An evaluation and regulation method for stereoscopic spatial
connectivity of a wetland system based on hydrological change: A case
study of the Heilongjiang River Basin in China
Abstract
The weakened connectivity of wetland systems is the key factor leading
to the destruction, degradation, and disappearance of wetlands. The
study of the change of wetland system connectivity enables understanding
the hydrological process in wetland system and providing significant
support for the study of ecological water demand. However, research on
the connectivity of wetland systems has primarily focused on the
intuitive connectivity in terms of hydrology and geomorphology in recent
years, while the impact of wetland systems on habitat has been ignored.
In this study, an innovative method was applied to evaluate and regulate
the stereoscopic spatial connectivity (SSC) of the wetland system in the
Heilongjiang River Basin in China (HRBC). In this method, the water
requirements of typical organisms in the region were considered, and the
hydrological trend in the wetland system as well as the health
conditions of the SSC were analyzed using remote sensing image. A
regulation mode for improving the stereoscopic spatial connectivity
index (SSCI) was proposed. The results revealed that over the past 35
years, the wetland system in the study area shrank significantly, with
the SSCI decreasing from 41.30% in 1980 to 35.08% in 2015. By
comparing the correlation among temperature, precipitation, agricultural
land, construction land, and the wetland system during the same period,
it was proven that human activity is the major driving force behind the
observed wetland system shrinkage. Subsequently, the key protected areas
required to maintain the SSC of the wetland system were clarified, and
the key recovery areas were determined according to the three scenarios
of ‘high–medium–low’ feasibility, which greatly improved the SSCI and
generalization route (GR) after regulation. In general, the proposed SSC
evaluation methods can fully reflect the ecohydrological process of
wetland systems. The methods also scientifically quantify the
significant effects of the regulation mode, which has certain relevance
for the evaluation and regulation of wetland systems in other regions.