The dominant role of human activity intensity in spatial pattern of ecosystem health in the Poyang Lake ecological economic zone

Abstract

Human activities are the main factors threatening ecosystems, and ecological management should place a strong emphasis on guiding their positive development. More targeted and differentiated ecological preservation strategies can be proposed with research on the regional variability of the interaction between ecosystems and human activities. Utilizing the Vigor-Organization-Resilience-Services (VORS) model and the land surface human activity intensity model, the ecosystem health index (EHI) and human activity intensity (HAI) of the Poyang Lake Ecological Economic Zone (PLEEZ) were evaluated, respectively. Furthermore, their spatial association was investigated using spatial autocorrelation analysis, and the effect of HAI on EHI was analyzed using Geographic Detector and Geographic Weighted Regress. The results revealed that in the PLEEZ, (1) The zones of intensified human activity were highly consistent with the expansion of built-up land, and the EHI here has always been the lowest; (2) The HAI and EHI showed a significant and increasing spatial negative correlation, manifested as high HAI with low EHI clustering in the central plains and the adverse in the peripheral mountainous areas. (3) The HAI has the highest explanatory power on the spatial pattern of EHI, and its influence was greatest at the lower EHI. (4) Natural ecosystems with high EHI were highly sensitive to HAI, while areas with low EHI were less sensitive. The research can offer theoretical guidance for ecological construction in the future. The adverse effects of human activities in PLEEZ can be reduced through strict regulation of natural ecological sources, intensive utilization of human gathering areas, and promotion of green production and lifestyle.

Keywords

• Ecosystem health
• Human activity intensity
• Association
• Spatial variation
• The Poyang Lake Ecological Economic Zone