems at small-to-medium scales within inland megacities as a response to urbanization. Therefore, this work focused on the Bailuwan Wetland Park (BWP) in Chengdu, an inland megacity in southwestern China. Employing satellite imagery data from selected years spanning the previous decade (2010–2021, encompassing 2010, 2012, 2015, 2018, and 2021), this investigation delved into the influences of urbanization on the LP over various time-frames and across different land use/land cover (LULC) types. Our study revealed that urbanization has a significant impact on the patch-/landscape-level characteristics, including the class area (CA), number of patches (NP), patch density (PD), percentage of landscape (PLAND), aggregation index (AI), contagion index (CONTAG), largest patch index (LPI), landscape shape index (LSI), fractal dimension index (FRAC_MN), Shannon's diversity (SHDI), and evenness index (SHEI). Over the period from 2010 to 2021, NP and PD experienced notable increases, while landscape shape (LSI/FRAC_MN) exhibited greater complexity and fragmentation (PLAND) intensified. Further, landscape heterogeneity (AI/CONTAG) and diversity (SHDI/SHEI) decreased. Particularly significant was the conversion of 52 ha of agricultural land to vegetation, resulting in heightened complexity and fragmentation in vegetation patterns. Additionally, the CA of lakes and rivers decreased following the establishment of the park, while the CA and NP of bare land presented significant increases. These findings suggest that rapid urbanization significantly influences the spatial–temporal dynamics of wetland landscape patterns. Consequently, it is imperative for society to prioritize the restoration and protection of urban constructed wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface coal mining is one of the most environmentally destructive human disturbances. This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of the speed and scale of coal mining and its major environmental impacts in the Xilingol Steppe, Inner Mongolia from 1990 to 2015, using remote sensing data and landscape metrics. Our results show that during this period the number of surface coal mining areas (SCMAs) increased from 40 to 504 (about 13 times), while the size of SCMAs increased from 3.21 km2 to 283.62 km2 (greater than 88 times). The rapid expansion of SCMAs greatly fragmented the steppe landscape, consumed huge amounts of water, damaged rivers and wetlands, and substantially reduced grassland productivity. We estimated that the amount of water consumed by coal mining increased from 2.35 million m3 in 1990 to 242.61 million m3 in 2015 (more than 103 times), negatively affecting all six major rivers and most wetlands in the region. About 222 km2 of steppes were eradicated, resulting in a grassland production loss of 7.17×1010 g C. Our findings indicate that surface coal mining has transformed the steppe landscape and devastated its ecosystem function and services, posing a major threat to the environment of the region. Future studies need to focus on more in-depth integrative assessments of environmental, economic, and social impacts of surface coal mining to seek sustainability solutions for the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Intense work pressure and unhealthy lifestyles significantly threaten urban public health. Urban designs have quickly developed, such as the introduction of green space (GS), which has been suggested to improve public health. Prior epidemiological studies have investigated GS and mortality and have generally found potential benefits. However, these studies were primarily conducted in developed Western countries and the potential effects of GS on mortality in developing Asian countries are poorly understood. In this study, our goal was to investigate the effect of GS landscape attributes and socioeconomic conditions on all-cause mortality in 41 cities in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration. Nine GS variables and seven socioeconomic variables were collected. An optimal general linear model with the selected variables was established using LASSO regression to explore the direction and relative importance of GSs and socioeconomic conditions for urban public health. The results showed that (1) socioeconomic conditions and GS jointly affect all-cause mortality, (2) people with greater personal wealth suffered less health risk, and (3) regularly shaped and highly connected GSs decreased the risk to public health. These findings suggest that reasonable GS policies and planning strategies are effective approaches for improving public health in Chinese cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrology is an important environmental factor for the evolution of wetland landscape patterns. In the past 20 years, Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China, has experienced significant inundation shrinkage and water level decrease, posing a significant threat to the local vegetation community. To explore the potential relationship between aquatic vegetation and hydrological processes in the recent hydrological situation, in this study, the landscape patterns of aquatic vegetation communities in Poyang Lake were studied using time-series Landsat remote sensing images and a support vector machine classifier. The stepwise regression analysis method was adopted to analyze the relationship between the vegetation area and hydrological factors. The results indicated that the area of submerged and emergent vegetation in the entire lake decreased significantly from 2001 to 2017, whereas the area of moist vegetation showed a remarkably increasing trend. The average distribution elevation of the submerged vegetation increased by 0.06 m per year. The corresponding landscape patterns showed that the degree of fragmentation of aquatic vegetation communities in Poyang Lake increased. Several hydrological factors were selected to quantify the potential impact of water level fluctuations. The correlation analysis results indicated that hydrological conditions during the rising- and high-water periods may be the key factors affecting the area of aquatic vegetation. This study systematically investigated the evolution of vegetation communities in Poyang Lake wetlands over the past two decades, which contributes to the protection and management of this unique ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzing the change trend of urban green space (UGS) and exploring related driving forces can provide scientific reference for sustainable development in rapidly urbanizing areas. However, the spatial and temporal driving mechanisms of the drivers on UGS patterns at different scales are still not deeply understood. Based on the GlobeLand30 land cover data, nighttime lighting data and spatial statistics from 2000 to 2020, this study analyzed the size, shape and diversity of UGS in Guangzhou at the urban level, gradient level and township level with multiple landscape indices. Diversity means the richness of UGS patch types. The selected indices include percent of landscape (PLAND), largest path index (LPI), landscape shape index (LSI), aggregation index (AI) and Shannon's diversity index (SHDI). The spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the drivers was then explored using the spatiotemporal weighted regression (GTWR) method. Results showed the following: (1) During 2000−2020, the total amount of UGS in Guangzhou increased slightly and then decreased gradually. UGS was mainly transferred into artificial surfaces (lands modified by human activities). (2) The UGS landscape showed a non-linear trend along the urban–rural gradient and fluctuated more in the interval of 20–60% urbanization level. PLAND, LPI and AI decreased significantly in areas with higher levels of urbanization. LSI increased and SHDI decreased significantly in areas with lower levels of urbanization. At township level, the landscape indices showed significant spatial autocorrelation. They transformed from discrete changes at the edge and at the junction of the administrative district to large-scale aggregated change, especially in northern areas. (3) The size of UGSs was mainly influenced by natural factors and population density, but their shape and diversity were mainly influenced by socio-economic factors. More regular shapes of green patches were expected in higher urbanization areas. Population agglomeration positively influenced green space patterns in the northeastern and southern regions (Zengcheng, Conghua and Nansha). Meanwhile the negative influence of urban expansion on the green space pattern in the central and southern regions decreased over time. This study contributes to an in-depth understanding of how the key factors affect the different changes of UGS with time and space and provides methodological support for the long-term zoning planning and management of UGS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Land use transformation can be clarified under the human-land coupling system, in order to promote the high-quality development and sustainable land use. In this study, the coupling coordination degree model, landscape index and binary logistic regression were adopted to explore the land system evolution and influence mechanism in the hinterland of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area from 2000 to 2020. The transformation of human-land coupling land system was also summarized in the context of human-land coupling, in terms of quantity, landscape pattern, and functional form. The results show that: 1) The intensity of human activities were a gradual increase to decrease with a consequent evolution in the human-land coupling relationship. In general terms, the human-land relationship showed a gentle trend towards a coordinated type of change. There was the differential evolution of spatial distribution, which was tended to be coordinated in the central and northeastern, the northern was tended to be antagonistic, and there was no outstanding change in the southern. 2) The human-land coupling land system shared the outstanding change in the quantity, landscape pattern and function after the construction of the Three Gorges Project, particularly on the returning cultivated land to forest and grassland. The cultivated land decreased in the antagonistic and the imbalanced area, part of which was the abandoned land. The woodland increased restoratively in the antagonistic area. But there was the fluctuating evolution in the imbalanced area, where the first increased and then decreased. whereas, the orchard was expanded significantly in the coordinated area. The degree of patch fragmentation was improved to be regular landscape pattern. Land systems were evolved from the mono-functional dominance to multi-functional. 3) There was the diversified transformation of the human-land coupling land system in the study area. Patterns were also summarized as follows. The antagonistic area with woodland increased in the quantity form, while the patches were aggregated with the ecological function and irregular form of landscape pattern; The imbalanced area with the woodland decreased, whereas, the patches were aggregated to regularly and ecologically orient; The coordinated area with orchard expanded, while the patches were overall aggregated regularly, ecologically and economically. 4) Distance and topography were the influencing factors on the evolution of land system. The cultivated and abandoned land decreased, whereas, the woodland increased, as the distance from the settlement and the topographic relief increased. The orchard decreased with the increase of elevation. In addition, the interaction among the dominant factors was superimposed on the land system. The development mode of human-land coupling relationship and land system transformation in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area can be of practical significance to promote the rational use of land resources and the coordinated development of human-land in mountainous areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban planning is often influenced by industrial and construction activities, leading to a lack of attention to the planning and construction of urban parks, which results in prominent spatial layout problems. Urban parks, as an important part of the urban green space system, play a significant role in improving the ecological environment, promoting urban economic development, and enhancing the daily living standards of the people. As a typical representative of China's second and third-tier cities, Nanchang's analysis of the evolution process of urban landscape patterns has reference significance for other similar cities in China. This paper is based on the theoretical foundations of landscape ecology, human geography, and urban planning, and analyzes the evolution of the park landscape pattern in the central urban area of Nanchang from 1999 to 2019 from the perspective of urban context, revealing the driving mechanisms. It provides important references and bases for the further optimization and construction development of the park landscape pattern in Nanchang. The results show that the park area and number in the central urban area of Nanchang have significantly increased, with the overall layout evolving from "central aggregation" to "core aggregation in each area", and from "central scarcity, more on the periphery" to "inward concentration, outward diffusion". However, the distribution of various types of parks is uneven, and there is a lack of green corridor links between parks. The park landscape pattern is driven by multiple factors such as natural factors of urban context, socio-economic factors, urban construction factors, historical policies, and related planning, which can have positive or negative effects. Incorporating relevant urban factors into the park planning system analysis can promote the benign development of urban context and park landscape layout, thereby achieving the "parkification" of the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to maintain the regional landscape ecological security, satellite remote sensing image data in 2011, 2016 and 2021 were utilized to analyze the landscape ecological risk in the Chaohu Lake Region. The ecological restoration project yielded initial results, as construction land area decreased in the later period. Waters emerged as the dominant land type, while grassland area increased over the 10-year period. Conversely, the area of cultivated land, forestland, and waters decreased, with the most significant decrease observed in cultivated land. The dynamic change in landscape patterns exhibited increasing complexity. Waters dominated the landscape, and the patch density (PD) and landscape shape index (LSI) of cultivated land, forestland, waters, and grassland tended to increase. The controlling role of dominant landscape types decreased, while landscape heterogeneity increased. The Shannon's diversity index (SHDI) and evenness index (SHEI) values increased, indicating diversification and equalization in the compositional structure of landscape types. The landscape division index (DIVISION) initially increased and then decreased, whereas the landscape aggregation degree showed an initial decrease followed by an increase. The contagion index (CONTAG) decreased continuously, indicating a decrease in the aggregation density of different land type patches. The highest-risk area increased, while higherrisk and medium-risk areas initially increased and then decreased. The lower-risk area exhibited less change, and the lowest-risk area showed a decreasing trend followed by an increasing trend. The spatial distribution pattern of the landscape ecological risk index displayed a "low on all sides and high in the middle" pattern. These research findings provide scientific references for optimizing land use structure, achieving sustainable landscape management, and maintaining regional ecological balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] Farmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization in hilly and mountainous areas can alter the landscape pattern, elevation, slope and microgeomorphology of cultivated land. It is of great significance to assess the ecological risk of cultivated land to provide data reference for the subsequent farmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization. This study aims to assess the ecological risk of cultivated land before and after farmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization in hilly and mountainous areas, and to explore the relationship between cultivated land ecological risk and cultivated land slope. [Methods] Twenty counties in Tongnan district of Chongqing city was selected as the assessment units. Based on the land use data in 2010 and 2020 as two periods, ArcGIS 10.8 and Excel software were used to calculate landscape pattern indices. The weights for each index were determined by entropy weight method, and an ecological risk assessment model was constructed, which was used to reveal the temporal and spatial change characteristics of ecological risk. Based on the principle of mathematical statistics, the correlation analysis between cultivated land ecological risk and cultivated land slope was carried out, which aimed to explore the relationship between cultivated land ecological risk and cultivated land slope. [Results and Discussions] Comparing to 2010, patch density (PD), division (D), fractal dimension (FD), and edge density (ED) of cultivated land all decreased in 2020, while meant Patch Size (MPS) increased, indicating an increase in the contiguity of cultivated land. The mean shape index (MSI) of cultivated land increased, indicating that the shape of cultivated land tended to be complicated. The landscape disturbance index (U) decreased from 0.97 to 0.94, indicating that the overall resistance to disturbances in cultivated land has increased. The landscape vulnerability index (V) increased from 2.96 to 3.20, indicating that the structure of cultivated land become more fragile. The ecological risk value of cultivated land decreased from 3.10 to 3.01, indicating the farmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization effectively improved the landscape pattern of cultivated land and enhanced the safety of the agricultural ecosystem. During the two periods, the ecological risk areas were primarily composed of low-risk and relatively low-risk zones. The area of low-risk zones increased by 6.44%, mainly expanding towards the northern part, while the area of relatively low-risk zones increased by 6.17%, primarily spreading towards the central-eastern and southeastern part. The area of moderate-risk zones increased by 24.4%, mainly extending towards the western and northwestern part, while the area of relatively high-risk zones decreased by 60.70%, with some new additions spreading towards the northeastern part. The area of high-risk zones increased by 16.30%, with some new additions extending towards the northwest part. Overall, the ecological safety zones of cultivated relatively increased. The cultivated land slope was primarily concentrated in the range of 2° to 25°. On the one hand, when the cultivated land slope was less than 15°, the proportion of the slope area was negatively correlated with the ecological risk value. On the other hand, when the slope was above 15°, the proportion of the slope area was positively correlated with the ecological risk value. In 2010, there was a highly significant correlation between the proportion of slope area and ecological risk value for cultivated land slope within the ranges of 5° to 8°, 15° to 25°, and above 25°, with corresponding correlation coefficients of 0.592, 0.609, and 0.849, respectively. In 2020, there was a highly significant correlation between the proportion of slope area and ecological risk value for cultivated land slope within the ranges of 2° to 5°, 5° to 8°, 15° to 25°, and above 25°, with corresponding correlation coefficients of 0.534, 0.667, 0.729, and 0.839, respectively. [Conclusions] The assessment of cultivated land ecological risk in Tongnan district of Chongqing city before and after the farmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization, as well as the analysis of the correlation between ecological risk and cultivated land slope, demonstrate that the farmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization can reduce cultivated land ecological risk, and the proportion of cultivated land slope can be an important basis for precision guidance in the farmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization. Considering the occurrence of moderate sheet erosion from a slope of 5° and intense erosion from a slope of 10° to 15°, and taking into account the reduction of ecological risk value and the actual topographic conditions, the subsequent farmland consolidation for agricultural mechanization in Tongnan district should focus on areas with cultivated land slope ranging from 5° to 8° and 15° to 25°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]