Evaluation of the Methodology to Assess the Influence of Hydraulic Characteristics on Habitat Quality

Driving Mechanism of Habitat Quality at Different Grid-Scales in a Metropolitan City

Urban ecosystem dysfunction, habitat fragmentation, and biodiversity loss caused by rapid urbanization have threatened sustainable urban development. Urban habitat quality is one of the important indicators for assessing the urban ecological environment. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to carry out a study on the driving mechanism of urban habitat quality and integrate the results into urban planning. In this study, taking Zhengzhou, China, as an example, the InVEST model was used to analyze the spatial differentiation characteristics of urban habitat quality and Geodetector software was adopted to explore the driving mechanism of habitat quality at different grid-scales. The results show the following: (1) LUCC, altitude, slope, surface roughness, relief amplitude, population, nighttime light, and NDVI are the dominant factors affecting the spatial differentiation of habitat quality. Among them, the impacts of slope, surface roughness, population, nighttime light, and NDVI on habitat quality are highly sensitive to varying grid-scales. At the grid-scale of 1000 to 1250 m, the impacts of the dominant factors on habitat quality is closer to the mean level of multiple scales. (2) The impact of each factor on the spatial distribution of habitat quality is different, and the difference between most factors has always been significant regardless of the variation of grid-scales. The superimposed impact of two factors on the spatial distribution of habitat quality is greater than the impact of the single factor. (3) Combined with the research results and the local conditions of Zhengzhou, we put forward some directions of habitat protection around adjusting urban land use structure, applying nature-based solutions and establishing a systematic thinking model for multi-level urban habitat sustainability.

Hydrological Impacts of Climate Change and Land Use

Water is a basic, necessary condition for life. It is referred to as the main commodity of the 21st century. There are already many areas in the world where its deficiency causes the degradation of landscape components (soil, flora, fauna), leading to the abandonment of this landscape and a gradual deterioration into desert. Desertification can lead to poverty, health problems and loss of biodiversity. Such negative processes can be caused by human influence either directly or indirectly. Indirectly, the civilization has an impact on water as a result of climate change influenced by its activities. The matter of climate change is currently a very frequently discussed issue. Climate change on planet Earth has been ongoing in the past and continues to happen today. However, most alarming is the fact that change is currently happening much faster and with increasing intensity. For this reason, the issue of climate change is no longer perceived only as a possible future threat, but rather is considered as one of the crucial environmental problems of today.