Search Results (123)

Ecological security evaluation serves as the cornerstone for ecological management decision-making and spatial optimization. This study focuses on the Dongping Lake Basin. Based on the Pressure–State–Response (PSR) model framework, it integrates ecological risk, ecosystem health, and ecosystem service indicators. Utilizing methods including Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA), Transition Matrix, and GeoDetector, it analyzes the spatio-temporal evolution characteristics and driving mechanisms of watershed ecological security from 2000 to 2020. The findings reveal that the Watershed Ecological Security Index (WESI) exhibited a trend of “fluctuating upward followed by periodic decline”. In 2000, the status was “relatively unsafe”. It peaked in 2015 (index 0.332, moderately safe) and experienced a slight decline by 2020. Spatially, a significantly clustered pattern of “higher in the north and lower in the south, higher in the east and lower in the west” was observed. In 2020, “High-High” clusters of ecological security aligned closely with Shandong Province’s ecological conservation red line, concentrating in core protected areas such as the foothills of the Taihang Mountains and Dongping Lake Wetland. Level transitions were characterized by “predominant continuous improvement in low levels alongside localized reverse fluctuations in middle and high levels,” with the “relatively unsafe” and “moderately safe” levels experiencing the largest transfer areas. Geographical detector analysis indicates that the Human Interference Index (HI), Ecosystem Service Value (ESV), and Annual Afforestation Area (AAA) were key drivers of watershed ecological security change, influenced by dynamic interactive effects among multiple factors. This study advances watershed-scale ecological security assessment methodologies. The revealed spatio-temporal patterns and driving mechanisms provide valuable insights for protecting the ecological barrier in the lower Yellow River and informing ecological security strategies within the Dongping Lake Watershed. Full article

Understanding the relationship between regional vegetation dynamics and water resources is essential for improving integrated vegetation–water management, enhancing ecosystem services, and advancing the sustainable development of ecological–economic–social systems. As China’s second largest river basin, the Yellow River Basin (YRB) is ecologically fragile and experiences severe water scarcity. Vegetation changes further intensify conflicts between water supply and demand. To investigate the evolution and interaction mechanisms between vegetation and water resources in the YRB, this study uses the InVEST model to simulate annual water yield (Wyield) from 1982 to 2020 and applies the Dimidiate Pixel Model (DPM) to estimate fractional vegetation cover (FVC). The Theil–Sen method is applied to quantify the spatiotemporal trends of Wyield and FVC. A pixel-based second-order partial correlation analysis is performed to clarify the intrinsic relationship between FVC and Wyield at the grid scale. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) During the statistical period (1982–2020), the multi-year average annual Wyield in the YRB was 73.15 mm. Interannual Wyield showed a clear fluctuating trend, with an initial decline followed by a subsequent increase. Wyield showed marked spatial heterogeneity, with high values in the southern upper reaches and low values in the Longzhong Loess Plateau and Hetao Plain. During the same period, about 68.74% of the basin experienced increasing Wyield, while declines were concentrated in the upper reaches. (2) The average FVC across the basin was 0.51, showing a significant increasing trend during the statistical period. The long-term average FVC showed significant spatial heterogeneity, with high values in the Fenwei Plain, Shanxi Basin, and Taihang Mountains, and low values in the Loess Plateau and Hetao Plain. Spatially, 68.74% of the basin exhibited significant increases in FVC, mainly in the middle and lower reaches, while decreases were mostly in the upper reaches. (3) Areas with significant FVC–Wyield correlations covered a small portion of the basin: trade-off regions made up 10.35% (mainly in the southern upper reaches), and synergistic areas accounted for 5.26% (mostly in the Hetao Plain and central Loess Plateau), both dominated by grasslands and croplands. Mechanistic analysis revealed spatiotemporal heterogeneity in FVC–Wyield relationships across the basin, influenced by both natural drivers and anthropogenic activities. This study systematically explores the patterns and interaction mechanisms of FVC and Wyield in the YRB, offering a theoretical basis for regional water management, ecological protection, and sustainable development. Full article

The near-surface air temperature lapse rate (SATLR) is a crucial parameter in climate, hydrology, and ecology research conducted in mountainous regions. However, existing research has difficulty characterizing its dynamic changes on an hourly scale. Obtaining data with high spatiotemporal resolution in complex terrains using existing methods poses challenges. This study introduces a hierarchical method for estimating SATLR at high spatiotemporal resolutions based on Fengyun-4A (FY-4A) Advanced Geostationary Radiation Imager (AGRI) land surface temperature (LST) data and machine learning techniques. Based on reconstructed FY-4A AGRI LST data, this study downscales the 4 km resolution data to a 1 km resolution using machine learning. It then estimates the spatial distribution of near-surface air temperature (SAT) and normalized near-surface air temperature (nSAT) by integrating station observations. Subsequently, high spatiotemporal resolution SATLRs are estimated, and their spatial and temporal distribution characteristics in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei mountainous region are analyzed. The results indicate that the SATLR exhibits a predominant distribution of 2~6 °C/km annually across the study area. However, in specific regions such as Taihang Mountains in the southwest, Damajun Mountain in the northwest, and certain areas of central Beijing City, the SATLR exceeds 6 °C/km in depth. Conversely, in Chengde City in the northeast and Huapiling in Damajun Mountain in the northwest, the SATLR is shallower than 2 °C/km. Seasonally, the average SATLR displays significant variation, with 3~5 °C/km being prevalent in spring, summer, and autumn, and 2~4 °C/km in winter. Moreover, the diurnal SATLR patterns from the second to fifth altitude grades exhibit consistency throughout the year and across seasons, albeit with varying overall values at different altitudes. Notably, the SATLR of the first altitude grade demonstrates stability within a day at lower elevations. Full article

Based on the fundamental principles of spatial heterogeneity and landscape ecology, landscape mosaic (LM) offers a more effective method for capturing variations in landscape spatial components, patterns, and ecological functions compared to land use and land cover (LULC). This advantage is particularly pronounced when employing the InVEST model to evaluate habitat quality (HQ), as field surveys often yield highly variable results that challenge the accuracy and applicability of LULC-based assessments. This paper focuses on the Taihang Mountain area in Hebei Province as the study region, utilizing the Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Self-Organizing Map (SOM), and Euclidean Distance (ED) model to achieve LM classification of the area. Based on this, the InVEST-HQ assessment is conducted, employing both OLS and GWR models to analyze the correlation between HQ and LM landscape patterns. The results indicate that (1) seven major LULC types were reclassified into nine pillar LM types and eleven transitional LM types, with a significant number of ecotone types emerging between different LULC types, among which cultivated land plays the most prominent role; (2) from 2000 to 2020, the overall HQ in the study area exhibited a continuous deterioration trend, particularly marked by a notable increase in functional areas of HQ areas classified as Level I; (3) factors such as the complexity of patch edges, the continuity between patches, and the diversity of patch types all significantly impact HQ. This study introduces an innovative methodological framework for HQ assessment using LM classifications within InVEST model, offering a robust foundation for comprehensive biodiversity monitoring and informed ecological management in the study area. Full article

Traditional villages contain rich natural and humanistic information, and exploring the spatial distribution characteristics and cultural landscape zoning of traditional villages can provide scientific support for their centralized and continuous protection and renewal and sustainable development. In this study, 326 traditional villages in the northern Henan region were taken as the research object, followed by analyzing their spatial distribution characteristics by using geostatistical methods, such as nearest-neighbor index, imbalance index, geographic concentration index, etc., combining the theory of cultural landscape to construct the traditional villages’ cultural factor index system, extracting the cultural factors of the traditional villages to form a database, and adopting the K-means clustering method to divide the region. The results show that the spatial distribution of traditional villages in northern Henan tends to be concentrated overall, with an uneven distribution throughout the region. The density is highest in the northwestern part of Hebi City and lower in the central and southern parts of Xinxiang City, Neihuang County, and Puyang City. Based on the cultural factor index system, the K-means algorithm divides the traditional villages in northern Henan into six clusters. Among them, the five cultural factors of topography and geomorphology, building materials, courtyard form, structural system, and altitude and elevation are the most significant, and they are the cultural factors that dominate the landscape of the villages. There is a significant correlation between topography, altitude, and other cultural factors, while the correlation between the street layout and other factors is the lowest. Based on the similarity between the clustering results and the landscape characteristics, the traditional villages in northern Henan can be divided into the stone masonry building culture area along the Taihang Mountains, the brick and stone mixed building culture area in the low hills of the Taihang Mountains, the brick and wood building culture area in the North China Plain, and the raw soil building culture area in the transition zone of the Loess Plateau. Full article

In the Taihang Mountain Tourism Development Plan (2020–2035), the Taihang Mountain Expressway is included in the construction of the National Tourism Scenic Road around Taihang Mountain to promote the integrated development of regional transportation and tourism. The Lai-Qu Expressway is part of the Baoding section of the Taihang Mountain Expressway. Based on the data of traffic flow on the Lai-Qu Expressway, data of regional tourism resources, and data of regional economic and social development, this paper studies the interaction between the traffic and tourism space of the Lai-Qu Expressway by using spatial interaction, geographically weighted regression (GWR), and other geospatial analysis theories and methods. The results show that the traffic flow of the Baishishan Tollgate is directly correlated with the passenger flow of the Baishishan scenic spot. The spatial pattern of two tourism resource cluster centers and one sub-center, and one residential cluster center and one sub-center is expected to be formed along the Lai-Qu Expressway. The newly built traffic routes extend the influence of the traffic space and overlaps with the regional tourism space, not only providing new opportunities and possibilities for the development of regional tourism, but also promoting the change in the regional tourism spatial pattern and the cluster form of tourism resources. The research on the interaction between the traffic–tourism space in this paper can help to enrich the theoretical connotation of the research on the integration of transport and tourism, and can also be used to evaluate the tourism impact of newly built transport routes and serve the regional tourism development. Full article

Ecological transition zones spanning semi-humid to semi-arid regions pose distinctive monitoring challenges owing to their climatic vulnerability and geomorphic diversity. This study focuses on Shanxi Province, a typical ecologically fragile area in the Loess Plateau of China. Based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) datasets, we established the Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) series from 2000 to 2024 for Shanxi Province. The Theil–Sen Median, Mann–Kendall, and Hurst indices were comprehensively applied to systematically analyze the spatiotemporal differentiation patterns of ecological environmental quality. Furthermore, geodetector-based quantification elucidated the synergistic interactions among topographic, climatic, and anthropogenic drivers. The results indicate the following: (1) From 2000 to 2024, ecological restoration initiatives have shaped an “aggregate improvement-localized degradation” paradigm, with medium-quality territories persistently accounting for 30–40% of the total land area. (2) Significant spatial heterogeneity exists, with the Lüliang Mountain area in the west and the Datong Basin in the north being core degradation zones, while the Taihang Mountain area in the east shows remarkable improvement. However, Theil–Sen Median–Hurst index predictions reveal that 60.07% of the improved areas face potential trend reversal risks. (3) The driving mechanisms exhibit spatial heterogeneity, where land use type, temperature, precipitation, elevation, and slope serve as global dominant factors. This research provides scientific support for formulating differentiated ecological restoration strategies, establishing ecological compensation mechanisms, and optimizing territorial spatial planning in Shanxi Province, contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals. Full article

Understanding ecological niche evolution patterns is crucial for elucidating biogeographic history and guiding biodiversity conservation. Taxus is a Tertiary relict gymnosperm with 11 lineages mainly distributed across East Asia, spanning from tropical to subarctic regions. However, the spatiotemporal dynamics of its ecological niche evolution and the roles of ecological and geographical factors in lineage diversification, remain unclear. Using occurrence records, environmental data, and reconstructed phylogenies, we employed ensemble ecological niche models (eENMs), environmental principle components analysis (PCA-env), and phyloclimatic modeling to analyze niche similarity and evolution among 11 Taxus lineages. Based on reconstructed Bayesian trees and geographical distribution characteristics, we classified the eleven lineages into four clades: Northern (T. cuspidata), Central (T. chinensis, T. qinlingensis, and the Emei type), Western (T. wallichiana, T. florinii, and T. contorta), and Southern (T. calcicola, T. phytonii, T. mairei, and the Huangshan type). Orogenic activities and climate changes in the Tibetan Plateau since the Late Miocene likely facilitated the local adaptation of ancestral populations in Central China, the Hengduan Mountains, and the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau, driving their expansion and diversification towards the west and south. Key environmental variables, including extreme temperature, temperature and precipitation variability, light, and altitude, were identified as major drivers of current niche divergence. Both niche conservatism and divergence were observed, with early conservatism followed by recent divergence. The Southern clade exhibits high heat and moisture tolerance, suggesting an adaptive shift, while the Central and Western clades retain ancestral drought and cold tolerance, displaying significant phylogenetic niche conservatism (PNC). We recommend prioritizing the conservation of T. qinlingensis, which exhibits the highest PNC level, particularly in the Qinling, Daba, and Taihang Mountains, which are highly degraded and vulnerable to future climate fluctuations. Full article

The extreme rainstorm flood disaster in Beijing on 31 July 2023 resulted in 33 fatalities and 18 missing persons, with direct economic losses across the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei metropolitan area exceeding RMB 10 billion. Despite its inland location, which is not conventionally classified as a flood-prone zone, Beijing is not conventionally considered a flood-prone region, yet it frequently experiences flood disasters, which has led to confusion and perplexity. This article collects records of historical flooding disasters in Beijing over the past 1000 years, spanning the Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the Republics of China, and the founding of New China up to the present, aiming to analyze the basic patterns and characteristics of regional historical flooding disasters. Taking the extreme rainstorm flood disaster in Beijing on 31 July 2023 as an example, this research employs a multidisciplinary approach, including field investigations and numerical simulations, to dissect the disaster-causing mechanisms. The study shows that the significant characteristics of historical flood disasters in Beijing are concentrated in the plain area and the high-frequency outbreaks (below the 3-year return period). Flood disaster events under the participation of typhoons accounted for a high proportion and caused great harm. The extreme rainstorm flood disaster in Beijing on 31 July 2023 was an extreme weather event under the complex coupling of typhoons and terrain. The residual typhoon circulation stayed on the mainland for nearly 70 h, providing abundant precipitation conditions for Beijing. Water vapor is blocked by the Yanshan–Taihang Mountains, uplifting and converging, forming a strong precipitation center in the Piedmont, which aggravates the regional local precipitation intensity. The research results can provide a reference for the scientific prevention and control of typhoon rainstorm flood disasters in Beijing. Full article

It is essential to understand the characteristics of surface runoff generating processes under different heavy rainfall events in mountainous areas. The intensity and duration of precipitation play an important role in surface runoff processes. In this study, annual rainfall characteristics from 1987 to 2023 in the Taihang Mountains were analyzed using the Pearson-III frequency curve, homogeneity tests, and the Mann–Kendall (MK) test. Four surface runoff generation events between 2014 and 2023 were monitored. The contribution of rainfall to runoff variations was quantified through the double mass curve method. Results indicate a significant increase in the frequency of moderate and heavy rainfall events over the last decade. Spatial variability of rainfall and elevation effects in the Taihang Mountains becomes less pronounced when 24 h rainfall is below 50 mm. The two surface runoff processes in 2016 and 2023 were typical runoff resulting from excess rain, which belonged to the storm runoff. The two surface runoff processes in 2021 were runoff generation under saturated conditions. For runoff generation under saturated conditions, the contribution of rainfall was only 58.17%. When the runoff coefficient exceeded 0.5, the surface runoff generating processes were entirely determined by rainfall. This study suggested that for semi-arid regions, where rainfall is unevenly distributed over the seasons, more soil water is needed to maintain local and downstream water demand during the non-rainy season. The limitations of the study are the lack of research on factors other than rainfall that intrinsically affect the surface runoff generating process. Full article

Land transfer is a key issue affecting ecosystem services and carbon storage. Land use change can promote or inhibit carbon emission. To study these impacts, a carbon flow model for Lvzenong Park, Yi County, Taihang Mountains, China, was developed using Odum’s energy systems language. The model simulates carbon flow and storage changes from 2015 to 2115 and analyzes changes in ecosystem service values using the equivalent factor method. Finally, two scenarios of economic development and carbon sink protection are set, and the evolution characteristics of carbon storage and ecosystem service under different scenarios are discussed. The key findings include the following: (1) From 2015 to 2115, carbon storage in apple orchards, forests, and grassland systems initially increase then decrease, while soil carbon storage declines steadily and the overall atmospheric CO₂ carbon pool increases. Ecosystem service value decreases by 71.30%. (2) Economic development positively affects apple orchards and atmospheric CO₂ carbon storage but negatively impacts grassland carbon storage. Conversely, carbon sink protection benefits grassland and soil carbon storage but harms the atmospheric CO₂ carbon pool. (3) Under economic development, ecosystem service values initially increase then decline, while under carbon sink protection, they generally rise. These findings provide scientific guidance for formulating land transfer policies and promoting low-carbon development in mountainous regions. Full article

The source of sulfate in the groundwater of karst springs in the northern Taihang Mountains remains unclear due to the influence of multiple factors. To investigate this, 33 sampling points were selected in August 2022 across the exposed, covered, and buried areas of the spring basin, and water samples were collected. Hydrochemistry and sulfur–oxygen dual isotope methods were employed to examine the distribution characteristics of sulfate, δ¹⁸O_SO4, and δ³⁴S_SO4. Based on the distinct characteristics of sulfur isotopes from different sources, the sources of sulfate in various environments were qualitatively analyzed. Additionally, the contribution rates of each source were quantitatively determined using a Bayesian stable isotope mixing model. The results showed that the sulfate content in karst groundwater ranged from 16.68 to 156.84 mg/L, with an average of 62.22 mg/L, and indicated an increasing trend from exposed to covered to buried areas. The δ³⁴S_SO4 values in karst groundwater ranged from 3.1‰ to 13.5‰, with an average of 6.49‰, while the δ¹⁸O_SO4 values ranged from 2.9‰ to 10.3‰, with an average of 5.49‰. The δ³⁴S_SO4 values showed a general increasing trend across the exposed, covered, and buried areas, whereas the δ¹⁸O_SO4 values remained relatively stable across these areas. The analysis revealed that the primary sulfate sources in the exposed area were atmospheric precipitation, soil sulfate, chemical fertilizer, and sewage, contributing 19.6%, 63.5%, 9.4%, and 7.5%, respectively. In the covered area, the main sources were atmospheric precipitation, sulfide oxidation, soil sulfate, and gypsum dissolution, with contributions of 16.5%, 58.7%, 15.9%, and 8.9%, respectively. In the buried area, the sulfate primary originated from atmospheric precipitation, sulfide oxidation, and gypsum dissolution, contributing 11.6%, 78.5%, and 9.9%, respectively. This study provides critical insights into the sulfate sources in different environments, enhancing the understanding of groundwater sulfate pollution in the study area. These findings provide a scientific foundation for managing groundwater pollutants and resources in the karst regions of northern China. Full article

Mountains are crucial for essential ecosystem services that are foundational to ecological restoration and conservation. The Taihang Mountains are a key water recharge zone and ecological barrier in northern China. Yet, research on the spatial heterogeneity of ecosystem service trade-offs and synergies in this region remains scarce. This study addresses this gap by examining the spatiotemporal evolution, spatial heterogeneity, and the dynamic interplay between ecosystem service trade-offs and synergies in the Taihang Mountains, employing the multidimensional analysis method of time and space. Key findings from 2005 to 2020 show a significant CNY 2.665 billion increase in overall ecosystem service value in the Taihang Mountains. Spatially, soil conservation increased in the central and eastern regions, while water supply similarly increased in the northern region. Regarding spatial autocorrelation, the spatial distribution of these services was predominantly characterized by clusters of high–high and non-significant values. Regarding the spatiotemporal differentiation of trade-offs and synergies in ecosystem services, synergies prevail, with significant spatial disparities between trade-off and synergistic areas, where trade-offs are relatively scattered. Comprehending the interactions, trade-offs, and synergies among ecosystem services is crucial for natural resource allocation in the Taihang Mountains. This understanding facilitates resolving conflicts between economic and environmental goals, promoting harmonious regional development. Full article

Since entering the process of industrialization, human activities have interfered with the original ecological environment, and the expansion of cities has also impacted the ecological service function. In order to maintain the balance of the ecosystem and the stability of ecological security, it is very important to establish an ecological security network (ESN), particularly in transitional geospace. To address this, we proposed a framework for mountainous transitional geospace by morphological spatial pattern analysis and circuit theory. Taihang Mountain area is applied as a case, establishing a suitable evaluation system for the mountainous transitional geospace. Using circuit theory to quantitively construct the ESN, it was found that there are 34 ecological sources in the Taihang Mountain area. The corridors primarily run north–south in the east and west but display a mesh-like layout in the central and southern parts. These elements integrated an ESN of “four zones and three lines”. Key ecological pinch point areas are primarily in plains or plateaus, and ecological barrier restoration areas are mainly in basins and mountainous areas. The study provides recommendations for protection and restoration work in the Taihang Mountain area, which hold both theoretical and practical significance for ecological planning. Full article

With rapid economic development and the change in land use patterns, the region faces the environmental challenge of increasing carbon emission risk. The research on analyzing and identifying carbon emission risk of land use is helpful to realize regional sustainable development. This study takes the Yanshan-Taihang Mountain area of Hebei Province as a case study. Based on the remote sensing monitoring data of land use in 2010, 2015, and 2020, the carbon emissions of land use are calculated by direct and indirect calculation methods. Then, the carbon footprint pressure index and land use carbon emission risk index are introduced to analyze the temporal and spatial differentiation characteristics of land use carbon emission risk in the study area. The findings indicate that carbon emissions associated with land use in the study area initially exhibited an increasing trend, followed by a subsequent decline over time. In space, the high-value areas of carbon emissions are mainly distributed in the south of the study area, and the low-value areas of carbon emissions are mainly concentrated in the northeast of the study area. The region experiences significant carbon-cycling pressure and environmental risk, with the proportion of counties in carbon balance areas decreasing from 27.27% in 2010 to 18.18% in 2020, and the proportion of counties in carbon imbalance areas increasing from 72.72% in 2010 to 81.82% in 2020. The carbon emission risk of land use is divided into micro-risk area, low-risk area, medium-risk area, high-risk area, and severe-risk area. From 2010 to 2020, there was an 18.18% increase in the percentage of counties classified as high-risk and severe-risk areas. Additionally, the regions identified as hotspots for land use emissions exhibited a trend in expansion. This phenomenon indicates that these areas have not successfully managed to mitigate environmental pollution or ensure the sustainable use of resources in the context of their economic development efforts. This series of dynamic changes shows that the study area is facing the challenge of increasing carbon emission risk from land use. Governments at all levels should strengthen environmental governance in high-risk areas, implement stricter land use policies, and promote green development and cleaner production to attain a mutually beneficial outcome for both economic development and ecological protection. Full article