[Spatial Network Analysis of Coupling Coordination Between Land Use Intensity and Habitat Quality in the Loess...

Exploring the spatiotemporal evolution and coupling relationship between land use intensity and habitat quality is of great significance for achieving harmonious development of the human-land system and scientific management of ecosystems. This study focuses on the Loess Plateau of northern Shaanxi， a typical ecologically fragile region. It applies a coupling coordination model to evaluate the coupling relationship and coordination level between regional land use intensity and habitat quality and introduces a modified gravity model and social network analysis to interpret the spatial network characteristics of their coupling relationship. The results show that： ① The spatial pattern of land use intensity in the study area demonstrated a "high in the central region and low in the northern and southern regions" trend. Areas with low intensity were shrinking and aggregating， while areas with medium and high intensity were expanding and extending. The habitat quality presented a stepped distribution of "low in the north - stable in the central region - high in the south." The average indices were 0.603 4， 0.603 8， 0.603 6， 0.601 5， and 0.597 3， showing a trend of first rising and then falling. ② The coupling coordination degree between land use intensity and habitat quality decreased from 0.718 in 2000 to 0.691 in 2015 and slightly rose to 0.695 in 2020， showing a trend of first fluctuating downward and then rebounding. The spatial distribution was characterized by "high in the central region and differentiation between the north and the south，" and the coordination differences among counties were gradually narrowing. ③ The spatial correlation of coupling coordination degree presented a pattern of "weakening in the central region and strengthening in the north and south." The correlation intensity between energy-rich areas and ecological agricultural areas significantly increased， while the correlation effect in ecologically fragile zones continued to decline. ④ From 2000 to 2020， the spatial association network of coupling coordination remained stable， exhibiting characteristics of moderately low density （0.248 3-0.255 0）， full connectivity， and flattening. The network efficiency slightly increased from 0.811 6 to 0.815 2 and gradually optimized with the advancement of ecological policies. Promoting optimized network governance through zoning management and the establishment of collaborative mechanisms can facilitate the coordinated development of the human-land system in northern Shaanxi.