Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Spatiotemporal Evolution and Influencing Factors of Landscape Ecological Vulnerability in the Three-River-Source National Park Region

  • Published:
Chinese Geographical Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The increasing impact of global warming and human activities has exacerbated the ecological environment in the Three-River-Source National Park Region (TNPR). Understanding the temporal and spatial evolution of landscape ecological vulnerability (LEV) and its influencing factors are crucial to the implementation of environmental management. Here, we aimed to: 1) construct a LEV assessment model integrating landscape structure and function; 2) analyze the temporal and spatial evolution of TNPR’s LEV from 1995 to 2015; 3) use geographic detectors to reveal the regional influence factors of TNPR’s LEV. The main findings were: 1) grasslands, water, and bare land are important landscapes of TNPR, accounting for 98.37% of the total area. During the study period, there were significant differences in the area of different landscapes; except for desert, shrub, and urban land, the other landscape areas showed a decreasing trend. 2) During the study period, the LEV of TNPR showed a downward trend; except for grasslands, the ecological vulnerability of the other landscapes decreased steadily. Furthermore, a pattern of conversion from high to low vulnerability grade was observed in the study area. In terms of spatial distribution, the LEV level shows a trend of high at both ends (east and west) and low in the middle. 3) Overall, the impact of natural factors on the ecological vulnerability of the TNPR was significantly higher than that of human factors. In conclusion, our study provides a scientific basis for landscape structure optimization and the management of regional ecological vulnerability.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Duan Quntao, Luo Lihui, 2021. Summary and prospect of spatialization method of human activity intensity: taking the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as an example. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 43(5): 1582–1593. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu Bojie, Zhou Guoyi, Bai Yongfei et al., 2009. The main terrestrial ecosystem services and ecological security in China. Advances in Earth Science, 24(6): 571–576. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Han Zhenhua, Li Jiandong, Yin Hong et al., 2010. Analysis of ecological security of wetland in Liaohe River delta based on the landscape pattern. Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 19(3): 701–705. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hong W Y, Jiang R R, Yang C Y et al., 2016. Establishing an ecological vulnerability assessment indicator system for spatial recognition and management of ecologically vulnerable areas in highly urbanized regions: a case study of Shenzhen, China. Ecological Indicators, 69: 540–547. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2016.05.028

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang Muyi, Zhong Yong, Feng Shaoru et al., 2020. Spatial-temporal characteristic and driving analysis of landscape ecological vulnerability in water environment protection area of Chaohu Basin since 1970s. Journal of Lake Sciences, 32(4): 977–988. (in Chinese). doi: https://doi.org/10.18307/2020.0407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang Yue, Cheng Jing, Wang Peng, 2021. Spatiotemporal evolution pattern and driving factors of ecological vulnerability in agro-pastoral region in northern China: a case of Yanchi County in Ningxia. Arid Land Geography, 44(4): 1175–1185. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang X, Xu S G, Liu Y Y et al., 2015. River ecosystem assessment and application in ecological restorations: a mathematical approach based on evaluating its structure and function. Ecological Engineering, 76: 151–157. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.04.027

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Huixia, Liu Guohua, Fu Bojie, 2011. Response of vegetation to climate change and human activity based on NDVI in the Three-River Headwaters region. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 31(19): 5495–5504. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Jing, Sheng Yu, Wu Jichun et al., 2016a. Mapping frozen soil distribution and modeling permafrost stability in the source area of the Yellow River. Scientia Geographica Sinica, 36(4): 588–596. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Shuai, Ma Wenchao, Gu Yanwen et al., 2016b. Analysis of spatial-temporal changes in landscape fragmentation in the Ningxia Yellow River Valley. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 36(11): 3312–3320. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Honghong, Wang Ni, Xie Jiancang et al., 2014. Assessment of ecological vulnerability based on fuzzy comprehensive evaluation in Weihe River Basin. Journal of Shenyang Agricultural University, 45(1): 73–77. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Jiyuan, Xu Xinliang, Shao Quanqin, 2008. The spatial and temporal characteristics of grassland degradation in the Three-River Headwaters region in Qinghai province. Acta Geographica Sinica, 63(4): 364–376. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu Yuan, Su Wenjing, Hua Cui, 2011. Analysis of ecological vulnerability in Zuojiang River Basin based on landscape pattern and ecosystem sensitivity. Research of Soil and Water Conservation, 18(3): 78–82, 87. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Meng Xianhong, Chen Hao, Li Zhaoguo et al., 2020. Review of climate change and its environmental influence on the Three-River Regions. Plateau Meteorology, 39(6): 1133–1143. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Metzger M J, Leemans R, Schröter D, 2005. A multidisciplinary multi-scale framework for assessing vulnerabilities to global change. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation & Geoinformation, 7(4): 253–267. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2005.06.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005. Ecosystems and Human Well Being: Synthesis. Washington, DC, USA: Island Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2018. GIMMS NDVI3g dataset for Sanjiangyuan (1982–2015). National Tibetan Plateau Data Center.

  • Ortega M, Saura S, González-Avila S et al., 2012. Landscape vulnerability to wildfires at the forest-agriculture interface: halfcentury patterns in Spain assessed through the SISPARES monitoring framework. Agroforestry Systems, 85(3): 331–349. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-011-9423-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peng Jian, Wang Yanglin, Jing Juan et al., 2005. Research on integrated regional planning of urban landscape functions: a case study in Shenzhen city. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 25(7): 1714–1719. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Peng Kaifeng, Jiang Weiguo, Hou Peng et al., 2020. Spatiotemporal variation of vegetation coverage and its affecting factors in the Three-River-Source National Park. Chinese Journal of Ecology, 39(10): 3388–3396. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Polsky C, Neff R, Yarnal B, 2007. Building comparable global change vulnerability assessments: the vulnerability scoping diagram. Global Environmental Change, 17(3–4): 472–485. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2007.01.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qu Bowei, Wu Lezhi, 2021. Landscape ecological vulnerability assessment based on structural and functional vulnerability. Journal of Central China Normal University (Natural Sciences), 1–22[2021-01-08]. http://kns.cnki.net/kcms/detail/42.1178.N.20211209.0642.002.html. (in Chinese)

  • Ran Youhua, 2019. Permafrost stability type map for Sanjiangyuan in 2010s. National Tibetan Plateau Data Center. (in Chinese)

  • Rao Pinzeng, Wang Yicheng, Wang Fang, 2021. Analysis on the NDVI change and influence factors of vegetation cover in the Three-River Headwaters Region. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 29(3): 572–582. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ren Jintong, Yang Keming, Chen Qunli et al., 2018. Spatio-temporal variation of vulnerability of landscape ecology of Caohai wetland. Journal of Ecology and Rural Environment, 34(3): 232–239. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ren Zhiyuan, Wang Lixia, 2007. Spatio-temporal differentiation of landscape ecological niche in western ecological frangible region. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 17(4): 479–486. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-007-0479-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sati V P, 2015. Landscape vulnerability and rehabilitation issues: a study of hydropower projects in Garhwal region, Himalaya. Natural Hazards, 75(3): 2265–2278. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-014-1430-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shang Zhanhuan, Dong Quanmin, Shi Jianjun et al., 2018. Research progress in recent ten years of ecological restoration for ‘Black Soil Land’ degraded grassland on Tibetan Plateau——Concurrently discuss of ecological restoration in Sangjiangyuan region. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 26(1): 1–21. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shao Quanqin, Zhao Zhiping, Liu Jiyuan et al., 2016. The characteristics of land cover and macroscopical ecology changes in the source region of Three Rivers on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during last 30 years. Geographical Research, 29(8): 1439–1451. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun Caizhi, Yan Xiaolu, Zhong Jingqiu, 2014. Evaluation of the landscape patterns vulnerability and analysis of spatial correlation patterns in the lower reaches of Liaohe River Plain. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 34(2): 247–257. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun Jing, Liu Jianguo, Yang Xinjun et al., 2020. Sustainability in the Anthropocene: telecoupling framework and its applicationss. Acta Geographica Sinica, 75(11): 2408–2416. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun Qingling, Li Baolin, Xu Lili et al., 2016. Analysis of NDVI change trend and its impact factors in the Three-River Headwater Region from 2000 to 2013. Journal of Geo-Information Science, 18(12): 1707–1716. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun Xianbin, Liu Hongyu, 2011. The effect of land use on landscape ecological risk in Yancheng coastal area, Jiangsu province. Remote Sensing for Land & Resources, 23(3): 140–145. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tian Peng, Li Jialin, Jiang Yimei et al., 2019. Ecological vulnerability of the bay landscape and its response to human activities: a case study of the East China Sea. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 39(4): 1463–1474. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tian Yaping, Chang Hao, 2012. Bibliometric analysis of research progress on ecological vulnerability in China. Acta Geographica Sinica, 67(11): 1515–1525. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tong L G, Xu X L, Fu Y et al., 2014. Wetland changes and their responses to climate change in the ‘Three-River Headwaters’ Region of China since the 1990s. Energies, 7(4): 2515–2534. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/en7042515

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Genxu, Cheng Guodong, 2001. Characteristics of grassland and ecological changes of vegetations in the source regions of Yangtze and Yellow Rivers. Journal of Desert Research, 21(2): 101–107. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Jinbang, Liu Jiyuan, Shao Quanqin et al., 2009. Spatial-temporal patterns of net primary productivity for 1988–2004 based on glopem-cevsa model in the ‘Three-River Headwaters’ region of Qinghai province, China. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 33(2): 254–269. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Jinfeng, Xu Chengdong, 2017. Geodetector: principle and prospective. Acta Geographica Sinica, 72(1): 116–134. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang S X, Du J K, Li S et al., 2019. Impact of tourism activities on glacial changes based on the tourism heat footprint (THF) method. Journal of Cleaner Production, 215: 845–853. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.01.120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wei Da, 2019. Geographical distribution of major ecological projects on the Tibetan Plateau. National Tibetan Plateau Data Center. (in Chinese)

  • Xu Chaoxuan, Lu Chunxia, Huang Shaolin, 2020. Study on ecological vulnerability and its influencing factors in Zhangjiakou area. Journal of Natural Resources, 35(6): 1288–1300. (in Chinese). doi: https://doi.org/10.31497/zrzyxb.20200603

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu Erqi, 2019. Land use of the Tibet Plateau in 2015 (Version 1.0). National Tibetan Plateau Data Center. (in Chinese)

  • Xu Lijiao, Hu Zeyong, Zhao Ya’nan et al., 2019. Climate change characteristics in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau during 1961–2010. Plateau Meteorology, 38(5): 911–919. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xue Lianqing, Wang Jing, Wei Guanghui, 2019. Dynamic evaluation of the ecological vulnerability based on PSR modeling for the Tarim River Basin in Xinjiang. Journal of Hohai University (Natural Sciences), 47(1): 13–19. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang Jiaxing, Fan Yuxin, 2019. Analysis of climate change and its environmental effects in the Three River source areas from 1961 to 2012. Journal of Qinghai Environment, 29(4): 169–175. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeng Yuxi, Zhong Linsheng, Yu Hu, 2021. Spatial and temporal evolution of recreational function in the Sanjiangyuan region of Qinghai province under climate change. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 41(3): 886–900. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Hang, Chen Hai, Shi Qinqin et al., 2020. Spatiotemporal evolution and driving factors of landscape ecological vulnerability in Shaanxi province. Arid Zone Research, 37(2): 496–505. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Renhe, Su Fengge, Jiang Zhihong et al., 2015. An overview of projected climate and environmental changes across the Tibetan Plateau in the 21st century. Chinese Science Bulletin, 60(32): 3036–3047. (in Chinese). doi: https://doi.org/10.1360/N972014-01296

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Xiao, Lu Lin, Zhang Xiaoyao et al., 2021a. Impact of Chernobyl nuclear accident on regional landscape pattern and habitat quality. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 41(4): 1303–1313. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Xiao, Zhang Xiaoyao, Lu Lin et al., 2021b. Evolution characteristics and driving factors of basin multi-scale landscape pattern under the tourism disturbances: a case study of the Xin’an River Basin. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 41(9): 3415–3428. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Xueling, Yu Wenbo, Cai Haisheng et al., 2018. Review of the evaluation methods of regional eco-environmental vulnerability. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 38(16): 5970–5981. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Xuemei, Wang Kelin, Yue Yuemin et al., 2017. Factors impacting on vegetation dynamics and spatial non-stationary relationships in karst regions of southwest China. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 37(12): 4008–4018. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Yue, Zhang Fei, Wang J et al., 2016. Evaluation of the landscape patterns vulnerability and analysis of spatial temporal patterns in the typical region of the Ebinur Lake.. Journal of Catastrophology, 31(3): 222–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Yujuan, Qu Jianguang, Liang Xin et al., 2019. New method of constructing landscape ecological vulnerability index and rationality verification. Science of Surveying and Mapping, 44(11): 129–136. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Jing, 2016. Based on RS and GIS the Erguna Wetlands Ecological Vulnerability Assessment. Chengdu: Southwest Jiaotong University. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Xiaoqing, Wang Xingyou, Xie Pengfei et al., 2015. Spatiotemporal changes of landscape eco-security based on structure and function safety: a case study of a large artificial forest planted area in Ximeng county, China. Geographical Research, 34(8): 1581–1591. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou Kan, Liu Hanchu, Fan Jie et al., 2021. Environmental stress intensity of human activities and its spatial effects in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau national park cluster: a case study in Sanjiangyuan region. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 41(1): 268–279. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu Yurong, Xu Kaiyu, Fu Yongchao, 2018. Characteristics and impacts of permafrost changes during 1961–2017 in the Three-River Headwaters Region. Qinghai Science and Technology, 25(6): 73–76. (in Chinese). doi: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1005-9393.2018.06.015

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China

    Hu Yu, Xiaoyao Zhang & Yu Deng

  2. College of Resources and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Xiaoyao Zhang

Authors
  1. Hu Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiaoyao Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yu Deng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yu Deng.

Additional information

Foundation item: Under the auspices of the 2nd Comprehensive Scientific Investigation and Research Project of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (No. 2019QZKK0401), the Special Project for Type-A Strategic and Leading Technologies under the CAS (No. XDA20020302)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yu, H., Zhang, X. & Deng, Y. Spatiotemporal Evolution and Influencing Factors of Landscape Ecological Vulnerability in the Three-River-Source National Park Region. Chin. Geogr. Sci. 32, 852–866 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11769-022-1297-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11769-022-1297-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation