Analysis of Landscape Fragmentation Evolution Characteristics and Driving Factors in the Wei River Basin, China

Changzheng Gao, Qisen Dang, Chu Li and Yongming Fan ()
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Changzheng Gao: School of Architecture, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, China
Qisen Dang: School of Architecture, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, China
Chu Li: School of Architecture, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, China
Yongming Fan: School of Architecture, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 3, 1-21

Abstract: Historically, the Wei River has served as part of the Yongji Canal section of the Grand Canal, playing a crucial role in connecting northern and southern China. However, with the acceleration of urbanization in China, issues such as excessive land development and ecological landscape fragmentation have emerged. Exploring the mechanisms of landscape fragmentation evolution in the Wei River basin and proposing optimization strategies is of significant importance for land use and ecological stability within small- to medium-sized river basins. This study selected land use data from the Weihe River basin between 2000 and 2020, using landscape pattern indices to analyze the trend of landscape fragmentation. The principal component analysis (PCA) and geographical detector methods were employed to explore the distribution characteristics and driving factors of landscape fragmentation. The research results indicate that: (1) The degree of landscape fragmentation in the Wei River basin has progressively intensified over time. The edge density index (ED), the landscape division index (DIVISION), the landscape shape index (LSI), and the Shannon diversity index (SHDI) have increased annually, while the contagion index (CONTAG) and area-weighted mean patch size (Area_AM) have continuously decreased; (2) Landscape fragmentation in the Wei River basin is characterized by stable changes in the source and tributary fragmentation areas, a concentrated distribution of fragmentation in the tributaries, and a significant increase in fragmentation in the main stream; (3) The analysis using the geographic detector method indicates that vegetation coverage (FVC), human activity intensity (HAI), and land use/land cover change (LUCC) are the main driving factors of landscape fragmentation in the Wei River basin. The findings explore the mechanisms of landscape fragmentation in the basin and provide a reference for land use planning and ecological restoration in the region.

Keywords: landscape pattern; landscape pattern index; degree of fragmentation; spatiotemporal pattern; geographical detector (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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