Ecological land evolution index: An improved approach to characterize the process of ecological land evolution

Ecological land evolution index: An improved approach to characterize the process of ecological land evolution | 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 Research Article Ecological land evolution index: An improved approach to characterize the process of ecological land evolution Yifan Xie, Sui Liu, Zhaomin Tong, Lin Zhang, Bowen Pang, He Huang, and 5 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5784912/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Ecological land evolution is essential in shaping regional landscape patterns, influencing ecosystem processes, and altering ecosystem functions. However, existing indices inadequately quantify both ecological land degradation and restoration patterns, particularly regarding patch-scale dynamics related to connectivity and fragmentation. This study aimed to propose the Ecological Land Evolution Index (ELEI), a novel metric designed to comprehensively assess the spatiotemporal intricacies of ecological land evolution at the patch level. By integrating spatial proximity and ecological connectivity, ELEI offers a more refined and holistic evaluation compared to traditional landscape indices, thereby enhancing our comprehension of these dynamic evolution processes. Results Utilizing four temporal snapshots (1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020) of land use raster data from the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River (UAMRYR) in China, we applied ELEI to assess patterns of ecological land restoration(ELR) and degradation(ELD). The results demonstrate significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity in ecological land evolution. Cities such as YCH, HY, and JJ showed large-scale ecological restoration, primarily driven by the expansion of connecting and infilling patches. In contrast, highly urbanized areas like WH and CS exhibited severe fragmentation, particularly in the form of fragmented and enclosed patches. The data also revealed significant shifts in ELR and ELD distributions, with fragmentation intensifying from 2000 to 2010, followed by signs of reversal in the subsequent decade due to large-scale restoration initiatives. Compared to other indices, ELEI provides a more in-depth and comprehensive understanding of ecological land dynamics in rapidly urbanizing areas, identifying regions where restoration efforts have succeeded and where degradation continues. Conclusions This studying demonstrated ELEI’s effectiveness in identifying key areas of restoration and degradation, offering crucial insights for policymakers striving to balance economic development and ecological conservation. Additionally, the use of ELEI variants (Mean ELEI (MELEI) and Area-Weighted Mean ELEI (AWMELEI)) highlights their value in tracking spatial connectivity and degradation over time, providing a valuable tool for regional conservation planning and landscape management. Ecological land Landscape evolution patterns Ecological connectivity Ecological fragmentation Spatial relationship Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Supplementary Files Supplementary.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted 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. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. 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-5784912","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":399150890,"identity":"56e3497b-ff72-487a-9bb9-ea0d5fb738f2","order_by":0,"name":"Yifan Xie","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yifan","middleName":"","lastName":"Xie","suffix":""},{"id":399150891,"identity":"38a5e428-d66c-4508-801c-07c17badddf3","order_by":1,"name":"Sui Liu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Sui","middleName":"","lastName":"Liu","suffix":""},{"id":399150892,"identity":"20197c3f-f0b9-427f-a1bb-a4123c36aca9","order_by":2,"name":"Zhaomin Tong","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Zhaomin","middleName":"","lastName":"Tong","suffix":""},{"id":399150893,"identity":"d4fc26cf-f007-4c51-b8fb-620a3cfcf13c","order_by":3,"name":"Lin Zhang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Lin","middleName":"","lastName":"Zhang","suffix":""},{"id":399150894,"identity":"405b3921-cac2-4356-96b7-e622d3f75ea2","order_by":4,"name":"Bowen Pang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Bowen","middleName":"","lastName":"Pang","suffix":""},{"id":399150895,"identity":"2b51f2c9-4d56-44f8-a1ed-6563286d9f19","order_by":5,"name":"He Huang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"He","middleName":"","lastName":"Huang","suffix":""},{"id":399150896,"identity":"8aa4426d-a408-4c8f-a245-27b29a00e387","order_by":6,"name":"Rui An","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Rui","middleName":"","lastName":"An","suffix":""},{"id":399150897,"identity":"6042d26a-1f03-44d9-a15f-9bb565b30bc4","order_by":7,"name":"Yanchi Lu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yanchi","middleName":"","lastName":"Lu","suffix":""},{"id":399150898,"identity":"80c38b08-a90b-4f6a-82f9-cf31e00f4c57","order_by":8,"name":"Yao Cui","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yao","middleName":"","lastName":"Cui","suffix":""},{"id":399150899,"identity":"5215bd1d-b876-4ca0-960e-4a65789d5b2b","order_by":9,"name":"Yaolin Liu","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA4ElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYHACxgMJDDY8bOwNQGYDkXqAWtJk+HkOQLWwEaOFgeGQjeSMBCK1GBw/fODAwx0HeAxuvjF88HMHQx6/PAHXGZxJSziQeOYOj8HtHGPD3jMMxZJthGw5kGNwILHtGUiLmQRvG0PihmOEtJx/A9JyGOiwM+Y//wK17Ceo5UYORIvkDB4zZrAthLwveeMZ0C9taTz8PGnF0rJtEokzjiXg18J3Pvngw59tNvZs7Ic3fnzbZpPY33wAvxYFhDyHAZCQIOAqIECKBPYHhJWPglEwCkbBiAQADSxNTfrULNoAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yaolin","middleName":"","lastName":"Liu","suffix":""},{"id":399150900,"identity":"d58ec5a6-f54f-4284-9e9f-544b9ba49cfd","order_by":10,"name":"YanFang Liu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"YanFang","middleName":"","lastName":"Liu","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-01-08 02:14:20","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":false,"vertebrateSubjects":false,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false,"humanSubjectConsent":false,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5784912/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5784912/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":73339311,"identity":"2021774b-49bc-481e-94ac-4872209d58f8","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-01-09 05:05:03","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1369149,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscriptEP.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5784912/v1_covered_63843f9c-dd85-40e7-a2ce-9e7c0abfa5cb.pdf"},{"id":73338996,"identity":"93915c7e-9123-49bb-81a3-38889a16076f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-01-09 04:57:00","extension":"docx","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":26807,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Supplementary.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5784912/v1/f8de05b94c6e97f39e779298.docx"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eEcological land evolution index: An improved approach to characterize the process of ecological land evolution\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[{"identity":"7d052aa7-1f20-4d4b-82ca-c9120f58f449","identifier":"10.13039/501100001809","name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","awardNumber":"No:4223010","order_by":0}],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"Wuhan University","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":true,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Ecological land, Landscape evolution patterns, Ecological connectivity, Ecological fragmentation, Spatial relationship","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5784912/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5784912/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eBackground\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eEcological land evolution is essential in shaping regional landscape patterns, influencing ecosystem processes, and altering ecosystem functions. However, existing indices inadequately quantify both ecological land degradation and restoration patterns, particularly regarding patch-scale dynamics related to connectivity and fragmentation. This study aimed to propose the Ecological Land Evolution Index (ELEI), a novel metric designed to comprehensively assess the spatiotemporal intricacies of ecological land evolution at the patch level. By integrating spatial proximity and ecological connectivity, ELEI offers a more refined and holistic evaluation compared to traditional landscape indices, thereby enhancing our comprehension of these dynamic evolution processes.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eUtilizing four temporal snapshots (1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020) of land use raster data from the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River (UAMRYR) in China, we applied ELEI to assess patterns of ecological land restoration(ELR) and degradation(ELD). The results demonstrate significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity in ecological land evolution. Cities such as YCH, HY, and JJ showed large-scale ecological restoration, primarily driven by the expansion of connecting and infilling patches. In contrast, highly urbanized areas like WH and CS exhibited severe fragmentation, particularly in the form of fragmented and enclosed patches. The data also revealed significant shifts in ELR and ELD distributions, with fragmentation intensifying from 2000 to 2010, followed by signs of reversal in the subsequent decade due to large-scale restoration initiatives. Compared to other indices, ELEI provides a more in-depth and comprehensive understanding of ecological land dynamics in rapidly urbanizing areas, identifying regions where restoration efforts have succeeded and where degradation continues.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusions\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis studying demonstrated ELEI\u0026rsquo;s effectiveness in identifying key areas of restoration and degradation, offering crucial insights for policymakers striving to balance economic development and ecological conservation. Additionally, the use of ELEI variants (Mean ELEI (MELEI) and Area-Weighted Mean ELEI (AWMELEI)) highlights their value in tracking spatial connectivity and degradation over time, providing a valuable tool for regional conservation planning and landscape management.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Ecological land evolution index: An improved approach to characterize the process of ecological land evolution","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-01-09 04:48:55","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5784912/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"61ab0e23-1680-45ab-8eeb-0e3574769da6","owner":[],"postedDate":"January 9th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-01-09T04:48:56+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-01-09 04:48:55","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-5784912","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-5784912","identity":"rs-5784912","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}