[Spatiotemporal Coupling of Ecological Vulnerability and Urbanization Level and Their Interactive Influencing Factors...

The coordination of ecological construction and urbanization is a guarantee of sustainable regional development and is of great significance in guiding urbanization scientifically and achieving high-quality development. To investigate the correlation between ecological vulnerability and the urbanization process in the GBA， each county was assessed as the evaluation unit. An ecological vulnerability evaluation index system was developed using the pressure-state-response model （PSR）. Additionally， an urbanization level evaluation index system was constructed based on the population-economy-society-space model （PESS）. The study investigated the coupling relationship between ecological vulnerability and urbanization level in the GBA from 2000 to 2020 using the coupled and coordination model. Furthermore， we analyzed the interactive effects of these factors through the bivariate spatial autocorrelation model and geographically weighted regression model （GWR）. The results showed that： ① The ecological vulnerability of the GBA decreased， and the environment was gradually optimized from 2000 to 2020. The vulnerability level was dominated by mild and moderate vulnerability. Spatially， a pattern was basically formed where the ecological environment of the central delta plain was poor while the surrounding hilly areas were good. ② The overall level of urbanization in the GBA has improved， the gap between districts and counties has narrowed， and the level of development has been optimized towards a higher level. Spatially， a pattern of high urbanization in the Pearl River Estuary and adjacent dispersed areas and low urbanization in the surrounding areas has been formed. ③ The coupling coordination degree between ecology and urbanization in the GBA has increased， basically dominated by the barely and moderately coordinated development. The increase in the number of regions with synchronized development and lagging ecological environment implies rapid urbanization， and we need to be alert to the potential harm of lagging development of either system. ④ The results of the interaction indicated that urbanization development led to an increased level of regional ecological vulnerability， while the ecological conditions in the region in turn constrained the sustainable and high-quality development of urbanization. Studies suggested that in the GBA， efforts should focus on promoting the healthy development of ecological environment construction and urbanization level， alleviating the contradiction between urbanization development and ecological environment， with a view to realizing the synergistic development of regional urbanization and ecology.