Land Use Types Research Articles

Urban Complexity and the Dynamic Evolution of Urban Land Functions in Yiwu City: A Micro-Analysis with Multi-Source Big Data

The diversification of business forms leads to functional and spatial complexity in cities. The efficient determination of the complexity of an urban system is the basis for the scientific monitoring of the multi-functional aggregation within cities. Previous studies on the urban spatial structure were limited by the difficulty of collecting micro-data and the high time cost, and they focused on the macro-spatial structure, lacking fine-grained investigations of the micro-spatial structure. Additionally, high-resolution remote sensing images, which mainly rely on the textural characteristics of the spectrum of ground objects, cannot detect the social and economic functions of ground objects. Thus, it is difficult to meet the actual needs of urban planning and management. The purpose of this paper is to automatically identify the spatial heterogeneity and temporal variation of urban land use functions in the context of complex urban systems. The TF-IDF (term frequency–inverse document frequency) algorithm, a machine learning classification algorithm, and other methods are applied to identify the urban functions and distribution characteristics of the main urban area based on the POI (point of interest) data and urban form data. The results show the following: (1) From 2012 to 2022, all types of land use in Yiwu city grew at different rates, with logistics and warehousing space growing the fastest, which is in line with Yiwu’s goal of building a national logistics center for trade and services. (2) The residential area has a spatial structure with a dense central circle and a scattered periphery extending from northeast to southwest and from east to west. (3) The commercial service sector shows clear spatial differentiation between the core and the periphery. The commercial functional areas of Niansanli, Houzhai, and Chengxi, where the number of commercial POIs is relatively small, are located at the intersection of the administrative subdistricts near the city center, indicating that the commercial economic activities of the downtown subdistrict have a certain spillover effect on adjacent subdistricts. (4) The public facilities of each subdistrict are generally located in the core of each subdistrict, which ensures better convenience and accessibility. (5) Industrial land with a large total area that is scattered and mixed with urban residential land gradually tends to be centralized, forming an industrial belt around the city. This study comprehensively considers the aggregation relationship between urban buildings and land use and improves the accuracy of land identification and functional zoning.

The Impact of canal blocking to reduce fire risks and carbon emissions on tropical peatland, Siak District, Riau Province

Tropical peatlands are wetland ecosystems formed from the accumulation of organic matter over thousand of years period. Indonesia has an area of about 13.5 million ha and play important roles for society and the environment. The development of drainage canals has caused peatlands to become dry and degraded, rendering them highly susceptible to fires. Peatland restoration through rewetting activities with canal blockings can restore the hydrological function of peatlands. In addition, groundwater level (GWL) also affects carbon emissions from peatlands. This study aims to determine the distance of canal blocking effect on groundwater level so that it can be known which areas have a lower risk of fire and carbon emissions in peatlands. This study compared areas affected by canal blocking with those without canal blocking. The results of this study show the significant effect of canal blocking in increasing the groundwater level in areas with <100 m distance from the canals and with different types of land use. The average GWL of peat during one year of monitoring period was around - 26.67 ± 2.4 cm at the location of the monitoring well close to the canal with canal blocking, equivalent to carbon emissions of 26.5 tCO2eq ha−1 year−1. This is lower than the average GWL of those areas without canal blocking that was - 58.67 ± 3.1 cm, which is equivalent to carbon emissions of 57.8 tCO2eq ha−1 year−1.

Linking wilderness mapping and ecosystem services: Identifying integrated wilderness and ecological indicators to quantify ecosystem services of wilderness

Wilderness has proven to provide a wide range of ecosystem services (ES). Wilderness have been shown to play an important role in preserving biodiversity and providing ES, which is indispensable to both nature and people. It is essential to integrate ES quantification into wilderness conservation and management. This study presents a method that combines the wilderness mapping and ecological indicators to measure ES of wilderness. The method was applied in 155,800 km2 of Shandong province in China, across 23 types of land use. First, relative wilderness value (RWV) and ecosystem service capability (ESC) were quantified according to Weighted Linear Combination (WLC). Then, spatial autocorrelation between RWV and ESC were tested and analyzed using GeoDa software. Finally, the Redundancy analysis was used to investigate the primary drivers of RWV and ESC in different landscape types. The findings showed that, there were 27,263 km2 of wilderness in Shandong province, of which 6,294 km2 were high-quality wilderness. The region with the highest RWV was the Yellow River Delta (RWV = 0.82), and the area with the highest ESC was Laoshan Mountain (ESC = 0.76). Spatial autocorrelation analysis showed a positive correlation between RWV and ESC (Pearson’s r = 0.637), both of which had significant spatial relevance (Moran’s I = 0.589, P < 0.005). The RWV and ESC high-high clusters were found to cover 5,223 km2 of high-quality wilderness areas. Regression analysis (R2 = 0.744) showed that RWV can quantify ESC of urban area reliably. Population density (Explaining 33.9 %-49.3 %) was found to be a key indicator of RWV and ESC changes through the Redundancy analysis. In addition, we discussed key drivers of RWV and ESC of high-quality wilderness according to different landscape types. This approach can be used and adopted to support planning decisions dealing with wilderness conservation and management.

Identification of hydrochemical fingerprints, quality and formation dynamics of groundwater in western high Himalayas.

Identifying hydrochemical fingerprints of groundwater is a challenge in areaswith complex geological settings. This study takes the Gilgit-Baltistan, a complex geological area in west high Himalayas, Pakistan, as the study area to get insights into the hydrochemcial genesis and quality of groundwater in complex geological mountainous regions. A total of 53 samples were collected across the area to determine the hydrochemical characteristics and formation of groundwater. Results revealed groundwater there is characterized by slightly alkaline and soft fresh feature. Groundwater is dominated by the hydrochemical facies of HCO3·SO4-Ca·Mg type. The factor method yields three components (PCs) of principal component analysis, which together explain 75.71% of the total variances. The positive correlation of EC, TDS, Ca2+, SO42-, K+ in PC1, and NO3-, Cl- in PC2 indicate that a combination of natural and anthropogenic activities influences groundwater hydrochemistry. Water-rock interaction is the main mechanism governing the natural hydrochemistry of groundwater. The negative correlation of Cl-, SO42-, Ca2+, and Na+ with NDVI attributes to inorganic salt uptake by plant roots. Groundwater chemical composition is also affected by the type of land use. Groundwater is characterized as excellent and good water quality based on the entropy-weighted water quality index assessment, and is suitable for drinking purposes except for very few samples, while aqueous fluoride would pose potential health threats to water consumers in western high Himalayas, and infants are most at risk compared to other populations. This study will help to deepen the hydrochemial formation mechanism and exploitation suitability of groundwater resources in the mountainous areas that undergone the combined actions of nature and human activities, and provide insights into the characteristics of water environmental quality in western Himalayas area.

Natural vegetation biomass and the dimension of forest quality in tropical agricultural landscapes.

Forest cover has been a pivotal indicator of biological conservation and carrying capacity for wildlife in forest ecoregions. Such a relationship underpins policies focused on the extension of protected lands. Here, we estimate aboveground biomass (AGB) as a proxy for habitat quality in seminatural rural patches and provide a comparison with approaches that only consider forest cover. We hypothesize that recommendations for biological conservation in agricultural landscapes are substantially improved if habitat quality is also taken into account, and thus consider the possibility of forest quality being modulated by land-use amount, type, and age. We assessed AGB in a densely farmed Brazilian region using a straightforward approach designed to be affordable at large scales, focusing on two expanding and contrasting land uses: sugarcane, and eucalyptus plantations. At a detailed scale, we confirmed through field surveys and AGB estimation using 3D-multispectral imagery (i.e., AGB = 0.842 × vegetation heightNDVI+1) that AGB variation could be predicted with forest degradation classes that are visually distinguishable with high-resolution images: 9.33 t ha-1 (90% predictive intervals [PI] = [3.23, 26.97]) in regenerating fields (RF), 31.12 t ha-1 (90% PI = [10.77, 89.90]) in pioneer woods (PW), and 149.04 t ha-1 (90% PI = [51.59, 430.58]) in dense forests (DF). Applying these values to land units sampled across the study region, we found an average land use of 88.5%, together with 11.5% of land set aside for conservation, which reduced AGB to less than 4.2% of its potential (averages of 5.85 t ha-1 in sugarcane-dominated areas and 6.56 t ha-1 in eucalyptus-dominated areas, with secondary forests averaging 149.04 t ha-1). This imbalance between forest cover and AGB resulted from forest quality decay, which was similarly severe among land-use types, ages, and extensions. Therefore, the shortage of trophic resources is likely more critical to wildlife than spatial limitations in vastly deforested tropical ecoregions, where AGB and carbon sinks can be more than doubled just by restoring forests in lands currently spared by agriculture.

Spatial Patterns, Drivers, and Sustainable Utilization of Terrace Abandonment in Mountainous Areas of Southwest China

Sloping farmland abandonment has become a typical land use pattern worldwide. Along with the aggravation of sloping farmland abandonment, terrace abandonment is also showing an increasing trend. Systematically clarifying the pattern and mechanism of terrace abandonment is a prerequisite for effective management. Based on the survey data of 145 villages, 697 rural households, and satellite remote sensing in Southwest China, this study uses spatial analysis and the Logit model to reveal the scale, pattern, and driving mechanism of terrace abandonment in the study area to provide scientific references for the sustainable utilization of terrace resources in mountainous areas. This study found that in the study area, 63% of the villages had experienced terrace abandonment, and nearly one-fifth of the rural households had abandoned terraces. The area of abandoned terraces accounted for 7.65% of the total area, and the scale of abandoned terraces reached 449,360 hectares, of which Chongqing has the highest proportion of terrace abandonment (11.5%), while Yunnan Province has the lowest (5.1%); the overall abandoned terraces show a pattern of higher in the east and lower in the west. Terrace abandonment is influenced by multiple factors. The rise in non-agricultural wages attracts rural labor migration as an external force, while the rising operating costs of mountain agriculture serve as internal drivers. Under the combined influence of internal and external factors, the abandonment of terraces in southwest mountainous areas is intensifying. The government should actively conduct assessments of terrace resources within the region and implement targeted measures to address terrace abandonment.

Effect of LULC Changes on Annual Water Yield in the Urban Section of the Chili River, Arequipa, Using the InVEST Model

Arequipa is a semi-desert city located in southern Peru which depends on the Chili River as its only water source. During recent years, this city has increased its number of inhabitants significantly as a result of internal migratory flows and population growth. Because of this, the city has undergone a rapid urbanization process which has increased the urban areas near the river and caused the destruction of agricultural areas, as well as their native vegetation. This change in land use can be quantified through satellite image analysis across many years, but as noted, there are no studies on its impact on water yield (WY) in the urban section of the river. Now, by using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Compensation (InVEST) model, which allows the WY of the study area to be evaluated in millimeters and cubic meters by introducing a series of variables, such as precipitation, reference evapotranspiration and types of land use classes, among others, it is possible to determine that the WY from the study area was 1,743,414 m3 in 1984 and 1,323,792 m3 in 2022; the urban area is the type of land use with the highest increase with respect to its percentage contribution to the WY, going from 30.43% to 49.62% between 1984 and 2022, respectively. The increase in urban area mitigated the loss of total WY, explained by a higher percentage runoff rate, surface flow and drainage problems in the study area.

Cluster pattern analysis of environmental stressors and quantifying their impact on all-cause mortality in Belgium

Environmental stress represents an important burden on health and leads to a considerable number of diseases, hospitalisations, and excess mortality. Our study encompasses a representative sample size drawn from the Belgian population in 2016 (n = 11.26 million, with a focus on n = 11.15 million individuals). The analysis is conducted at the geographical level of statistical sectors, comprising a total of n = 19,794 sectors, with a subset of n = 18,681 sectors considered in the investigation. We integrated multiple parameters at the finest spatial level and constructed three categories of environmental stress through clustering: air pollution, noise stress and stress related to specific land-use types. We observed identifiable patterns in the spatial distribution of stressors within each cluster category. We assessed the relationship between age-standardized all-cause mortality rates (ASMR) and environmental stressors. Our research found that especially very high air pollution values in areas where traffic is the dominant local component of air pollution (ASMR + 14,8%, 95% CI: 10,4 – 19,4%) and presence of industrial land (ASMR + 14,7%, 95% CI: 9,4 – 20,2%) in the neighbourhood are associated with an increased ASMR. Cumulative exposure to multiple sources of unfavourable environmental stress (simultaneously high air pollution, high noise, presence of industrial land or proximity of primary/secondary roads and lack of green space) is associated with an increase in ASMR (ASMR + 26,9%, 95% CI: 17,1 – 36,5%).

Spatio-temporal analysis of urban expansion using remote sensing data and GIS for the sustainable management of urban land: the case of Burayu, Ethiopia

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to analyze the horizontal expansion of Burayu Town between 1990 and 2020. The study typically acts as a baseline for integrated spatial planning in small- and medium-sized towns, which will help to plan sustainable utilization of land.Design/methodology/approachLandsat5-TM, Landsat7 ETM+, Landsat5 TM and Landsat8 OLI were used in the study, along with other auxiliary data. The LULC map classifications were generated using the Random Forest Package from the Comprehensive R Archive Network. Post-classification, spatial metrics, and per capita land consumption rate were used to understand the manner and rate of expansion of Burayu Town. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were also used to validate land use classes through triangulation.FindingsThe study found that the built-up area was the most dynamic LULC category (85.1%) as it increased by over 4,000 ha between 1990 and 2020. Furthermore, population increase did not result in density increase as per capita land consumption increased from 0.024 to 0.040 during the same period.Research limitations/implicationsAs a result of financial limitations, there were no high-resolution satellite images available, making it challenging to pinpoint the truth as it is on the ground. Including senior citizens in the study region allowed this study to overcome these restrictions and detect every type of land use and cover.Practical implicationsData on urban growth are useful for planning land uses, estimating growth rates and advising the government on how best to use land. This can be achieved by monitoring and reviewing development plans using satellite imaging data and GIS tools.Originality/valueThe use of Random Forest for image classification and the employment of local knowledge to validate the accuracy of land cover classification is a novel approach to properly customize remote sensing applications.

Monsoon Season Spatial Distribution of Particulates Concentration in the Road Intersection Area of Different Land Use in Major City in South Asian Countries

Air pollution has become one of the most significant issues in the metropolitan area of Dhaka in recent years. There are various sources of air pollution in Dhaka city, among them, unfit vehicles and industries are notable with under construction work done by Dhaka city Corporation. With regard to various land uses in the Dhaka metropolitan region, this study intends for monitoring the Particulate Matters (PM&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2•5&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; and PM&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;10&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;) concentrations and its relationship to the various types of land use in the region. This investigation was carried out in 82 different places throughout the Dhaka metropolitan area by using instrument named Aeroqual S-500. Study found that the average concentrations of PM&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2•5&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; and PM&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;10&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; in these locations were 31.10 and 72.03 g/m&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;3&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;, respectively. The average concentration of PM&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2•5&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; and PM&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;10 &amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;across all land uses was found to be 1.4148 and 1.7082 times higher than the WHO standard threshold, respectively. It is estimated that the average PM&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2.5&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;/PM&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;10&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; was 46.32%. It also revealed that the concentrations of the parameters do not change significantly with land use as the p values are greater than 0.05. Average concentration of PM&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2•5&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; &amp; PM&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;10 &amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;follows as mixed area &amp;gt; residential area &amp;gt; commercial area &amp;gt; silent area &amp;gt; industrial area.

Discriminating the non-coordination between ecosystem service value and economic development and its spatial characteristics in central Yunnan urban agglomeration in the recent 30 years

Environmental issues have become one of the important topics affecting China and the world. As the world’s most populous country and the second-largest economy, China’s environmental conditions have significant impacts on global ecosystems and sustainable development. To accurately determine the relationship between economic development and the environment, explore the non-coordination and spatial characteristics between the two, and promote regional sustainable development. This study is based on land-use data from four periods: 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020. It uses the dynamic measurement and value equivalent method to explore the characteristics of land-use changes and measure the value of ecosystem services in the Central Yunnan Urban Agglomeration. At the same time, the study uses the non-coordination degree model and hotspot analysis tools to identify the non-coordination between Ecosystem Service Value and economic development (Gross Domestic Product), and explore the spatial characteristics between them. The research results show that: (1) The main land-use types include cultivated land, forest land, and grassland, which account for more than 90% of the total proportion. The land types with a small proportion in the region are water areas, construction land, and unused land. (2) The development level of ecosystem service value presents four types of changes: fluctuating increase, fluctuating decrease, continuous increase, and continuous decrease. The regional spatial distribution shows obvious regional heterogeneity, overall presenting a spatial distribution pattern of “low in the middle, high around.” (3) The average index of non-coordination degree from 1990 to 2020 is 0.591, 0.635, 0.584, and 0.565, showing a coordinated non-coordination coupling type. The regional space presents a spatial pattern of “high in the central and western regions, low in the northeastern and southern regions.” (4) The hotspots of non-coordination are mainly concentrated in the central and northwest regions of the Central Yunnan Urban Agglomeration, while the coldspots of non-coordination are mainly distributed in the northeastern, western, and southern regions of the Central Yunnan Urban Agglomeration, showing a regular agglomeration distribution. This study suggests that it is necessary to balance and coordinate the relationship between regional economic development and the environment.

Improving the accuracy of nitrogen estimates from nonpoint source in a river catchment with multi-isotope tracers

Climate change can affect precipitation patterns, temperature, and the hydrological cycle, consequently influencing the dynamics of nitrogen (N) within aquatic ecosystems. In this study, multiple stable isotopes (15N-NO3/18O-NO3 and 2H-H2O/18O-H2O) were used to investigate the N sources and flowpath within the Bogang stream in South Korea. Within the vicinity of the stream with complex land use where various N sources were present, four end-members (rainfall, soil, sewage, and livestock) were sampled and examined. Consequently, spatial-temporal variations of the N sources were observed dependent on the type of land use. During the dry season, sewage accounted for the dominant N source, ranging from 62.2 % to 80.2 %. In contrast, nonpoint sources increased significantly across most sites during the wet season (10.3–41.6 % for soil; 6.3–35.2 % for livestock) compared to the dry season (7.7–28.5 % for soil; 6–13.2 % for livestock). However, sewage (78.7 %) remains dominant, representing the largest ratio at the site downstream of the wastewater treatment plant during the wet season. This ratio showed a notable difference from the calculated N loading ratio of 52.2 %, especially for livestock. This suggests that a significant potential for N legacy effects, given that groundwater flow is likely to be the primary hydrological pathway delivering N to rivers. This study will help to develop water resource management strategies by understanding how the interaction between N sources and hydrological process responds to climate change within sub-basins.

Coexistence in multi-use landscape: linking human activities with functional traits of wild mammals in southern India

ContextHuman presence and land-use activities influence habitat use and activity of species. It is crucial to study the ecological and anthropogenic determinants that drive these relationships.ObjectivesWe investigated the effects of land-use change and human presence on the habitat use of seven mammalian species and on their activity patterns.MethodsWe conducted a camera-trapping survey in Ballari district, India. We deployed camera-traps at 1457 sampling grid cells across Protected Areas (PAs), Reserved Forests (RFs), and adjoining fringe mosaic farmlands (FMFLs). We assessed the influence of 19 covariates related to habitat features, landscape-level human presence, climate, and local-level human presence on species habitat use. We examined the diel activity patterns and activity levels of mammals within different land-use types.ResultsFour species exhibited a net negative response to increasing human presence, while three species exhibited positive responses. Respectively, proximity to farmlands, and settlements positively influenced habitat use by Panthera pardus, and Lepus nigricollis,. Increasing direct human presence negatively affected Sus scrofa habitat use. Large body-sized species exhibited higher diurnal activity in PA/RF compared to FMFL while smaller-sized (≤ 2.2 kg) species maintained similar activity patterns across land-use types. Generalist meso-predators exhibited more diurnal activity in RF/FMFL.ConclusionsEcological and life history traits were strong predictors of species responses to increasing human presence which favoured smaller and generalist species. These insights into the complex mechanisms through which human activities shape mammal communities are important landscape level perspectives on conservation.

Distribution of microplastics in soil by types of land use in metropolitan area of Seoul

Plastic pollution is becoming a significant problem in urban areas due to excessive use and careless disposal. While studies on microplastics are increasingly being conducted across various environments, research on microplastics in soil is limited compared to other areas. Microplastics entering the soil through various routes can stay there for a long period of time, threatening soil organisms and eventually humans. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the distribution characteristics of microplastics according to types of land use. For this purpose, a total of 54 soil samples were collected from agricultural land, residential areas, roadsides, parks, and forests. The analysis of microplastics in the soil by stereo microscopy showed that the average numbers of microplastics (particles/kg) in agricultural land, residential areas, roadsides, parks, and forests were 5047, 3646, 4987, 2673, and 1097, respectively. Various colors (black, red, green, blue, yellow, white, and transparent) and shapes (fragment, fiber, film, and sphere) of microplastics were found in soils. The combination of black x fragment plastics showed the highest frequency. Microplastics in soil samples from agricultural land, roadside, and residential areas with sizes between 20 µm and 500 µm were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) and analyzed by MP finder. The number of microplastics detected in the soil with sizes ranging between 20 µm and 500 µm was in the order of roadside > residential areas > agricultural land, which was different from the results by stereomicroscopy. Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) were detected in soils from roadsides. Polyurethane (PU), cellulose acetate (CA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), PP, and polystyrene (PS) were detected in soils from residential areas, with PU being the most frequently detected.

Evaluating the satellite-derived DEM accuracy with rain-on-grid modeling for flood hydrograph prediction of Katulampa Watershed, Indonesia

ABSTRACT In this study, we investigated the applicability of five open-access, satellite-derived DEMs with resolutions of ∼90 m (MERIT-Hydro and TanDEM-X), ∼30 m (SRTM and ALOS), and ∼8.1 m (DEMNAS) to rain-on-grid modeling (with HEC-RAS) for flood hydrograph prediction in the Katulampa watershed, Indonesia. Additionally, the influence of the Manning coefficient and infiltration values on the modeling results was also investigated based on three types of land use (forest, agriculture, and urban area). It was shown that ALOS (∼30 m) was the most accurate data among other DEMs to predict flood hydrographs. Interestingly, MERIT-Hydro (∼90 m) significantly outperformed SRTM (∼30 m) and DEMNAS (∼8.1 m), indicating that DEMs with finer-resolution are not necessarily more accurate than coarser-resolution DEMs for rain-on-grid modeling. Furthermore, we observed that the modeling results were strongly influenced by the Manning coefficient and infiltration values, indicating the importance of calibration for such values. Based on 279 combinations carried out, only agriculture was sensitive to both Manning coefficient and infiltration values, while forest and urban were not. The Manning coefficients calibrated for each land use data were similar for different flood events. However, only the infiltration values calibrated for agriculture were distinct for different flood events, thus emphasizing the need for individual calibrations of infiltration values for each event. Our findings are useful to demonstrate how rain-on-grid modeling – with proper DEM data and the calibrated Manning coefficient and infiltration values – can be utilized for accurate flood hydrograph predictions.

Exploring the relationship between land-use and pesticides in freshwater ecosystem: A case study of the Araguaia River Basin, Brazil

Freshwater aquatic ecosystems are vulnerable to human activities within their surroundings, presenting a concerning scenario for aquatic organisms and human subsistence. Therefore, understanding the occurrence of pesticide contamination is a necessary condition to safeguard aquatic biodiversity and human health. We analysed the pesticide residues in water samples, using the solid-phase extraction (SPE) technique and determination by ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‒MS/MS). We also we investigated whether land use influences water contamination by pesticides in the middle and upper Araguaia River basin, situated in the central region of Brazil in the Cerrado biome. We evaluated the effect of land use and land cover type on pesticide occurrence in nine subbasins using mixed linear models. We registered the occurrence of pesticides in all subbasins. After water analysis a total of eight pesticides were found: atrazine, carbendazim, cyanazine, imidacloprid, 2,4-D, clomazone, chlorpyrifos-ethyl, and imazalil. Atrazine and carbendazim were detected during both sampling years. The active ingredient atrazine and clomazone were registered in all studied subbasins, with concentrations ranged from 0.006–0.207 µg L−1 and 0.183–0.373 µg L−1, respectively. There were no significant relationships observed between the number of pesticides and the type of land use and land cover, a result possibly related to the short sampling period, as these pesticides are largely used for fungi and insect control in agricultural areas. The presence of pesticides in the water may have potentially detrimental effects on aquatic biodiversity because sampled pesticides have been associated with anomalies in ontogenetic development, diseases, and mortality in organisms. Based on European legislation, it was evident that most of the subbasins had pesticide concentrations in the water exceeding the safety levels for human consumption. Thus, it is crucial for Brazilian legislation to establish maximum limits for pesticide concentrations in water to ensure safe drinking water for the Brazilian population. Additionally, a permanent monitoring system should be established to understand contamination trends in this basin and to take appropriate actions to mitigate adverse impacts.

Response Study of Streamflow and Sediment Reduction in the Northeast Region of the Loess Plateau under Changing Environment

The Sanggan River Basin in the loess hill and gully area is the primary water source for the establishment of the capital water conservation function area and the ecological environment support zone. Against the backdrop of global warming, population growth, and accelerated urbanization, water consumption in the Sanggan River Basin has persistently increased in recent years, leading to a series of issues, such as river pollution, surface streamflow reduction, groundwater over-exploitation, soil erosion, and decreased vegetation coverage. In this research, we employed the DMC approach, SWAT model, InVEST model, and CA-Markov model to quantitatively analyze the correlation between alterations in streamflow and sediment within this area and three influential factors: climate variations, LUCC, and other human interventions. Furthermore, we clarified the relative contributions of climate factor elements, land-use types, and human activities to streamflow and sediment in this region. The findings indicate a decline in the annual streamflow and sediment quantities observed within this region from 1960 to 2020, with reduction rates of 1.27 × 108 m3/10 a and 129.07 × 104 t/10 a, respectively, and an abrupt change year in 1983 and 1982. Compared to the annual streamflow, the annual sediment volume demonstrates more substantial variation. Based on the constructed model, three scenario simulation periods: P0 (1962–1981/1982), P1 (1983/1982–1999), and P2 (2000–2020) were set. Compared with P0, the respective contribution rates of climatic variation, land use, and other human intervention to streamflow (sediment volume) were 15.247% (19.601%), −0.03% (−1.349%), and 84.783% (81.748%) in P1. In P2, the contribution rates of these three factors on streamflow (sediment volume) were 9.160% (9.128%), 0.211% (3.053%), and 90.629% (84.818%), respectively. Through a quantitative analysis of climatic factors on streamflow and sediment, we found a positive correlation between precipitation and both streamflow and sediment. Additionally, there is an inverse relationship between temperature and streamflow, but streamflow will increase when temperature rises by 10%. Under three different future land-use scenarios, the variations in streamflow and sediment exhibited as ecological protection scenario &lt; urban expansion scenario &lt; natural development scenario. Changes in streamflow in this region are primarily caused by human intervention that alters the underlying surface. The increase in check dams and silted land could lead the runoff and sediment to decrease. Moreover, compared with the increase in industrial and agricultural water consumption, the increase in urban water consumption is the main factor for human water consumption.

Evaluating the Spatial Evolution of the Eco-Economy Harmony in Anxi County, China, Based on Ecosystem Services Value

The harmonious development of the ecological environment and the economy is extremely important to achieve regional ecological construction and sustainable development. To properly assess the status of the harmonious development of the ecosystem and the economy, this study constructed an improved ecosystem services value (ESV) and eco-economic harmony (EEH) model to analyze the coordination relationships between the ecosystem and the economy in this region, based on Landsat TM/OLI data of Anxi County in 1999, 2009, and 2019. The results were as follows. (1) Significant changes in land- use occurred in Anxi County between 1999 and 2019. While grassland, cultivated land, and water bodies decreased by 22.91%, 36.82%, and 8.18%, respectively, other land-use types expanded including construction land (206.10%), garden land (56.39%), forest land (10.37%), and unutilized land (90.43%). (2) The ESV decreased by CNY 41.02 billion during this period, with the largest contribution from forest land and the most important service function being regulating services, and mountainous townships made a great contribution to the total ESV. (3) The eco-economic system of Anxi County was at an inharmonic level. The evaluation model produced more favorable results, especially at the township scale, which is highly sensitive to economic policy. This can provide scientific evidence for inter-regional ecological compensation and sustainable development while providing reference and inspiration for similar areas around the world to carry out relevant research.

Dynamic simulation of landscape ecological security and analysis of coupling coordination degree: A case study of Bole.

The ecological security of oasis cities in arid and semi-arid regions is highly susceptible to changes in regional landscape patterns and the degree of coordination between human activities and the environment. At the same time, the ecological security of urban landscapes also profoundly affects the success of regional economic and environmental coordination and development. This study is based on land use data from 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020, as well as land use data from the natural development scenario (NLD), economic development scenario (ECD), ecological development scenario (ELD) and ecological-economic development scenario (EED) simulated by the patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) model in 2030. From the perspective of production-living-ecological land (PLEL), it analyzes the changes in the past and future landscape ecological security and coupling coordination characteristics of Bole. The results show that from 1990 to 2020, Bole was mainly dominated by grassland ecological land (GEL) and other ecological land (OEL), accounting for a total proportion of 69.51%, with a large increase in production and living land area; the average value of landscape ecological risk is decreasing, and the landscape ecological security of Bole is developing towards benignity; the area of highly coupled coordination zone is decreasing continuously, while that of basic coordination zone and moderate coordination zone is increasing continuously. Under the 2030 EED scenario, the overall changes in various types of land use are not significant, and the average value of landscape ecological risk is the smallest, but it is higher than that in 2020 as a whole; under EED scenario, the area of highly coordinated zone and moderate coordinated zone is the largest among four scenarios, and the best coupling coordination level among the four scenarios. Landscape ecological security and its coupling coordination will be affected by land use patterns. Optimizing regional land use patterns is of great significance for improving urban landscape ecological security and sustainable high-quality development.

Assessment of Impact of Agricultural Land-Use Types on Some Soil Physical and Chemical Properties in Abeokuta, Southwestern Nigeria

Agricultural land-use practices play a pivotal role in shaping the physical and chemical properties of soil, which in turn influence crop productivity, environmental sustainability, and overall ecosystem health. Understanding the impact of different agricultural land-use types on soil properties is crucial for sustainable land management and effective agricultural practices. This study utilized electrical resistivity technique (ERT) and geochemical methods to assess the impact of different land-uses (mineral farms, organic farms, thick plantations, and cattle stations) on soil physicochemical properties. The research aimed to explore the correlation between soil resistivity and fertility, as well as evaluate the influence of specific land-use types on soil characteristics. Four resistivity traverses were conducted, each corresponding to a different land-use type, and soil samples were collected from various depths. Laboratory analysis revealed high clay content in the cattle station, while all land-use types showed high sand content. Available phosphorus was significantly affected by both land-use and soil depth, negatively correlating with electrical conductivity. Exchangeable bases were generally low across all land-use types. The study recommends promoting site-specific, sustainable land management practices within different agricultural land-use systems.