Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Ecological Vulnerability and Driving Factor Analysis in the Dongjiang River Basin, China, in the Recent 20 Years

Jiao Wu,Guorui Ma,Zhijun Zhang,Qinjie He

doi:10.3390/rs13224636

Abstract

The global ecological environment faces many challenges. Landsat thematic mapper time-series, digital elevation models, meteorology, soil types, net primary production data, socio-economic data, and auxiliary data were collected in order to construct a comprehensive evaluation system for ecological vulnerability (EV) using multi-source remote sensing data. EV was divided into five vulnerability levels: potential I, slight II, mild III, moderate IV, and severe V. Then, we analyzed and explored the spatio-temporal patterns and driving mechanisms of EV in the region over the past 20 years. Our research results showed that, from 2001 to 2019, the DRB was generally characterized as being in the severe vulnerability class, with higher upstream and downstream EV classes and a certain amount of reduction in the midstream EV classes. Moreover, EV in the DRB continues to decrease. The spatio-temporal EV patterns in the DRB were significantly influenced by the relative humidity, average annual temperature, and vegetation cover over the past 20 years. Our work can provide a basis for decision-making and technical support for ecosystem protection, ecological restoration, and ecological management in the DRB.

Highlights

We took the Dongjiang River Basin (DRB) as the study area and constructed factor models to analyze the current situation through regional ecological problems
As a result of the high level of human activity in the DRB, its ecosystem is under a certain amount of development pressure
We conducted a scientific analysis of the manifestation factors of ecological vulnerability (EV) from 2001–2019 in terms of ecological pressure, ecological sensitivity, and ecological resilience, and screened out various practical and typical integrated factors

Summary

Introduction

Since the middle of the 20th century, the intensification of human activities has led to frequent climate-change-related disasters [1,2,3,4] and the intensification of ecological and environmental crises [5]. These scenarios pose serious challenges to the ecosystems on which humans depend for their survival. Internal vulnerability usually stems from the structure of the ecosystem itself and is mainly influenced by natural conditions such as topography and climate. External vulnerability is influenced by human activities [16]. Exploring regional EV is important for ecological change and socio-economic development

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Results

Conclusion