Spatial-temporal evolution and influencing factors of ecological resilience in urban agglomerations: a case study of Shanxi section of the Yellow River Basin

Abstract

Scientific assessment of the development status and factors influencing the urban ecological resilience of the Yellow River Basin (YRB) is highly significant for promoting its development. This study constructed an evaluation index system for urban ecological resilience considering the four dimensions of pressure, state, response, and innovation. The spatiotemporal ecological resilience of the urban agglomeration (UA) in the Shanxi section of the YRB from 2012 to 2021 was studied using kernel density estimation, Dagum Gini coefficient, and standard deviation ellipse, and the influencing factors of urban ecological resilience were analyzed using a geographic detector. This research revealed that (1) the ecological resilience of cities in the Shanxi section of the YRB experienced a fluctuation process of rise—fall—rise. The urban ecological resilience generally reflected a gradient decreasing spatial pattern of Central Shanxi UA > South Shanxi UA > North Shanxi UA, and gradually changed from the dual core of “Taiyuan—Jincheng City” to the single core of Taiyuan City. (2) The migration trajectory of urban ecological resilience center of gravity fluctuated in the direction of “northwest-southeast,” and moved 12.63 km to the southeast overall. (3) The water supply per ten thousand Yuan GDP, occupied area of construction land per ten thousand Yuan GDP, green coverage rate in built-up areas, ratio of research and experimental development funds (R&D) to GDP, proportion of science and technology expenditure in local fiscal expenditure, and patent licensing quantity index have a high influence on urban ecological toughness at all stages. This influence was further strengthened by the interaction between factors. This study provides an important scientific basis for shaping high-quality development advantages in the YRB and creating a resilient and livable environment.