Carbon Metabolism in Urban “Production–Living–Ecological” Space Based on Ecological Network Analysis

Abstract

To understand the changing pattern of urban carbon metabolism from the perspective of urban “production–living–ecological” (PLE) space, taking Suzhou City as an example, this study constructed a carbon metabolic network model in urban PLE space, analyzed the changes of horizontal carbon flow, and evaluated the comprehensive effect of the PLE space changes using the ecological network analysis method. The results showed that the total carbon sequestration showed a fluctuating change of increasing and then decreasing, while the total carbon emissions grew dramatically. Production spaces were the key nodes for the generation of horizontal carbon flow. The exploitation relationship was the dominant ecological relationship in the network, the mutualism relationship was abundant from 2005 to 2010 and gradually decreased from 2010 to 2018, and the frequency of competition relationship appeared gradually increased. The ecological network hierarchy evolved from an irregular shape dominated by primary consumers in 2000–2005 to a pyramidal shape dominated by producers in 2010–2018 at the driving weight end, and the pull weight showed a declining trend, with pull weight of producers increasing from 1.72% to 24.33%. The results can provide a theoretical basis for planning adjustments to the city’s PLE space structure to achieve low-carbon goals.