{"paper_id":"29bb1153-7cb2-46cc-ae4d-9fc77b6eb738","body_text":"Research on the Resilience of Ecological Networks from the Perspective of Ecological Security Pattern: A Case Study of Wuhan Metropolitan Area | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Research on the Resilience of Ecological Networks from the Perspective of Ecological Security Pattern: A Case Study of Wuhan Metropolitan Area Yingchao Zhao, Yucheng Fang, You Zou, Guiyuan Li, Bowen Li This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7057867/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 04 Dec, 2025 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted 10 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Ecological network resilience, the core capacity of ecosystems to maintain functional stability under external disturbances, is of great significance for ensuring regional ecological security and promoting sustainable development. This study takes the Wuhan Metropolitan Area as the research object. Based on multi-temporal data from 2000 to 2020, we innovatively constructed a comprehensive evaluation system of \"water resources–soil conservation–ecosystem quality\" to identify ecological source areas. Combined with a three-dimensional resistance surface model of \"natural environment–human activities–physical barriers,\" the Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) model was applied to extract ecological corridors, forming a \"source–corridor\" spatial frame-work. The gravity model was used to construct the ecological network and analyze its topological structure. Finally, a robustness model was employed to assess the dynamic changes in network resilience. The key findings include: (1) The number of ecological source areas exhibited a \"rise-then-decline\" trend, with spatial distribution shifting from fragmented to clustered and the global control of core nodes transitioning from decentralized to highly centralized. (2) Ecological corridors displayed a \"dense-south-sparse-north, dense-periphery-sparse-center\" spatial pattern. Although the number of corridors decreased, the interaction strength and species migration efficiency significantly improved. (3) The ecological network evolved from \"expansion\" to \"quality enhancement,\" with significant improvements in network density and clustering coefficients, ultimately forming an efficient and stable structure. Based on these findings, strategic recommendations are proposed to optimize the ecological network and enhance environmental quality in the Wuhan Metropolitan Area's composite ecosystem. Biological sciences/Ecology Earth and environmental sciences/Ecology Earth and environmental sciences/Environmental sciences Earth and environmental sciences/Environmental social sciences Ecological network resilience MCR model Gravity model Robustness model Wuhan Metropolitan Area Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 04 Dec, 2025 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 04 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 28 Jul, 2025 Reviews received at journal 27 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 20 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 17 Jul, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 15 Jul, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 15 Jul, 2025 Editor invited by journal 15 Jul, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 11 Jul, 2025 First submitted to journal 06 Jul, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {\"props\":{\"pageProps\":{\"initialData\":{\"identity\":\"rs-7057867\",\"acceptedTermsAndConditions\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":false,\"archivedVersions\":[],\"articleType\":\"Article\",\"associatedPublications\":[],\"authors\":[{\"id\":485764990,\"identity\":\"72b55b91-c9c3-4b18-bf8a-9b2eeaa99220\",\"order_by\":0,\"name\":\"Yingchao Zhao\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Hubei University of Technology\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Yingchao\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Zhao\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":485764991,\"identity\":\"038b1a11-bbbc-44e7-9c5d-11809024fa91\",\"order_by\":1,\"name\":\"Yucheng 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Reports\",\"twitterHandle\":\"\",\"acdcEnabled\":true,\"dfaEnabled\":true,\"editorialSystem\":\"stoa\",\"reportingPortfolio\":\"Scientific Reports\",\"inReviewEnabled\":true,\"inReviewRevisionsEnabled\":true},\"keywords\":\"Ecological network resilience, MCR model, Gravity model, Robustness model, Wuhan Metropolitan Area\",\"lastPublishedDoi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7057867/v1\",\"lastPublishedDoiUrl\":\"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7057867/v1\",\"license\":{\"name\":\"CC BY 4.0\",\"url\":\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/\"},\"manuscriptAbstract\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eEcological network resilience, the core capacity of ecosystems to maintain functional stability under external disturbances, is of great significance for ensuring regional ecological security and promoting sustainable development. This study takes the Wuhan Metropolitan Area as the research object. Based on multi-temporal data from 2000 to 2020, we innovatively constructed a comprehensive evaluation system of \\\"water resources\\u0026ndash;soil conservation\\u0026ndash;ecosystem quality\\\" to identify ecological source areas. Combined with a three-dimensional resistance surface model of \\\"natural environment\\u0026ndash;human activities\\u0026ndash;physical barriers,\\\" the Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) model was applied to extract ecological corridors, forming a \\\"source\\u0026ndash;corridor\\\" spatial frame-work. The gravity model was used to construct the ecological network and analyze its topological structure. Finally, a robustness model was employed to assess the dynamic changes in network resilience. The key findings include: (1) The number of ecological source areas exhibited a \\\"rise-then-decline\\\" trend, with spatial distribution shifting from fragmented to clustered and the global control of core nodes transitioning from decentralized to highly centralized. (2) Ecological corridors displayed a \\\"dense-south-sparse-north, dense-periphery-sparse-center\\\" spatial pattern. Although the number of corridors decreased, the interaction strength and species migration efficiency significantly improved. (3) The ecological network evolved from \\\"expansion\\\" to \\\"quality enhancement,\\\" with significant improvements in network density and clustering coefficients, ultimately forming an efficient and stable structure. Based on these findings, strategic recommendations are proposed to optimize the ecological network and enhance environmental quality in the Wuhan Metropolitan Area's composite ecosystem.\\u003c/p\\u003e\",\"manuscriptTitle\":\"Research on the Resilience of Ecological Networks from the Perspective of Ecological Security Pattern: A Case Study of Wuhan Metropolitan Area\",\"msid\":\"\",\"msnumber\":\"\",\"nonDraftVersions\":[{\"code\":1,\"date\":\"2025-07-17 05:30:06\",\"doi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7057867/v1\",\"editorialEvents\":[{\"type\":\"communityComments\",\"content\":0},{\"type\":\"decision\",\"content\":\"Revision requested\",\"date\":\"2025-08-04T07:03:23+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"editorInvitedReview\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2025-07-29T02:14:30+00:00\",\"index\":\"hide\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"editorInvitedReview\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2025-07-27T08:55:30+00:00\",\"index\":\"hide\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"reviewerAgreed\",\"content\":\"279890477858419732907728851568366546495\",\"date\":\"2025-07-21T02:00:15+00:00\",\"index\":\"hide\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"reviewerAgreed\",\"content\":\"166663600108744292555762076312752096455\",\"date\":\"2025-07-17T09:41:11+00:00\",\"index\":\"hide\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"reviewersInvited\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2025-07-15T09:07:45+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"editorAssigned\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2025-07-15T09:05:46+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"editorInvited\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2025-07-15T07:03:48+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"checksComplete\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2025-07-11T18:25:31+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"submitted\",\"content\":\"Scientific Reports\",\"date\":\"2025-07-06T12:37:46+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"}],\"status\":\"published\",\"journal\":{\"display\":true,\"email\":\"info@researchsquare.com\",\"identity\":\"scientific-reports\",\"isNatureJournal\":false,\"hasQc\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":false,\"externalIdentity\":\"scirep\",\"sideBox\":\"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)\",\"snPcode\":\"\",\"submissionUrl\":\"\",\"title\":\"Scientific Reports\",\"twitterHandle\":\"\",\"acdcEnabled\":true,\"dfaEnabled\":true,\"editorialSystem\":\"stoa\",\"reportingPortfolio\":\"Scientific Reports\",\"inReviewEnabled\":true,\"inReviewRevisionsEnabled\":true}}],\"origin\":\"\",\"ownerIdentity\":\"9612f560-23e3-491b-96dc-6a70f1163655\",\"owner\":[],\"postedDate\":\"July 17th, 2025\",\"published\":true,\"recentEditorialEvents\":[],\"rejectedJournal\":[],\"revision\":\"\",\"amendment\":\"\",\"status\":\"published-in-journal\",\"subjectAreas\":[{\"id\":51567426,\"name\":\"Biological sciences/Ecology\"},{\"id\":51567427,\"name\":\"Earth and environmental sciences/Ecology\"},{\"id\":51567428,\"name\":\"Earth and environmental sciences/Environmental sciences\"},{\"id\":51567429,\"name\":\"Earth and environmental sciences/Environmental social sciences\"}],\"tags\":[],\"updatedAt\":\"2025-12-08T16:09:18+00:00\",\"versionOfRecord\":{\"articleIdentity\":\"rs-7057867\",\"link\":\"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-29955-7\",\"journal\":{\"identity\":\"scientific-reports\",\"isVorOnly\":false,\"title\":\"Scientific Reports\"},\"publishedOn\":\"2025-12-04 15:57:53\",\"publishedOnDateReadable\":\"December 4th, 2025\"},\"versionCreatedAt\":\"2025-07-17 05:30:06\",\"video\":\"\",\"vorDoi\":\"10.1038/s41598-025-29955-7\",\"vorDoiUrl\":\"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-29955-7\",\"workflowStages\":[]},\"version\":\"v1\",\"identity\":\"rs-7057867\",\"journalConfig\":\"researchsquare\"},\"__N_SSP\":true},\"page\":\"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]\",\"query\":{\"redirect\":\"/article/rs-7057867\",\"identity\":\"rs-7057867\",\"version\":[\"v1\"]},\"buildId\":\"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7\",\"isFallback\":false,\"isExperimentalCompile\":false,\"dynamicIds\":[84888],\"gssp\":true,\"scriptLoader\":[]}","source_license":"CC-BY-4.0","license_restricted":false}