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Landscape ecological security pattern (LESP) can effectively safeguard urban ecological security, which is vital for urban sustainable development. Previous studies have not adequately considered the ability to fulfill people’s demand for ecosystem services when identifying sources of LESP. To address this gap, we sought to develop a more comprehensive approach coupling ecosystem services supply and human ecological demand to construct LESP for Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region. We proposed a new evaluation framework integrating ecosystem services importance assessment and landscape connectivity analysis with human ecological demand importance assessment to identify ecological sources. Afterwards, ecological corridors were identified using Minimum Cumulative Resistance model based on sources and resistance surface modified through nighttime light data. Combined with ecological sources and corridors, LESP for Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region can be constructed. The ecological sources are mainly located in western Beijing and southwestern Chengde. The ecological source area totals 36,245.50 km 2 , accounting for 21.26% of the ecological land in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region. The ecological corridors cross the whole region, from northeast to southwest, similar to the direction of the Yanshan–Taihang Mountain Chain. All the national nature reserves and 91.4% of the provincial nature reserves are distributed within the LESP. The validity of our methodology is confirmed by the distribution of the nature reserves. This study adds new insights into the methodology of LESP construction, and its results provide information about local ecological characteristics that can provide an important reference for decision-making concerning urban planning and ecological conservation.

The construction of ecological security pattern is one of the important ways to alleviate the contradiction between economic development and ecological protection, as well as the important contents of ecological civilization construction. How to scientifically construct the ecological security pattern of small-scale counties, and achieve sustainable economic development based on ecological environment protection, it has become an important proposition in regulating the ecological process effectively. Taking Fengxian County of China as an example, this paper selected the importance of ecosystem service functions and ecological sensitivity to evaluate the ecological importance and identify ecological sources. Furthermore, we constructed the ecological resistance surface by various landscape assignments and nighttime lighting modifications. Through a minimum cumulative resistance model, we obtained ecological corridors and finally constructed the ecological security pattern comprehensively combining with ecological resistance surface construction. Accordingly, we further clarified the specific control measures for ecological security barriers and regional functional zoning. This case study shows that the ecological security pattern is composed of ecological sources and corridors, where the former plays an important security role, and the latter ensures the continuity of ecological functions. In terms of the spatial layout, the ecological security barriers built based on ecological security pattern and regional zoning functions are away from the urban core development area. As for the spatial distribution, ecological sources of Fengxian County are mainly located in the central and southwestern areas, which is highly coincident with the main rivers and underground drinking water source area. Moreover, key corridors and main corridors with length of approximately 115.71 km and 26.22 km, respectively, formed ecological corridors of Fengxian County. They are concentrated in the western and southwestern regions of the county which is far away from the built-up areas with strong human disturbance. The results will provide scientific evidence for important ecological land protection and ecological space control at a small scale in underdeveloped and plain counties. In addition, it will enrich the theoretical framework and methodological system of ecological security pattern construction. To some extent, it also makes a reference for improving the regional ecological environment carrying capacities and optimizing the ecological spatial structure in such kinds of underdeveloped small-scale counties.

ContextAs an important type of sustainable landscape patterns, ecological security patterns focus on the spatial assessment of landscape function importance. However, there is a lack of attention to the scale effect, one of core cognitions of landscape ecology, especially the impact of extent changes on sustainable landscape patterns.ObjectivesTaking Weifang City and its surrounding six cities as the study area, this study was aimed to integrate regional and interregional approaches to identify ecological security patterns with a special focus on the effect of spatial extent changes.MethodsWe assessed the ecosystem service importance and integrated the ecological sources identified in view of regional and interregional perspectives. The key or fragile ecological corridors were then identified and the differences of ecological security patterns in different approaches were explored through several landscape metrics.Results11 central ecological sources and 21 surrounding ecological sources were identified. 70% key ecological corridors were the interregional ecological corridors across Weifang City and other cities. Different study extents would cause up to about 24% of the difference in high ecosystem service importance areas of Weifang City, and the corridor connectivity could be improved in the ecological security patterns by integrating the regional and interregional approaches.ConclusionsThis study made up for the shortcomings of identifying sustainable landscape patterns within the single spatial extent, especially the discontinuity of ecological sources between the adjacent areas through regional approach, and the neglected local ecological land conservation through interregional approach.

Rapid urbanization aggravates issues related to protection and optimization of the ecological environment. Constructing an ecological network system, including ecological values in planning, and using landscape effects efficiently are important for adjusting regional ecological space and promoting local sustainable development. Land use data from eight time points between 1980 and 2020 in the Zhengzhou Metropolitan Area were used to identify the local ecological sources, corridors and nodes and to identify an ecological network with high structural integrity. The study used the FLUS, MSPA, MCR, and gravity models, hydrological analysis, and network structure evaluation by applying tools such as ArcGIS, Guidos Toolbox and Conefor. The results indicated that: (1) among the nine major ecological sources, those in the Yellow River Basin connected the large−scale sources in the east and west of the network, and the rest were located in the northeast, southeast and southwest of the research area, semi−enclosing the main urban area of Zhengzhou. (2) There were 163 least−cost paths and 58 ecological corridors, mainly distributed along the Yellow River Basin. (3) There were 70 ecological nodes, divided into 10 strategic, 27 natural ecological and 33 artificial environment nodes, distributed in key locations such as the core of each source and the intersection of corridors. (4) The ecological network included all the landscape elements in the research area and connected the main ecological substrates in a semi−enclosing network structure with one horizontal and two vertical corridors and four clusters.

In this study, the regional pole-axis system (urban/town areas and multi-level roads) where human production and living activities are concentrated was recognized as the main regional ecological risk source space; in contrast, multi-type ecosystems, such as wetland/waterbody and forestland and cropland with significant ecosystem service provisioning function, were identified as the main regional ecological risk receptor spaces. Based on this regional ecological risk source/receptor space division scheme, related ecological risk source/receptor indicators were chosen to characterize the spatial heterogeneities of human activities and ecological capital distribution within the study area. Among them, the Defense Meteorological Program Operational Line-Scan System (DMSP/OLS) nighttime light intensity and normalized density of multi-level roads data were employed as regional ecological risk source indicators, whereas the ecosystem service value of multi-ecosystems was employed as a regional ecological risk receptor indicator. Then, combined with regional eco-environmental vulnerability indexes, a regional ecological risk assessment framework was established and practiced in the Tongjiang–Fuyuan region, a wetland-concentrated area of the Sanjiang Plain. The results showed that (1) the DMSP/OLS nighttime light intensity data matched the distribution of regional urban/town areas and farms well, and it was reasonable to employ this dataset to represent the scope of regional production–living land space; (2) regional ecological space, such as wetlands and forestlands, had a higher ecological risk grade; (3) because of their higher human disturbance severity and ecological vulnerability level, regional settlement points (county seats and farms) had the highest ecological risk, whereas agricultural land space, occupying the largest area of the region, had the lowest ecological risk level; and finally, (4) in terms of proportion, the low, medium, high, and very high risk grades accounted for 71.66%, 17.13%, 8.43%, and 2.78% of the study area, respectively. Based on the results, a series of approaches, which can be adopted to promote regional sustainable development of the Tongjiang–Fuyuan region, were discussed, such as spatial governance of wetlands by establishing nature reserves, coordination of economic exploitation activities within forestlands, setup of a spatial expansion boundary of urban/town/farm areas, and tradeoffs between production and ecology functions of croplands.

The study of ecological security patterns (ESPs) is of great significance for improving the value of ecosystem services and promoting both ecological protection and high-quality socio-economic development. As an important part of the “Loss Plateau-Sichuan-Yunnan Ecological Barrier” and “Northern Sand Control Belt” in the national security strategic pattern, there is an urgent need to study the ESPs on the Loess Plateau. Based on a remote sensing dataset, this study identified the ESPs at different spatial scales, and analyzed the similarities and differences of ecological sources, corridors, and key strategic points, so as to better inform the development and implantation of macro and micro ecological protection strategies. When taken as a whole unit, we identified 58 ecological sources (areas with higher levels of ecosystem services) on the Loess Plateau (total area of 57,948.48 km2), along with 134 corridors (total length of 14,094.32 km), 1325 pinch points (total area of 315.01 km2), and 2406 barrier points (total area of 382.50 km2). When splits into ecoregions, we identified 108 sources (total area of 67,892.51 km2), 226 corridors (total length of 13,403.49 km), 2801 pinch points (total area of 851.07 km2, and 3657 barrier points (total area of 800.70 km2). Human activities and land use types are the main factors influencing the number and spatial distribution of corridors, ecological pinch points, and barrier points. ESPs constructed at different spatial scales are broadly similar, but significant differences among details were identified. As such, when formulating ecological protection and restoration strategies, the spatial scale should be considered. Moreover, specific programs should be determined based on ESP characteristics to maximize the protection of biodiversity and ecosystem integrity from multiple perspectives and directions.

Urban–ecological landscape connectivity and pattern optimization can significantly enhance biodiversity and sustainable development capacity, which play an important role in continued ecosystem functioning. Previous studies identified ecological sources based on the area threshold method or combination with morphological spatial pattern analysis and the landscape connectivity index (CMSPACI) method, but few studies have compared the advantages, disadvantages, and applicability of the two methods. In this paper, taking Nanchang as the study area, we address the ecological sources via area threshold and the CMSPACI method. Then, the minimum cost distance method is used to generate potential corridors of different methods, and the differences in ecological networks are analyzed. Finally, the circuit theory is used to identify barriers, and we provide targeted recommendations for ecological network pattern optimization in the study area. The results show that (1) the ecological sources extracted by different methods are different. The ecological sources extracted by the area threshold are far away from the surrounding sources, and the landscape connectivity is low. The ecological sources identified by the CMSPACI method are closely related to the surrounding sources, and the landscape connectivity is high. (2) Compared with the area threshold method, the habitat quality of corridors under the CMSPACI method is better, and the interaction intensity between patches is larger. (3) There is little difference in the number of ecological barriers under different methods; all of them are located between patches or on the edge of patches, and most of them are roads or construction land. Overall, the area threshold method is simpler. Ecological sources can be effectively addressed through the CMSPACI method, and the landscape connectivity of the ecological network will be better. This study provides an important reference for the selection of ecological sources in the construction of ecological networks.

Creating an ecological security pattern is crucial for balancing the sustainable development of areas where human activities and the natural environment intersect. Using Hefei, an internationally recognized Wetland City, as a case study, we extracted ecological sources through ecological service function (ESF) analysis and morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) core area connectivity analysis. Based on these ecological sources, we developed an ecological resistance surface system and identified ecological corridors and nodes using circuit theory. The findings are as follows: Ecological source areas: The primary ecological sources in Hefei are located in the water bodies, forested areas, and scattered grasslands in the central and eastern parts of the city. This ecological source area covers 978.96 km 2 , which constitutes 8.55% of the city’s total area. Ecological corridors: Hefei contains 43 ecological corridors with a total length of 940.3 km, averaging 21.87 km each. These corridors are crucial for maintaining ecological connectivity and facilitating species movement. Ecological nodes: There are 13 significant ecological nodes in Hefei, including 6 ecological obstacle points and 7 ecological pinpoints. These nodes play a vital role in supporting ecological processes and ensuring habitat connectivity. Evaluation metrics: The α and β values for the source identification method that integrates MSPA with ecological service functions were 2.15 and 0.8, respectively, which are higher than those of the control group. Conversely, the γ -value was 0.18, lower than that of the control group. These results indicate that the combined ecological source extraction method provides significant advantages in terms of ecological corridor integrity, connectivity, and ecological flow management.

Due to the rapid development of urbanization, land-use types have changed greatly, which has led to many ecological problems. Therefore, the current research objective is to solve the problems in existence in Jinan, so as to determine the existing landscape ecological risks and optimize the landscape structure. Using 2 m high-resolution remote sensing images and related natural economic data, this study evaluated the landscape ecological risk and constructed a full-factor ecological network in Jinan with a landscape ecological risk assessment method (ERI) and a minimum cumulative resistance model (MCR) based on landscape ecology theory. The results showed that: (1) The ERI in Jinan presented a spatial concentration of high value areas in the central and central–eastern regions, while other levels in ERI areas presented a spatial distribution around the ecological regions with high risk. (2) The important corridors were mainly distributed in the south of Jinan, which were stable and not easily destroyed. The corridors in other areas were secondary, mainly passing through cultivated land and urban greenways, which were unstable and susceptible to interference.

The construction of an ecological security pattern (ESP) is an important way to ensure regional ecological security and to achieve sustainable regional development. It is also one of the hotspot topics of landscape ecology research. This paper identifies the ecological source through the evaluation of the ecosystem service and ecosystem sensitivity of the Lanzhou-Xining (Lan-Xi) urban agglomeration. The minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model modified by night light data NPP/VIIRS (National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project/Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) was used to measure the relative resistance of the materials and energy circulation between the source areas, and to establish the resistance surface of the ecological source area expansion. Then ecological corridors were identified based on ecological sources and resistance surface. The ecological strategic node is the ecological fragile point in the ecological corridors. The ecological strategic node is identified with hydrological module by superimposing the “ridge line” of cumulative ecological resistance with the ecological corridor. Combined with ecological sources, corridors and strategic nodes, the ESP of the Lan-Xi urban agglomeration can be constructed. The ecological source of the Lan-Xi urban agglomeration accounts for 28.42% of the total area, most of which is distributed within Qinghai Province. The nature reserves in the area are all located within the ecological source area. A total of 41 potential ecological corridors have been identified in the study area. The total length of the potential corridors is 1201.03 km, comprising 23 source corridors and 18 radiation corridors. There are 30 strategic nodes identified in the Lan-Xi urban agglomeration. These locations are the most vulnerable areas of the ecological corridors. Ecological engineering should be applied in the construction of corridors. Affected by the ecological source, the potential ecological corridor extends from the northwest to the southeast, which is basically consistent with the direction trend of the mountains in the region.