Abstract

Landscape ecological risk is considered the basis for regional ecosystem management decisions. Thus, it is essential to understand the spatial and temporal evolutionary patterns and drivers of landscape ecological risk. However, existing studies lack exploration of the long-term time series and driving mechanisms of landscape ecological risk. Based on multi-type remote sensing data, this study assesses landscape pattern changes and ecological risk in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area from 1990 to 2020 and ranks the driving factors using a geographical detector. We then introduce the geographically weighted regression model to explore the local spatial contributions of driving factors. Our results show: (1) From 1990 to 2020, the agricultural land decreased, while forest and construction land expanded in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area. The overall landscape pattern shifted toward aggregation. (2) The landscape ecological risk exhibited a decreasing trend. The areas with relatively high landscape ecological risk were primarily concentrated in the main urban area in the western region of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area and along the Yangtze River, with apparent spatial aggregation. (3) Social and natural factors affected landscape ecological risk. The main driving factors were human interference, annual average temperature, population density, and annual precipitation; interactions occurred between the drivers. (4) The influence of driving factors on landscape ecological risk showed spatial heterogeneity. Spatially, the influence of social factors (human interference and population density) on landscape ecological risk was primarily positively correlated. Meanwhile, the natural factors’ (annual average temperature and annual precipitation) influence on landscape ecological risk varied widely in spatial distribution, and the driving mechanisms were more complex. This study provides a scientific basis and reference for landscape ecological risk management, land use policy formulation, and optimization of ecological security patterns.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.