Quantitative Analysis of Human Disturbance Intensity of Landscape Patterns and Preliminary Optimization of Ecological Function Regions: A Case of Minqing County in Fujian Province
景观格局的人类干扰强度定量分析与生态功能区优化初探——以福建省闽清县为例

Landscape patterns are formed from long-term interactions of natural factors and human disturbances. In the processes of landscape ecology, landscape patterns determine landscape functions. As such, the relationship between landscape patterns and human disturbance intensity is needed to be quantitatively analyzed. Landscape elements that promote the ecological processes should be unraveled. The abovementioned two measures are helpful for sustainable development of the regional environment. In this paper, we investigated landscape patterns of Minqing County based on GIS and two scenes of satellite imageries acquired in 2000 and 2005. Landscape metrics of typical significance were chosen to quantify landscape pattern changes. Meanwhile, methods of landscape ecology and geo-statistics were comprehensively used to study the relationship between landscape spatial pattern variation and human disturbance intensity. Results demonstrated that: 1) the degree of landscape fragmentation was significantly reduced, and patches density of dry land, paddy fields, woodland, grassland, water bodies, and unused land were significantly reduced. Patch density of construction land increased. The average patch area of all landscape elements increased. Landscape types were increasingly controlled by a minority of patches, and the degree of regional connectivity was moderate. The change in the landscape pattern was essentially consistent with changes in human disturbance intensity. 2) The distribution of human disturbance intensity and its change were essentially consistent with the intensity and direction of urban expansion. Areas with low-middle impact strength kept fairly invariant. While areas with middle and middle-high impact strength increased. Patches with high impact strength also increased. The region with strong disturbance intensity was distributed mainly in the county town and around villages and towns. With speeding up of the urbanization process, the spread of disturbance intensity continued to improve. Areas whose disturbance intensity was strong were also areas with the most vulnerable ecosystems and environmental protection. On the basis of this, the authors used the landscape flow theory and the accumulated cost distance model to examine spatial differences in landscape function in Minqing County. Then, the ecological sources and ecological corridors as well as other space components were built to enhance their ties and conduct landscape pattern optimization in the study area. The methods and results provide a theoretical basis and reference value for planning and construction of the environment in the Minqing County.