Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Driving Force of Ecosystem Health in an Important Ecological Function Region in China

Wei Shen, Zhicheng Zheng, Yaochen Qin and Yang Li
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Wei Shen: College of Environment and Planning, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Zhicheng Zheng: College of Environment and Planning, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Yaochen Qin: College of Environment and Planning, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Yang Li: College of Environment and Planning, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-19

Abstract: Quantitative assessment can scientifically determine the health status of a regional ecosystem, identify regional eco-environmental problems, and assist in promoting regional sustainable development and environmental management. Taking China’s important ecological function region, the Yellow River affected area as an example, this study constructed an extended evaluation index system based on the pressure-state-response framework, and remote sensing and GIS techniques were used to dynamically evaluate the spatial and temporal characteristics of ecosystem health in the study area. Furthermore, influencing factors on ecosystem health in the study area were extensively analyzed using the GeoDetector model. The results show that the ecosystem health level in the study area shows significant spatial heterogeneity from 1995–2015, and showed a fluctuating change process. Areas with large fluctuations in health level were mainly distributed in extreme climate areas, ecologically fragile areas, on plains and in hilly areas. Spatial differences of ecosystem health were well explained by using the biological abundance index, relief degree of land surface, soil type, annual average precipitation, elevation, annual average temperature, and population density. Influencing factors have significant interactive effects on ecosystem health.

Keywords: ecosystem health; driving force; Geodetector model; affected area; Yellow River (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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