Ecological Indicators最新文献

{"title":"How can the natural background and ecological & environment promote the green and sustainable development of Chinese tourist attractions?","authors":"Ning Yan ,&nbsp;Jing Zhang ,&nbsp;Bing Xia ,&nbsp;Shihua Li ,&nbsp;Wen Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112813","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112813","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the context of the global carbon peak and carbon neutrality initiatives and post-pandemic, studying the green and sustainable development of tourist attractions is of great significance for the sustainable utilization of tourism resources. This study focuses on tourist attractions in 30 provinces in China from 2001 to 2019, establishes an input–output indicator system for economic efficiency and eco-efficiency, and uses the Super-SBM model in Data Envelopment Analysis to calculate the economic efficiency and eco-efficiency of tourist attractions in China. To analyze the natural background and environmental driving factors that affect eco-efficiency, as well as the interaction between these factors, using a geographic detector model, and propose a green and sustainable development path for tourist attractions. The research results indicate that the eco-efficiency of Chinese tourist attractions was higher than the economic efficiency, and both showed a downward trend. The proportion of altitude and nature reserve area to the area under the jurisdiction, as well as the total investment in environmental pollution control, have a significant impact on eco-efficiency; The interaction between temperature, precipitation, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and the proportion of nature reserves in the jurisdiction and the total investment in environmental pollution control, is significantly enhanced, indirectly affecting the eco-efficiency of Chinese tourist attractions. Among the natural factors, temperature, precipitation, and NDVI all could interact with altitude to significantly the impacts on the eco-efficiency of Chinese tourist attractions. The research aims to provide a Chinese solution for developing tourist attractions in developing countries similar to China.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 112813"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142662161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Study on spatiotemporal changes of wetlands based on PLS-SEM and PLUS model: The case of the Sanjiang Plain","authors":"Jinhao Shi ,&nbsp;Peng Zhang ,&nbsp;Yang Liu ,&nbsp;Le Tian ,&nbsp;Yazhuo Cao ,&nbsp;Yue Guo ,&nbsp;Ji Li ,&nbsp;Yunhan Wang ,&nbsp;Junhan Huang ,&nbsp;Ri Jin ,&nbsp;Weihong Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112812","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112812","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems and play crucial roles in relation to biodiversity conservation and various ecosystem services. However, rapid urbanization and environmental changes have led to the loss of a significant number of wetlands, making it imperative to understand the driving forces behind wetland changes. This study employed Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and the Patch-generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS) model to investigate the influences of natural factors and urbanization on wetland distribution. Based on the driving factors, simulations were conducted for three scenarios—Natural Increase Scenario (NIS), Economic Development Scenario (EDS), and Wetland Protection Scenario (WPS)—projecting the wetland distribution in the Sanjiang Plain until 2050. Results indicate that from 1990 to 2020, the wetland area increased by 9,548.58 km², with paddy fields increasing by 12,995.73 km² and marsh wetlands decreasing by 1,031.9 km². The factors driving wetland distribution varied across different periods. Between 1990 and 2000, topography and urbanization significantly influenced wetland distribution, whereas climate factors became gradually more significant between 2010 and 2020. Furthermore, in addition to exerting direct impacts on wetland distribution, urbanization and climate factors can indirectly affect wetland distribution by influencing topography and soil. Future development scenarios indicate an inevitable increase in paddy field areas and decrease in wetland areas. This framework provides an effective approach for exploring regional wetland changes and supporting regional wetland conservation and future sustainable development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 112812"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142662163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Innovative reconstruction and evaluation of forest refinement datasets by combining multi-source data: A case study of Guangdong Province","authors":"Yicheng Li ,&nbsp;Zhuo Wu ,&nbsp;Linglong Zhu ,&nbsp;Xiaocheng Huang ,&nbsp;Jianhong Mo","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112788","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112788","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The acquisition and monitoring of forest cover data are crucial for ecological protection, resource management, and climate change research. However, relying on a single data source provides limited data accuracy and does not adequately capture the forest structure and functional attributes. We combined six commonly land cover datasets and forest age, canopy height, above-ground biomass, and tree species distribution datasets to reconstruct 30 m spatially accurate forest refinement dataset (FRD) for Guangdong Province. In addition, the distribution characteristics of forest structure and function were evaluated using forest morphological spatial pattern analysis. The results show that the overall accuracy of FRD of the Guangdong Province in 2020 reached 86.07 %. Forest types in the Guangdong Province were mainly dominated by evergreen needle-leaf forests. <em>Tsuga chinensis</em>, <em>Red cedar,</em> and <em>Pinus sylvestris</em> were more commonly planted. Older and taller trees were found in northern and eastern Guangdong. In addition, forest above-ground biomass (AGB) was larger in the coastal areas of northern and western Guangdong. The core and perforation had the oldest age and the highest tree height, and the islet had the lowest for all forest structure and function indicators. Based on multi-source datasets, this study contributes to a better understanding of the attributes characterizing the structure and function of forests. The refined dataset and research framework will effectively enhance forest management efficiency and policy making, as well as provide case references for research on climate change response, forest conservation and biodiversity assessment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 112788"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142662176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Decoding lake water dynamics to optimize watershed agriculture through isotopic analyses of memory effects and hydrological connectivity","authors":"Junen Wu ,&nbsp;Bin Yang ,&nbsp;Feng Cheng ,&nbsp;Fan Zhao ,&nbsp;Sha Ma ,&nbsp;Xia Yuan ,&nbsp;Huanhuan Zeng ,&nbsp;Cheng Tang ,&nbsp;Kun Yang ,&nbsp;Lei Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112826","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112826","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the complex spatiotemporal dynamics of lake water systems is critical in the context of intensifying global environmental changes. In this study, a novel stable isotope analysis method, combined with Bayesian mixing models, is applied to investigate hydrological connections and water source contributions in a specific area on the southwest shore of Dianchi Lake, China, at a monthly scale. The study reveals a significant “memory effect,” where 56.76% of the lake water volume in the current month is associated with the lake water volume in the prior month, with notable seasonal variations. The relative contributions of precipitation, surface water, soil water for different agricultural land uses, and groundwater to the lake water balance are assessed. The hydrological processes in Dianchi Lake are significantly influenced by agricultural land use, with greenhouse soils contributing less water than open field soils. Water outflow, rather than evaporation, is the primary factor reducing the nearshore lake volume, highlighting the impact of human activities. The dependency of water source contributions on meteorological factors is also examined, with seasonal and weather effects on lake water dynamics and agricultural water availability observed. By integrating isotope data with meteorological records and advanced modeling techniques, a quantitative framework for evaluating hydrological changes in lake catchments is developed. The developed approach enhances our understanding of lake water system dynamics and can enhance agricultural water management strategies, water resource allocation, irrigation planning, and climate change adaptation in agricultural watersheds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 112826"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142662150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ecological health assessment of riparian zone of Yangtze River based on trapezoid cloud model in Jiangsu Province, China","authors":"Yangyang Lu ,&nbsp;Gongxian Fang ,&nbsp;Mingjiang Deng ,&nbsp;Guohua Fang ,&nbsp;Zihan Zhu ,&nbsp;Changran Sun ,&nbsp;Zitong Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112796","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112796","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, the ecological service functions of riparian zones have been destroyed owing to human activities. To perform scientific territorial spatial planning and ecological restoration of the riparian zone, there is an urgent need to develop a targeted evaluation index system and method for riparian zone ecological health. By analyzing the relationship between the riparian zone ecological health, river ecosystems, and human social well-being, the ecological health connotation of the riparian zone was analyzed, and an evaluation index system of riparian ecological health was established based on the pressure-state-response model. To address the problems of randomness and fuzziness in the riparian ecological health assessment process, a riparian ecological health assessment model based on the trapezoid cloud model was established by combining the weights obtained from the improved order relation analysis method with the degree of index certainty obtained from the trapezoid cloud model. The riparian zone of the Yangtze River in Jiangsu Province, China, was selected for the evaluation and analysis. The results show that: (1) the ecological health of the riparian zone in the study area was affected by multiple stress factors, such as urban expansion, port and industrial layout, and agricultural cultivation; however, the land-use change pressure was alleviated in the past 10 years; (2) compared with the traditional order relation method and cloud model, the combination of the improved order relation analysis method and trapezoid cloud model showed higher rationality and applicability; and (3) according to the evaluation results, PEH, SEH, REH, and EH in the study area showed a significant improvement trend from 2013 to 2023. The regions rated as “Weak” and “ Relatively Weak” are mainly concentrated in the areas along the Yangtze River, such as Nanjing, Zhenjiang and Yangzhou, and the areas around the Yangtze River estuary. These regions face greater ecological pressure owing to intensive heavy chemical industries, and there is an urgent need to develop corresponding ecological management and restoration countermeasures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 112796"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142662151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Monitoring water clarity of lakes in the Middle-Lower Yangtze Plain using Landsat observations (1984–2023)","authors":"Miaomiao Chen ,&nbsp;Fei Xiao ,&nbsp;Zhou Wang ,&nbsp;Yadong Zhou ,&nbsp;Wangzheng Shen ,&nbsp;Qi Feng ,&nbsp;Enhua Li ,&nbsp;Yun Du","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112825","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112825","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Using the improved Quasi-Analytical Algorithm (QAA) and Landsat data, we documented the long-term changes in water clarity of the 17 largest lakes in the Middle-Lower Yangtze Plain from 1984 to 2023. A comprehensive dataset with over 4600 water clarity maps, reconstructed from 2511 Landsat series images, was compiled. The water clarity changes of these 17 lakes have a clear seasonal variation pattern, with the highest in summer and the lowest in winter. Over the past 40 years, water clarity of 59 % lakes shows a downward trend, with Junshan Lake showing the highest decrease rate of −0.0231 m/yr. 41 % lakes water clarity are showing an upward trend. From 1984 to 1990, the highest average <span><math><msub><mi>Z</mi><mrow><mi>SD</mi></mrow></msub></math></span> (Secchi disk depth) values were recorded in Changhu Lake, Junshan Lake, Honghu Lake, Futou Lake, and Gehu Lake. These lakes, however, experienced the most significant declines compared to period from 2021 to 2023. Chaohu Lake, Taihu Lake, Caizi Lake, and Nanyi Lake, which had the lowest average <span><math><msub><mi>Z</mi><mrow><mi>SD</mi></mrow></msub></math></span> during 1984–1990, showed the most substantial increases. Analyzing the monthly distribution of water level and <span><math><msub><mi>Z</mi><mrow><mi>SD</mi></mrow></msub></math></span> data reveals that water clarity exhibits different seasonal variations in relation to water levels. The comprehensive dataset and analysis provide a crucial scientific basis for informed water resource management and policy-making in the region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 112825"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142662094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Developing an early warning land degradation indicator based on geostatistical analysis of Ecosystem Functional Types dynamics","authors":"Cristina Domingo-Marimon ,&nbsp;Małgorzata Jenerowicz-Sanikowska ,&nbsp;Lluís Pesquer ,&nbsp;Marek Ruciński ,&nbsp;Michał Krupiński ,&nbsp;Edyta Woźniak ,&nbsp;Anna Foks-Ryznar ,&nbsp;Mohammad Abdul Quader","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112815","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112815","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Identifying and quantifying ecosystem degradation and recovery is of critical importance for ecosystem health, biodiversity, food security and the livelihoods of local communities. Remote sensing datasets and techniques, particularly land cover maps, provide crucial data for capturing spatial and temporal changes, supporting informed decision-making and targeted interventions. However, these maps often emphasize structural rather than functional attributes and, also due to their thematic and temporal resolution, may not detect early degradation signs. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Ecosystem Functional Attributes (EFAs) and Ecosystem Functional Types (EFTs) as early warning indicators of ecosystem degradation. Using Sentinel-2 derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data from 2016 to 2022, we conducted qualitative and quantitative EFA/EFT analysis on two fragile protected areas, Moyowosi Game Reserve (Kigoma region, Tanzania) and the Sheikh Jamal Inani National Park (Cox’s Bazar district, Bangladesh). Firstly, EFA analysis characterized vegetation productivity and seasonality, revealing temporal trends and spatial patterns of change. Secondly, EFTs served as indicators of change levels. Our findings showed significant insights into productivity shifts due to human activities and climate anomalies, identifying specific temporal events and turning points. Variogram-based geostatistical analysis highlighted changes in vegetation diversity’s spatial distribution. Integrating EFA/EFT analysis with geostatistical methods proved effective for early detection of land degradation, surpassing traditional land cover change analysis. Hence, the presented approach forms a robust framework for an early warning system, aimed at monitoring and evaluating environmentally fragile areas and aiding decision-makers in mitigating environmental degradation and promoting sustainable land management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 112815"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142662164","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatiotemporal evolutionary characteristics of vegetation restoration after historical earthquake landslides from 1985 to 2020: A case study of Tianshui City, China","authors":"Xing Su ,&nbsp;Jing Jia ,&nbsp;Jun Zhang ,&nbsp;Xia Li ,&nbsp;Manyin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112798","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112798","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Earthquakes occurring in mountainous regions have the potential to trigger a significant proliferation of landslides, greatly change the landforms, and exert a long-term impact on vegetation. Since the resurrection of ancient landslides has shown an upward trend in recent years, exploring the vegetation restoration and landslide activity of historical seismic landslides can prevent the occurrence of disasters in the future. In this study, we offer a novel calculation method for the evaluation of vegetation restoration of historical seismic landslides. There were 469 landslides in our study area that encompassed a total area of 87.70 km². Based on the 30-m resolution normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data of the Tianshui City area from 1985 to 2020, which was used to quantify the vegetation restoration and landslide activity in the landslide area, we adopted the indicators of vegetation cover and vegetation restoration rate. In our analysis, the NDVI and FVC of the landslide area showed a fluctuating increase, the vegetation recovery rate of the landslide area using both VRR_M and VRR_N calculations demonstrated an increasing trend, and the number of active landslides decreased. However, the results of the VRR_N calculation more accurately assessed the vegetation recovery of the landslide area in the long term, and proved that recovery was superior in 1990. The restoration of vegetation was affected by regional precipitation, altitude, human activities, and disaster activities; and landslides in the study area recovered least in 1990–1995 and most in 2005–2020. The present study of vegetation restoration for a disaster area provides a reference for the restoration, utilization, planning, and related research of landslide disasters in the region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 112798"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142662232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reduced sampling intensity through key sampling site selection for optimal characterization of riverine fish communities by eDNA metabarcoding","authors":"Charlotte Van Driessche ,&nbsp;Teun Everts ,&nbsp;Sabrina Neyrinck ,&nbsp;Io Deflem ,&nbsp;Dries Bonte ,&nbsp;Rein Brys","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112807","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112807","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Effective conservation management of river systems requires a comprehensive understanding of local and regional biodiversity, necessitating accurate characterization of species communities. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has emerged as a pivotal tool for assessing aquatic organisms, especially fish communities. However, optimal sampling resolution and site positioning to obtain robust fish diversity indices across heterogeneous river systems remain inadequately understood. This study empirically evaluates the optimal number of eDNA samples needed to accurately capture diversity both locally and stream-wide across three distinct river systems, comparing eDNA metabarcoding results to traditional electrofishing data. Habitat and landscape factors were characterized to interpret the localisation of key sampling sites contributing most to the overall species richness. We detected 30 fish species via eDNA metabarcoding, compared to 28 species by electrofishing, with eDNA requiring fewer sampling sites per river system. To reach ≥ 95 % of the estimated species richness, eDNA analyses required between one and nine sites across three river systems spanning ten kilometres each. In the most diverse river, a single eDNA sampling site even achieved a higher species richness (n = 20 species) compared to the nine required sites to reach ≥ 95 % of the estimated species richness via electrofishing (n = 9 species). To account for eDNA particle dilution and degradation over larger distances (&gt;1 km), sampling at both upstream and downstream sites may be crucial, with strategic site selection further refined by factors like adjacent stream inflows, substrate type, and river discharge rate, all of which influence species-specific habitat occupancy. On a smaller scale, the location of key sampling sites only moderately differs within 100-meter transects therewith informing on the precise placement of those sampling sites. Our work highlights the robustness and cost-effectiveness of eDNA analyses for riverine biodiversity assessment, demonstrating strong potential for enhancing various conservation practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 112807"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142662095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Urban expansion, economic development, and carbon emissions: Trends, patterns, and decoupling in mainland China’s provincial capitals (1985–2020)","authors":"Jiahui Zhao ,&nbsp;Wei Chen ,&nbsp;Zixuan Liu ,&nbsp;Wei Liu ,&nbsp;Keyan Li ,&nbsp;Bei Zhang ,&nbsp;Yonggen Zhang ,&nbsp;Le Yu ,&nbsp;Tetsuro Sakai","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112777","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112777","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In 2020, the Chinese government set the objective of achieving carbon neutrality, making it essential to understand the urbanization process in order to effectively implement future sustainable development strategies. Here, we demonstrate the urbanization development of 31 provincial capitals in mainland China from 1985 to 2020, including changes in impervious surfaces, socio-economic development, carbon emissions, and population. Using elasticity coefficients and the carbon emissions causal equation for quantitative analysis, we explore the relationships among these factors. We found that the national urban expansion rate experienced rapid growth, followed by a slowdown, with the peak occurring between 2000 and 2005. In just 40 years, total urban area expanded from 11,280 km² to 40,429 km², with eastern cities growing faster than those in the west. Despite similar trends, different cities displayed four distinct spatial characteristics, shaped by factors such as topography, transportation, and policies. Moreover, urban economic development is gradually decoupling from carbon emissions, accompanied by a declining reliance on urban area expansion and a reduced growth rate of carbon emissions. A strong decoupling trend between economic growth and carbon emissions has already emerged in the South &amp; Central and Northwest regions, offering a preliminary explanation for the observed slowdown in carbon emissions. The study provides a comprehensive overview of the urbanization process in mainland China, highlighting low-carbon urban transformations and revealing how government policies have significantly shaped the development patterns of Chinese cities. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers to further promote sustainable development goals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 112777"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142662174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}