Chongming Island Research Articles

Characteristics, Source Apportionment, and Health Risk of Heavy Metals in the Soils of Peri-urban Shanghai Chongming Island.

Heavy metals resulting from human activities pose significant threats to human health and the soil ecosystem. In the current study, 917 soil samples from Chongming Island in Shanghai, China, were examined for eight heavy metals. The sources of contamination were identified by using a Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model. Meanwhile, spatial interpolation and Moran's I index were applied to validate the model in terms of spatial linkages. The results revealed that the average concentrations of As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Ni in the soil were 8.87, 0.19, 0.06, 28.75, 76.01, 37.74, 88.93, and 30.33 mg kg-1, respectively. The PMF analysis proved that heavy metals in the soil of the study area are mainly influenced by traffic sources (Cr and Pb), industrial sources (Zn, Cd, and Cu), station sources (Hg), and natural sources (As and Ni), with contribution rates of 22.23, 26.25, 36.38, and 15.14%, respectively. The combination of Moran's index and the spatial analysis method not only verified the analytical results of the receptor model on the one hand but also served as a supplementary explanation for the sources of heavy metals in the soil. The health risk assessment indicated that noncarcinogenic values were below the threshold values. The total carcinogenic risk (R T) of different heavy metals has a descending order of Cr > As > Ni > Cd. The R T values of multiple heavy metals for children and adults were 5.28 × 10-04 and 4.10 × 10-05, respectively, which were close to the risk threshold. Therefore, attention should be paid to the health risks, especially for children's skin contact, which is the main exposure pathway.

Antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus at human-animal interfaces on Chongming Island, Shanghai: A One Health perspective

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant concern within the One Health framework due to its ability to spread across multiple interfaces. Phenotypic data remains the primary type for AMR surveillance, but exploring association across multiple interfaces poses certain challenges. In this study, AMR phenotypic data of clinical and food animal E. coli and S. aureus from Chongming Island over the past five years were analyzed to determine key characteristics of AMR and explore its association at the human-animal interface.The clinical E. coli isolates showed significant resistance to penicillins (83.92 %), cephems (63.05 %), fluoroquinolones (62.21 %), and tetracyclines (57.77 %), while S. aureus exhibited high resistance to penicillinase-labile penicillins (90.89 %), macrolides (51.51 %), penicillinase-stable penicillins (43.96 %), and lincosamides (43.55 %). Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli isolates accounted for 53.26 % (1398/2526), while methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prevalence was 43.81 % (435/993). Notably, there has been an increase in the proportion of E. coli isolates resistant to 8 to 12 antimicrobial classes, and in the proportion of S. aureus isolates resistant to 5 to 9 classes. Certain multi-drug resistance (MDR) phenotypes were first identified in food animal isolates and later emerged in clinical settings. Meanwhile, several MDR phenotypes were shared between the two interfaces, with 44 identified in E. coli and 12 in S. aureus. Further co-occurrence analysis in E. coli and S. aureus identified several co-occurrence phenotypic pairs or clusters, potentially mediated by a single plasmid or multiple plasmids within a bacterium, indicating potential associations at the human-animal interface.To summarize, a heightened prevalence of MDR in clinical E. coli and S. aureus has been observed, with some MDR profiles appearing in food animals before emerging in clinical settings. The co-occurrence of phenotypic pairs or clusters underscores the potential for AMR association and transmission between humans and food animals. Within the One Health framework, integrating genomic data into AMR monitoring is a crucial next step.

Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Homestays on Chongming Island: A Systemic Analysis in the Context of World-Class Eco-Island Development

As the development of world-class eco-islands progresses, the homestay sector on Chongming Island has burgeoned, emerging as a pivotal catalyst for rural tourism and economic prosperity. This study, leveraging Chongming Island as a case study, systematically analyzes the spatiotemporal distribution of homestays across island-wide, township, and village scales, employing methodologies such as the spatiotemporal evolutionary tree model. It delves into the intricate systemic framework underpinning homestay development, elucidating the dynamics of interaction mechanisms. Furthermore, it examines the evolving roles of diverse stakeholders throughout various developmental phases, grounded in stakeholder theory. The study reveals that (1) Chongming’s homestays on the island, townships, and village scales show very obvious agglomeration characteristics, mainly concentrated in the A-level scenic spots and in and out of the island traffic junction. (2) The growth of homestays in Chongming shows an increasing trend year by year, with the growth rate slowing down after 2020, and can be divided into four main phases, which are closely related to the construction phase of the eco-island. (3) The evolution of Chongming Island’s homestay is a multifaceted natural–human system intricately shaped by a confluence of five interdependent subsystems: natural ecology, social culture, multiple stakeholders, geographical location, and transport infrastructure. At different stages of development, under the synergistic effect of multiple stakeholders, the homestays on Chongming Island eventually formed a governance structure led by the government and co-managed by the development company, external entrepreneurs, and local villagers. These insights not only augment the scholarly discourse on stakeholder dynamics within the homestay industry but also offer pragmatic enlightenment for strategic planning and the advancement of holistic urban–rural integration in Chongming and the broader Shanghai region.

Typhoon and flooding occurrences on Chongming Island, Changjiang Estuary, as revealed by a newly acquired sedimentary record

Typhoon-induced storms surges and river flooding events represent two types of natural disasters that affect a wide range, occurring with high frequency and causing serious societal losses. Due to the limited duration of instrumental records, there is an inadequate understanding of the patterns and mechanisms underlying the variations in typhoons and floods. The interpretation of sedimentary records aptly compensates for these deficiencies in terms of the temporal scale, becoming a crucial medium for extending the temporal span of typhoon and flood records. Previous studies in this field have primarily focused on the identification of single types of extreme events. The Changjiang Estuary, particularly Chongming Island, is significantly affected by both typhoons and river floods, making it an excellent area for synchronous comparative studies of these two types of extreme events. Based on the analysis of a core sample, ZP02, collected from Chongming Island, in terms of chronological, sedimentological, and geochemical characteristics, specific tracing fingerprints for event deposits from typhoon and flood events are established. Sediments from typhoon events generally exhibit erosive contact surfaces, coarser grain sizes, and a tendency to become finer upwards, often featuring layers mixed with coarse sand and shell fragments. In contrast, flood event deposits vary in grain size, either coarser or finer, with abrupt contact surfaces compared to normal sediment layers, and are predominantly brownish-yellow in color. The fingerprint tracing results indicate that the typhoon event layers are characterized by high values in principal component 2 (PC2) of the elements, Zr/Fe and Sr/Fe ratios, with low values in principal component 1 (PC1) the elements and Ti/Ca ratio. Flood event deposits are marked by high values in PC1 and Ti/Ca ratio, low values in PC2 and Sr/Fe ratio, and an increase in Zr/Fe ratio in coarser flood layers but no significant change in finer layers. Based on these fingerprints, 19 layers of typhoon and the same number of flood events were identified in core ZP02, which correspond well with documentary records. The establishment of tracing fingerprints for typhoon and flood event deposits provides methodological support for the identification and interpretation of various extreme event deposits.

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Water Body in the Chongming Island Region over the Past Decade Based on the ISUNet Model

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Water Body in the Chongming Island Region over the Past Decade Based on the ISUNet Model

Anti-obesity, phytochemical profiling and acute toxicity study of ethanolic extract of saffron (Crocus sativus L.)

IntroductionCrocus sativus (C. sativus), known as saffron, has been recognized for its medicinal benefits since ancient times. The plant was first introduced to the Chongming Island region of Shanghai, China, in 1980. Chinese Saffron, derived from this plant, is one of China's most valuable traditional herbs, yielding about 1 ton in 2013. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has used this plant as an antianginal for a long time. The plant has been extensively studied for its pharmacological benefits in treating obesity and gastrointestinal problems. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive phytochemical analysis of C. sativus stigma (saffron) ethanolic extract using LCMS/MS, quantify its major compound, i.e., trans-4-GG-crocin, and study its acute toxicity. In addition, this study aimed to investigate the effect of the extract on anti-obesity in a high-fat diet-induced zebrafish model. MethodsBefore the anti-obesity study, we conducted a comprehensive profiling of saffron ethanolic extract using UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS in both positive and negative modes. Then, the principal constituent, i.e., trans-4-GG-crocin, was quantified using HPLC with a UV detector. The study was followed by an acute toxicity study for 72 h to evaluate the safety profile of this extract using five concentrations of extract, from 93.75–1500 mg/L. Six groups of wild-type zebrafish were then segregated according to food regimen, i.e., (1) control (5 mg artemia/fish/day), (2) overfeeding (60 mg of artemia/fish/day), (3–6) high-fat diet (5 mg artemia+30 mg egg yolk/fish/day), then starting week 9–16, groups 4–6 were received (4) 50 mg/L, (5) 100 mg/L and (6) 200 mg/L of saffron extract. ResultsNegative mode analysis revealed twenty phytoconstituents, while twenty-two were found in positive mode LCMS/MS analysis. The extract contained 536.91 µg/g of trans-4-GG-crocin. The highest concentration tested in the acute toxicity killed 100% of the testing animals within 24 h, and probit analysis showed that the LC50 of the extract was 1021 mg/L. Eight weeks of treatment with 100 and 200 mg/L of saffron significantly reduced the body mass index of the high-fat diet-induced zebrafish model (p<0.0001). ConclusionSaffron ethanolic extract contains mainly flavonoid, carotenoid, and terpenoid compounds. This extract is highly toxic in high concentrations (1500 mg/L), which kills 100% of the tested zebrafish. Eight weeks of treatment with 100 and 200 mg/L of saffron extract via immersion significantly reduced body mass index in the high-fat diet zebrafish model. The findings suggest that Saffron extract could be a promising natural anti-obesity agent that warrants further investigation. The study provides valuable insights into the potential of natural compounds as a source of anti-obesity agents and highlights the need for further research in this area. Even though this plant was studied for anti-obesity in rodent models, its mode of action is still unknown and warrants further investigation, which could be explored more in a cheaper and easier way by using another translational animal model, such as zebrafish.

A Novel Approach for Instantaneous Waterline Extraction for Tidal Flats

For many remote sensing applications, the instantaneous waterline on the image is critical boundary information to separate land and water and for other purposes. Accurate waterline extraction from satellite images is a desirable feature in such applications. Due to the complex topography of low tidal flats and their indistinct spatial and spectral characteristics on satellite imagery, the waterline extraction for tidal flats (especially at low tides) from remote sensing images has always been a technically challenging problem. We developed a novel method to extract waterline from satellite images, assuming that the waterline’s elevation is level. This paper explores the utilization of bathymetry during waterline extraction and presents a novel approach to tackle the waterline extraction issue, especially for low tidal flats, using remote sensing images at mid/high tide, when most of the tidal flat area is filled with seawater. Repeated optical satellite images are easily accessible in the current days; the proposed approach first generates the bathymetry map using the mid/high-tide satellite image, and then the initial waterline is extracted using traditional methods from the low-tide satellite image; the isobath (depth contour lines of bathymetry), which corresponds to the initial waterline is robustly estimated, and finally an area-based optimization algorithm is proposed and applied to both isobath and initial waterline to obtain the final optimized waterline. A series of experiments using Sentinel-2 multispectral images are conducted on Jibei Island of Penghu Archipelago and Chongming Island to demonstrate this proposed strategy. The results from the proposed approach are compared with the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) methods. The results indicate that more accurate waterlines can be extracted using the proposed approach, and it is very suitable for waterline extraction for tidal flats, especially at low tides.

Intra-annual carbon fluxes and resource use efficiency of subtropical urban forests: insights from Chongming Island ecological observatory

Understanding the carbon budget within cities is crucial in the context of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. This study investigates the carbon source-sink dynamics of urban forest ecosystems using carbon flux observations from the Chongming Island Ecological Observatory in Shanghai. The study aims to reveal the intra-annual variations of carbon fluxes and explore the changes in resource use efficiency of urban forest ecosystems within the framework of the big-leaf model. The results reveal distinct patterns in temperature (Tair), relative humidity (RH), radiation, and vapor pressure deficit (VPD). Diurnal cycles of net ecosystem exchange (NEE), gross primary production (GPP), and ecosystem respiration (Reco) exhibit seasonal variations, with higher amplitudes observed from April to September. The observed forest ecosystem acts as a moderate carbon sink (318.47 gC m−2 year−1), with the highest carbon uptake occurring in May and the highest carbon emission in February. During the growing season, the total carbon sink was 225.37 gC m−2, composed of GPP 1337.01 gC m−2 and Reco 1111.64 gC m−2. Water-use efficiency (WUE) and light-use efficiency (LUE) exhibit seasonal variations, while carbon-use efficiency (CUE) declines after May. These findings contribute to our understanding of urban forest carbon dynamics and their potential role in carbon management strategies.

Enhancing rooftop solar energy potential evaluation in high-density cities: A Deep Learning and GIS based approach

The assessment of rooftop solar potential is vital for optimal photovoltaic (PV) system placement and renewable energy policy in dense urban areas. Complex shading from buildings and diverse rooftop obstacles have posed significant challenges to this evaluation. We propose a method that leverages Deep Learning and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to precisely gauge solar energy potential at the city scale, accounting for shading and obstacle effects. We integrated building data with height attributes to measure inter-building shading and employed the DeepLab-v3 Convolutional Neural Network to identify rooftop obstructions from high-resolution satellite imagery. Using this hybrid framework, we calculated the available rooftop area in Shanghai, excluding the Chongming Island, and produced a detailed map of PV potential. Results show that the estimated annual potential for rooftop solar radiation in Shanghai stands at 257,204 GWh, with a predicted annual PV electricity generation of 49,753 GWh. In the study area, obstacles occupy approximately 14.9 % of the rooftop area. Neglecting the impact of rooftop obstructions and shading effects would result in a 25.6 % overestimation of the rooftop PV capacity. This work advances the precision of renewable energy development and informs sustainable urban planning strategies.

Economic currents and land use: Coastal change during the construction of the eco-island carbon neutral demonstration zone in Chongming Island

This study investigates the dynamic relationship between economic currents and land use changes on Chongming Island, China, during the period from 2000 to 2020, coinciding with its transformation into an Ecological Island Carbon Neutral Demonstration (ECND) Zone. Employing remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), our research not only identifies significant spatiotemporal changes, such as an 8.72% increase in constructed land and an 11.79% decline in water areas, but also delves into the nuanced shifts in forested and grassland areas. These findings prompt a critical exploration of the intricate balance between economic growth and ecological preservation within the context of urbanization. Our research resonates with interdisciplinary studies and policy objectives, emphasizing the imperative of sustainable urban development that respects the island's ecological equilibrium. Amidst the challenges posed by rapid urbanization, the oscillations in forested and grassland areas underscore the vital importance of strategic land use planning and habitat restoration. This quantitative analysis not only contributes to Chongming Island's evolution as an ECND Zone but also provides a valuable model for estuarine islands worldwide grappling with similar issues. As Chongming Island continues its journey towards ecological sustainability, our study stands as a quantitative guide for informed decision-making in sustainable land management and preservation, shedding light on the intricate interplay between economic currents and land use changes in this unique context.

Dike risk evaluation incorporating the contribution of coastal wetlands: A case study on Chongming Island, China

Due to the increasing risk of coastal disasters and climate change, the traditional gray sea dikes may become unsustainable. Coastal wetlands provide natural protection for shoreline areas and have wave attenuation capacities as green dikes. In this study, we developed a new assessment approach to evaluate comprehensive dike risk for coastal gray-green defense systems, based on the dike characters and the wave attenuation capacity of coastal wetlands for the Chongming Island. The risk assessment system consists of nine indicators of dike constructure standards, dike-top height, land subsidence, wetland vegetation width, wave attenuation capacity of vegetation, mean high water level, storm frequency, rain intensity, and annual rainfall, to determine the dike risk index (RI). The information of dike and meteorological conditions were obtained by carrying out a field survey and referring to construction bulletins and domestic statistical yearbooks. The wave attenuation effect of wetland vegetation was characterized by plant morphology and seasonality. The results indicated that, without the coastal wetland indicators, the RI values of most parts of the dike ring of the island were high. The high-risk regions were mainly located in the south and north shores, consisting of several old dikes that did not meet the constructure standard. The risk level was higher in summer and autumn than in winter and spring, due to seasonal variations (typhoon or storm frequency and intensity). When the coastal wetland indicators were included, the presence of coastal wetland vegetation reduced the dike RI values by an average of 13.6% around the Chongming Island. During the flourishing periods of the vegetation, a high rate of wave attenuation reduced the RI levels considerably. We provide a reliable framework to carry out large-scale and high-resolution dike risk assessment to be applied for wetland vegetation restoration, green dike construction, and risk management in coastal areas.

Urinary iodine concentration and its associations with thyroid function in pregnant women of Shanghai.

To assess the iodine status and its associations with thyroid function in pregnant women of Shanghai. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 562 pregnant women were enrolled from January to December 2021. Both serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAB), thyroglobulin antibody (TGAB), and urinary iodine concentration (UIC) were detected. Participants were divided into four groups based on their UIC values. Correlation analysis was used to investigate the association between UIC and thyroid function-associated parameters. The median UIC of the pregnant women studied was 158.25µg/L (interquartile range [IQR] 90.15, 245.65µg/L). Among all the subjects, 45.55% had iodine deficiency according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, and 15.65% had thyroid autoimmunity. FT3, FT4, TSH, TPOAB and TGAB levels were not different among different UIC groups (P > 0.05). UIC and TSH were negatively correlated (r=-0.127, p=0.043) in UIC<150 µg/L group. In the group with UIC 250- 499 µg/L, UIC was positively correlated with total T4 (TT4), total T3 (TT3) and TPOAB (r= 0.228, p=0.022, r=0.208, p= 0.039, r=0.190, p=0.042, respectively). A negative correlation between UIC and TPOAB values was observed in TPOAB-positive (+) pregnant women (r=-0.384, p=0.012). The prevalence of isolated hypothyroxinemia in UIC<150 µg/L group was significantly higher than that of other groups(p=0.033). The relationship between the prevalence of thyroid diseases and UIC embodied a U-shaped curve. Pregnant women on Chongming Island of Shanghai were iodine sufficient during the second trimester, but iodine deficiency was still prevalent. Both low and high gestational iodine status was related to thyroid function and autoimmunity. Optimal iodine nutrition status during gestation was important.

Long-distance spread of Tembusu virus, and its dispersal in local mosquitoes and domestic poultry in Chongming Island, China

BackgroundChongming Island in China serves as a breeding and shelter point on the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. The resting frequency of migratory birds, abundance of mosquito populations, and the popular domestic poultry industry pose a potential risk of mosquito-borne zoonotic diseases. The aim of this study is to explore the role of migratory birds in the spread of mosquito-borne pathogens and their prevalent status on the island.MethodsWe conducted a mosquito-borne pathogen surveillance in 2021, in Chongming, Shanghai, China. Approximately 67,800 adult mosquitoes belonging to ten species were collected to investigate the presence of flaviviruses, alphaviruses, and orthobunyaviruses by RT-PCR. Genetic and phylogenetic analyses were conducted to explore the virus genotype and potential nature source. Serological survey was performed by ELISA to characterize Tembusu virus (TMUV) infection among domestic poultry.ResultsTwo strains of TMUV and Chaoyang virus (CHAOV) and 47 strains of Quang Binh virus (QBV) were detected in 412 mosquito pools, with the infection rate of 0.16, 0.16, and 3.92 per 1000 Culex tritaeniorhynchus, respectively. Furthermore, TMUVs viral RNA was found in serum samples of domestic chickens and faecal samples of migratory birds. Antibodies against TMUV were detected in domestic avian serum samples, generally ranging from 44.07% in pigeons to 55.71% in ducks. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the TMUV detected in Chongming belonged to Cluster 3, Southeast Asia origin, and most closely related to the CTLN strain, which caused a TMUV outbreak in chickens in Guangdong Province in 2020, but distant from strains obtained previously in Shanghai, which were involved in the 2010 TMUV outbreak in China.ConclusionsWe speculate that the TMUV was imported to Chongming Island through long-distance spreading by migratory birds from Southeast Asia, followed by spill over and transmission in mosquitoes and domestic avian species, threatening the local domestic poultry. In addition, the expansion and prevalence of insect-specific flaviviruses and its simultaneous circulation with mosquito-borne virus are worthy of close attention and further study.

Distribution characteristics of microplastics and corresponding feeding habits of the dominant shrimps in the rivers of Chongming Island

There is increasing global concern regarding microplastics. Rivers play a key role in the transportation and storage of microplastics on the Earth's surface. Here, we aimed to investigate the spatial-temporal variations in the distribution of microplastics in water as well as in the dominant species of the macrobenthic fauna Exopalaemon modestus and Macrobrachium nipponense in the river system of Chongming Island by setting up 16 fixed sampling sites. We found that the abundance of microplastics in the water of the rivers on the Chongming Island was 0.48 ± 0.10 n/L. There was no significant difference among different reaches. The abundance of microplastics in the major rivers was significantly higher in summer than in the other seasons. Detection rates of microplastics in Exopalaemon modestus and Macrobrachium nipponense were 50.12 % and 64.58 %, with mean abundances of 1.92 ± 0.52 n/g and 1.49 ± 0.30 n/g, respectively. The composition characteristics of the microplastics in shrimps were affected by the microplastics in the aquatic environment. The microplastic content in the shrimps and water were linearly correlated in terms of the same characteristics (shape, color, and polymer). Shrimps showed a stronger feeding preference {Target Group Index (TGI) > 1} for microplastics with fibrous shapes, transparent and green colors, rayon (RA) and polyethylene (PE) polymers, and relatively small sizes (<400 μm). These results indicate that shrimps prefer to consume microplastics that have similar appearance to their prey. Their benthic dwelling habits may limit their feeding space to the bottom of the water, which in turn leads to an increase in the feeding probability on microplastics of greater densities (e.g., RA). The catabolism of microplastics in shrimps may lead to an overestimation of their feeding preference for smaller sizes. Further controlled experiments should be carried out to obtain deeper insights into the preferences of shrimp for microplastics.

Pathways for an island energy transition under climate change: The case of Chongming Island, China

The normal operation of the energy system is related to the security and stability of the region and even the country. Compared with inland areas, islands can become a precedent for building a low-carbon and zero-carbon society due to geographic advantage. However, they also have to deal with more vulnerable energy systems. Taking Chongming Island as a case, this paper discusses the necessity of energy transformation from external, internal, and geographic causes, investigates the possible path of resilient energy transformation for islands, and puts forward a series of policy recommendations together with possible ways toward resilient energy transition.

Molecular Identification and Genetic Characterization of Public Health Threatening Ticks - Chongming Island, China, 2021-2022.

Although ticks and tick-borne diseases are prevalent throughout China, there remains a knowledge gap regarding their biology and potential risk of distribution to human and animal populations on Chongming Island. The island, being China's third largest and a crucial component in the ecological preservation of the Yangtze Delta region, has yet to be comprehensively studied in this context. In this study, employing molecular methodologies, a significant prevalence of Haemaphysalis (H.) longicornis and H. flava ticks - widely recognized for their high pathogenicity - is reported from Chongming Island. Additionally, the identification of two previously unreported species on the island, namely, H. doenitzi and H. japonica, expands our understanding of both the range and evolution of tick species. The populations of humans and animals in nearly all 18 towns on Chongming Island are potentially at risk for transmission of tick-borne infectious agents. As a result, there is a pressing necessity for public health alerts, proactive tick surveillance, and effective screening of suspected clinical cases of tick-borne diseases within the Chongming population.

Analysis of Bird Habitat Suitability in Chongming Island Based on GIS and Fragstats

With the development of society, the degree of human exploitation of nature is becoming more profound, which makes the fragmentation of the global environment more serious, leading to the reduction of species' Lebensraum and having a huge negative impact on the survival and development of various species. In this paper, we select the Chongming Island area in Shanghai as the study area and use the landscape pattern analysis and suitability analysis methods to comprehensively analyze the characteristics of the habitat pattern in this area as well as the suitability impact on the local birds. The research results show that the fragmentation of local habitats has decreased, but the connectivity between patches is low, and the changes in bird populations are relatively stable, showing a stable and positive trend.

Tensions and opportunities at Shanghai’s waterfronts

How can the Global North oriented and welfare state rooted Sustainability Transitions theories be enriched with the Chinese and communist state rooted Ecological Civilization thinking that has been included in the Chinese constitution since 2007, to make it able to evaluate the making of the direct-controlled municipality Shanghai into an institutional frontrunner of sustainable transitions in urban planning and design with its prime waterfront as exemplary ‘urban lab’? Around this central question, this dissertation examines how Shanghai's coastal and waterfront developments have changed over the past two decades under the influence of shifts in Chinese state capitalism towards what is called an Ecological Civilization. Two cases along the waterfronts of Shanghai – one on former docklands, and one on Chongming Island ¬– have been examined to test how both lines of thinking can enrich each other, and if a sustainable transition can be done more efficiently and convincingly in a centrally controlled society than in a non-autocratic (liberal) society. What lessons does the Chinese approach in Shanghai offer for elsewhere, and how can different approaches and practices reinforce each other in the field of spatial planning and strategies for a sustainable transition? This dissertation emphasizes that ecological civilization thinking can offer hopeful starting points for sustainable transitions but can only work well if 'checks and balances’ are included. It gives suggestions to improve the accessibility, inclusivity, and vibrancy of Shanghai’s waterfronts, and mitigate ecological degradation in the context of an urban delta.

Soil Salinization and Reclamation Result Assessment on Chongming Island Shanghai

Soil Salinization and Reclamation Result Assessment on Chongming Island Shanghai

Identification and restoration strategy of key areas for territorial space ecological restoration in Shanghai, China based on ecological security pattern

In the new era, ecological restoration of territorial space is the important task of maintaining regional ecological security, improving regional ecological quality and providing high-quality ecological products. From the perspective of ecological security, accurately determination of key areas to be restored in the territorial space is the primary work, and it is also a key and difficult problem to scientifically carry out ecological restoration. Based on the mainstream ecological security pattern theory, taking Shanghai as the research area, we integrated morphological spatial pattern analysis method and InVEST model to identify ecological sources, extracted ecological corridors, ecological "pinch points" and obstacle points with circuit theory, comprehensively determined the key areas to be restored, and proposed targeted restoration strategies. The results showed that the ecological sources of Shanghai were mainly distributed in the Yangtze River estuary, Chongming Island, Hangzhou Bay coast, and Dianshan Lake, accounting for about 17.9% of the study area. There were 103 key ecological corridors. The key areas to be repaired included 12 ecological "pinch points" and 54 ecological obstacle points, which were mainly distributed at the border of ecological source and ecological corridor, as well asthe intersection or turning point of ecological corridor and ecological corridor. According to the typical problems of key areas to be restored and land use conditions, three types of restoration strategy zones were proposed: ecological landscape reshaping, important corridor penetration, and ecological shoreline protection and restoration. The results could provide reference for compiling a territorial space ecological restoration plan in Shanghai and building a medium-scale ecological security pattern and carrying out systemic ecological restoration work in other regions of China.