Impacts of Spatio-Temporal Changes in Anthropogenic Disturbances on Landscape Patterns in the Nandu River Basin, China

Mingjiang Mao, Lingyan Wei, Wenfeng Gong (), Genghong Wu and Tiedong Liu
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Mingjiang Mao: School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Lingyan Wei: School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Wenfeng Gong: School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Genghong Wu: School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Tiedong Liu: School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 7, 1-20

Abstract: We explored the characteristics of landscape pattern (LP) changes in the Nandu River Basin (NRB) and its dynamic response mechanism to anthropogenic disturbance (AD). This is important for ecological protection and for land use decision-making in the basin in the context of the construction of a free trade port. Land use and land cover change (LULCC) data of 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020 were analyzed with the help of the LP index, moving window method, hemeroby index, geo-information atlas, and geographic information system (GIS) spatial analysis to reveal the dynamic changes in LP characteristics in the NRB. Furthermore, this paper discusses into the correlation between LP and AD. The results indicate that over the past three decades, the NRB showed a staggered LP, dominated by forestland and cropland, whose total area has decreased by 25.27 km 2 and 62.75 km 2 , respectively. On the other hand, the built-up land increased by 91.37%. The overall landscape fragmentation, landscape patch homogeneity, and landscape diversity have increased in the NRB. AD is the main reason for the dramatic changes in the LP of urban agglomerations centered in Haikou city. The area of minor disturbance (over 34%) occupies the largest proportion of the land, followed by higher (about 13~25%) and moderate disturbances (about 17~22%). The area of minor and strong disturbances has increased significantly, whereas those of moderate and higher disturbances have significantly decreased. The spatial distribution pattern of AD is gradually increasing from the southwest (natural landscape) to the northeast (human landscape). A transition in areas of low disturbance levels to higher levels is obvious. The area of the atlas that has transitioned from “minor → lighter disturbance (12)” and “higher → minor disturbance (41)” changed changed most significantly during 2000 to 2010 and from 2010 to 2020, occupying 26.79% and 11.99% of the transfer atlas, respectively. All regions encountering disturbances were significantly correlated with the largest patch index (LPI) from 1990 to 2020. The overall AD in the NRB has increased, especially in Haikou. Urbanization is the main factor for an increase in AD. The ecological and environmental management and monitoring in the basin need to be strengthened.

Keywords: LULCC; hemeroby; landscape index; geo-information atlas; Nandu River basin (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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