Evaluation and analysis of coastal complex ecological resilience based on multidimensional data: A case study of East China Sea

Abstract

Coastal areas are characterized by frequent interactions among natural, social, and economic factors. However, intensive development has degraded coastal ecosystems. To effectively implement environmental protection measures, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of the current state of these systems. Resilience, which represents the capacity of an ecosystem for sustainable development, plays a significant role in this regard. Here, we focus on the East China Sea coastal zone and establish an evaluation system to quantitatively assess the resilience of the coastal complex ecosystem using multi-source data. We analyze the spatiotemporal evolution and characteristics of coastal resilience from 2005 to 2020 and investigate the factors that influenced the spatial differentiation of resilience along the coast. We found that over the 16-year period, the resilience of the coastal complex ecosystem in the East China Sea fluctuated with a downward trend, and had notable spatial heterogeneity and a substantial sea-land gradient. Factors related to human activities have increasingly contributed to the spatial differentiation of resilience in the complex ecosystem. Our findings provide valuable support and guidance for the protection, restoration, sustainable utilization, and management of coastal complex ecosystems.