Land use and landscape pattern changes in the Fenhe River Basin, China

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Environmental Science
• Remote Sensing

Background:

• Ecosystem services are influenced by ecosystem composition and patterns.
• Understanding spatial-temporal dynamics is key for environmental management.
• The Fenhe River Basin's ecological health requires detailed investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the spatial-temporal dynamics of vegetation cover and land use/land cover (LULC) in the Fenhe River Basin from 2010 to 2020.
• To assess changes in Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and LULC patterns.
• To provide insights for ecological management and development in the Yellow River Basin.

Main Methods:

• Trend analysis using Mann-Kendall tests for NDVI variations.
• Quantification of LULC pattern complexity using Shannon's Diversity Index (SHDI).
• Geographic mapping to illustrate spatial-temporal dynamics of NDVI and LULC types.

Main Results:

• Vegetation cover increased annually by 0.003 (P < 0.001), particularly in high-altitude forest and grassland areas.
• Significant decrease in water bodies and wetlands, with the rate slowing after 2015.
• Heterogeneous SHDI values, with lower diversity in high-altitude areas and higher diversity in plains and urban zones.

Conclusions:

• Ecological conditions in the Fenhe River Basin show mixed trends, with improving vegetation but declining water resources.
• Management strategies should address the specific challenges of different LULC types and geographical zones.
• Findings offer valuable references for ecological construction and high-quality development in the Fenhe and Yellow River Basins.