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Study on the threshold relationship between landscape pattern and water quality considering spatial scale effect—a case study of Dianchi Lake Basin in China

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Abstract

It is of great significance to analyze the threshold relationship between landscape pattern and water quality for watershed water environment treatment. However, previous studies did not consider the influence of spatial scale on threshold. Therefore, this study proposed the idea of the relationship between landscape pattern and water quality threshold considering the spatial scale effect to solve the above problems. Firstly, the percentage of landscape composition area under 9 spatial scales (riparian buffer zone and sub-basin) of 20 rivers entering the lake in Dianchi Lake Basin was extracted to identify the optimal spatial scale of landscape pattern and water quality by redundant analysis (RDA). Then, a variety of nonlinear regression models such as power regression, exponential regression, quadratic regression, and segmented regression are used to quantitatively detect the thresholds of landscape pattern and water quality. The results show that (1) the spatial scale has a significant influence on the threshold relationship between landscape pattern and water quality, and the total interpretation rate of landscape pattern on water quality is the largest at the buffer scale of 1100 m riparian zone, which is an effective buffer for river governance. (2) Different spatial scales have different effects on the threshold relationship between landscape pattern and water quality. In the nonlinear regression model of landscape pattern and water quality in the buffer zone of 1100 m riparian zone, the significance and R2 of the equation are better than those of the sub-basin. (3) From the nonlinear relationship between landscape pattern and water quality, it is found that the landscape threshold can be quantitatively identified when the water quality changes abruptly or reaches the I ~ V water quality standard. Among them, the type-1 landscape threshold at the water quality mutation point can be used as the long-term goal of water quality protection in Dianchi Lake Basin, and the type-2 landscape threshold can be used as the short-term goal of water quality adjustment. The research results can provide a scientific basis for the governance of water environment and the rational planning of landscape pattern in Dianchi Lake Basin, and have practical significance for guiding the sustainable development of cities.

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Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to the editor and anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and helpful suggestions.

Funding

This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 42161065, 41461038), Yunnan Province Science and Technology Fundamental Special Key Project (grant number 202001AS070032), Yunnan Province Young and Middle-aged Academic and Technical Leaders Reserve Talent Project (grant number 202105AC160059), and Yunnan Normal University Graduate Research Innovation Fund (grant number YJSJJ21-B80).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Geography, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, 650500, China

    Xincheng Zhong, Quanli Xu & Lijuan Jin

  2. GIS Technology Engineering Research Centre for West-China Resources and Environment of Education-Al Ministry, Kunming, 650500, China

    Xincheng Zhong, Quanli Xu & Lijuan Jin

  3. Center for Geospatial Information Engineering and Technology of Yunnan Province, Kunming, 650500, China

    Xincheng Zhong, Quanli Xu & Lijuan Jin

  4. Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Remote Sensing for Universities in Yunnan, Kunming, 650500, China

    Xincheng Zhong, Quanli Xu & Lijuan Jin

  5. Geomatics Engineering Faculty, Kunming Metallurgy College, Kunming, 650033, China

    Junhua Yi

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  1. Xincheng Zhong
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  2. Quanli Xu
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Contributions

Conceptualization, X.Z, Q.X., J.Y., and L.J.; methodology, X.Z, Q.X., and J.Y.; software, X.Z. and L.J.; validation, X.Z., Q.X., and J.Y.; formal analysis, X.Z. and Q.X.; investigation, X.Z. and J.Y.; resources, Q.X.; data curation, X.Z. and L.J; writing—original draft preparation, X.Z.; writing—review and editing, Q.X. and J.Y.; visualization, X.Z. and L.J.; supervision, Q.X. and J.Y.; funding acquisition, Q.X. and J.Y.; all authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Quanli Xu.

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Responsible Editor: Xianliang Yi

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Zhong, X., Xu, Q., Yi, J. et al. Study on the threshold relationship between landscape pattern and water quality considering spatial scale effect—a case study of Dianchi Lake Basin in China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 44103–44118 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-18970-0

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