Road network expansion and landscape dynamics in the Chaohu Lake wetland: A 20-year analysis

Abstract

Transportation networks are crucial for social and economic development and information exchange. Although China’ has made substantial investments in transportation infrastructure to, foster progress in these areas, these investments have also led to adverse ecological consequences, such as disruption of natural landscapes and destruction of animal habitats. This study investigates the impact of transportation network expansion on landscape patterns in the Chaohu Lake wetland over 20 years. Using Landsat remote sensing imagery, kernel density estimation and landscape index analysis were employed to quantify changes in landscape composition and configuration. Spatial autocorrelation analysis was conducted to examine the spatiotemporal influence of the transportation network and topography on landscape structure and ecology. Additionally, the integrated valuation of ecosystem services and trade-offs model was used to assess the relationship between road construction and habitat quality changes in the Chaohu Lake area. The results indicate a decline in farmland and an increase in construction land, accompanied by an increase in road-network density, particularly in the northwestern and eastern regions over the past 20 years. Road expansion contributed to landscape fragmentation and increased landscape diversity. Between 2012 and 2023, habitat quality in the Chaohu Lake water body remained stable, while urban areas experienced a decline. This study highlights the ecological consequences of transportation infrastructure development and underscores the need to explore mitigation strategies, such as ecological restoration, to minimize the negative impacts of road-network construction on the environment.