Spatiotemporal pattern evolution analysis of ecological networks based on morphological spatial pattern analysis: a case study of Ningbo City, China.

The exponential expansion of urban areas has precipitated a concomitant deterioration in the natural environment. Constructing ecological networks is vital in improving landscape connectivity, protecting biodiversity, and maintaining regional sustainable development. Ningbo, China, was set as the research area. Geographic information system and morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) were used to determine the ecological source area. Subsequently, the corridor design model Linkage Mapper was used to ascertain and assess the linkages between the designated ecological source areas. The results showed that from 2000-2020, there was a large-scale change in land use type in Ningbo, with increasing complexity of patches and landscape fragmentation. The ecological sources of the three periods in Ningbo were primarily situated in the western, southern, and Hangzhou Bay coastal regions, exhibiting an uneven distribution in the eastern and western areas. The number of primary ecological corridors in Ningbo underwent a significant reduction, from 26 to 17, between the years 2000-2020. In terms of the distribution of ecological corridors, the primary corridors were concentrated in the central, southern, and western regions of the study area in 2000. By 2020, however, the primary ecological corridors within the study region were distributed mainly in a southerly direction. The interaction between north and south ecological sources was weakened, which adversely affected the species spread and ecosystem stability. After optimization, 12 ecological corridors and four ecological nodes were incorporated into Ningbo, 67 ecological breakpoints were identified, and four stepping stone patches were added. The study used spatiotemporal change trends, including land use type and landscape pattern, to examine the ecological network of Ningbo. In conclusion, the proposed optimization strategy is aligned with the current urban development context, offering a particularly pertinent reference point for Ningbo's ecological protection initiatives.