IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v15y2018i12p2910-d191701.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Ecological Conditions and Its Response to Natural Conditions and Human Activities during 1990–2010 in the Yangtze River Delta, China

Author

Listed:
  • Ziqi Meng

    (Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China)

  • Min Liu

    (Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
    Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), Shanghai 200062, China)

  • Qiannan She

    (Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China)

  • Fang Yang

    (Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China)

  • Lingbo Long

    (Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China)

  • Xia Peng

    (Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
    Library of East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China)

  • Ji Han

    (Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China)

  • Weining Xiang

    (Center for Ecological Wisdom and Practice Research, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China)

Abstract

The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region, including Shanghai City and the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces, is the largest metropolitan region in China. In the past three decades, the region has experienced an unprecedented process of rapid and massive urbanization, which has dramatically altered the landscape and detrimentally affected the ecological environments in the region. In this paper, we analyzed the spatiotemporal variations of ecological conditions (Eco_C) via a synthetic index with analytic hierarchy processes in the YRD during 1990–2010. The relative contributions of influencing factors, including two natural conditions (i.e., elevation (Elev) and land-sea gradient (Dis_coa)), three indicators of human activities (i.e., urbanization rate (Urb_rate), per capita GDP (Per_gdp), the percentage of secondary and tertiary industry employment (Per_ind)), to the total variance of regional Eco_C were also investigated. The results showed that: (1) The Eco_C over YRD region was “Moderately High”, which was better than the national average and demonstrated obvious spatial variations between south and north. There existed fluctuations and an overall increasing trend for Eco_C during the study period, with 20% of the area being deteriorated and 40% being improved. (2) The areas with elevation below 10 m was relatively poor in Eco_C, while the regions above 1000 m showed the best Eco_C and had the most obvious changes (9.33%) during the study period. (3) The selected five influencing factors could explain 91.0–94.4% of the Eco_C spatial variability. Elevation was the dominant factor for about 42.4–52.9%, while urbanization rate and per capita GDP were about 32.5% and 9.3%.

Suggested Citation

  • Ziqi Meng & Min Liu & Qiannan She & Fang Yang & Lingbo Long & Xia Peng & Ji Han & Weining Xiang, 2018. "Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Ecological Conditions and Its Response to Natural Conditions and Human Activities during 1990–2010 in the Yangtze River Delta, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:12:p:2910-:d:191701
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/12/2910/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/12/2910/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bao, Chao & Fang, Chuang-lin, 2007. "Water resources constraint force on urbanization in water deficient regions: A case study of the Hexi Corridor, arid area of NW China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(3-4), pages 508-517, May.
    2. Caiyao Xu & Lijie Pu & Ming Zhu & Jianguo Li & Xinjian Chen & Xiaohan Wang & Xuefeng Xie, 2016. "Ecological Security and Ecosystem Services in Response to Land Use Change in the Coastal Area of Jiangsu, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-24, August.
    3. Wang, Shaojian & Fang, Chuanglin & Wang, Yang, 2016. "Spatiotemporal variations of energy-related CO2 emissions in China and its influencing factors: An empirical analysis based on provincial panel data," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 505-515.
    4. Shi-Xin Wang & Yao Yao & Yi Zhou, 2014. "Analysis of Ecological Quality of the Environment and Influencing Factors in China during 2005–2010," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-21, January.
    5. Al-Mulali, Usama & Ozturk, Ilhan, 2015. "The effect of energy consumption, urbanization, trade openness, industrial output, and the political stability on the environmental degradation in the MENA (Middle East and North African) region," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 382-389.
    6. Anibal Gusso & André Silva & John Boland & Leticia Lenz & Conrad Philipp, 2017. "Income Driven Patterns of the Urban Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-20, February.
    7. Ji Chai & Zhanqi Wang & Hongwei Zhang, 2017. "Integrated Evaluation of Coupling Coordination for Land Use Change and Ecological Security: A Case Study in Wuhan City of Hubei Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-21, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wang, Shaojian & Li, Guangdong & Fang, Chuanglin, 2018. "Urbanization, economic growth, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions: Empirical evidence from countries with different income levels," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 2144-2159.
    2. Xiaoqing Lin & Chunyan Lu & Kaishan Song & Ying Su & Yifan Lei & Lianxiu Zhong & Yibin Gao, 2020. "Analysis of Coupling Coordination Variance between Urbanization Quality and Eco-Environment Pressure: A Case Study of the West Taiwan Strait Urban Agglomeration, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-19, March.
    3. Chen, Huadun & Du, Qianxi & Huo, Tengfei & Liu, Peiran & Cai, Weiguang & Liu, Bingsheng, 2023. "Spatiotemporal patterns and driving mechanism of carbon emissions in China's urban residential building sector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PE).
    4. Khan, Syed Abdul Rehman & Zaman, Khalid & Zhang, Yu, 2016. "The relationship between energy-resource depletion, climate change, health resources and the environmental Kuznets curve: Evidence from the panel of selected developed countries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 468-477.
    5. Olusegun Peter Olaoye & Aderemi Timothy Ayomitunde & Nwagwu Chinedu John & Yvonne Jude-Okeke & Azuh Dominic Ezinwa, 2020. "Energy Consumption and Foreign Direct Investment Inflows in Nigeria: An Empirical Perspective," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 10(2), pages 491-496.
    6. Liu, Yaping & Sadiq, Farah & Ali, Wajahat & Kumail, Tafazal, 2022. "Does tourism development, energy consumption, trade openness and economic growth matters for ecological footprint: Testing the Environmental Kuznets Curve and pollution haven hypothesis for Pakistan," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    7. Abdunnur Abdunnur, 2020. "Nexus of Fisheries and Agriculture Production and Urbanization on Ecological Footprint: New Evidence from Indonesian Economy," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 10(3), pages 190-195.
    8. Bakirtas, Tahsin & Akpolat, Ahmet Gokce, 2018. "The relationship between energy consumption, urbanization, and economic growth in new emerging-market countries," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 110-121.
    9. Mesbah Fathy SHARAF, 2017. "Energy consumption and economic growth in Egypt: A disaggregated causality analysis with structural breaks," Region et Developpement, Region et Developpement, LEAD, Universite du Sud - Toulon Var, vol. 46, pages 59-76.
    10. Agboola, Mary Oluwatoyin & Bekun, Festus Victor & Joshua, Udi, 2021. "Pathway to environmental sustainability: Nexus between economic growth, energy consumption, CO2 emission, oil rent and total natural resources rent in Saudi Arabia," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    11. Özlem Karadağ Albayrak & Samet Topal & Serhat Çamkaya, 2022. "The Impact of Economic Growth, Renewable Energy, Non-renewable Energy and Trade Openness on the Ecological Footprint and Forecasting in Turkiye: an Case of the ARDL and NMGM Forecasting Model," Alphanumeric Journal, Bahadir Fatih Yildirim, vol. 10(2), pages 139-154, December.
    12. Wanbei Jiang & Weidong Liu, 2020. "Provincial-Level CO 2 Emissions Intensity Inequality in China: Regional Source and Explanatory Factors of Interregional and Intraregional Inequalities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-16, March.
    13. Li, Xiaolin & Tong, Ling & Niu, Jun & Kang, Shaozhong & Du, Taisheng & Li, Sien & Ding, Risheng, 2017. "Spatio-temporal distribution of irrigation water productivity and its driving factors for cereal crops in Hexi Corridor, Northwest China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 55-63.
    14. Lou, Bo & Ulgiati, Sergio, 2013. "Identifying the environmental support and constraints to the Chinese economic growth—An application of the Emergy Accounting method," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 217-233.
    15. Bruno N. Ibekilo & Chukwunonso Ekesiobi & Precious M. Emmanuel, 2023. "Heterogeneous Assessment of Urbanisation, Energy Consumption and Environmental Pollution in Africa: the Role of Regulatory Quality," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 23/056, African Governance and Development Institute..
    16. Rabiu Maijama’a & Kabiru Saidu Musa, 2020. "Crude Oil Price, Urbanization and Environmental Pollution in Nigeria: Evidence from ARDL Approach," Asian Journal of Economic Modelling, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 8(4), pages 227-240, December.
    17. Boyu Wang & Xiang Gao, 2021. "Temporal and spatial variations of water resources constraint intensity on urbanization in the Shiyang River Basin, China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(7), pages 10038-10055, July.
    18. Fan Wang & Lili Feng & Jin Li & Lin Wang, 2020. "Environmental Regulation, Tenure Length of Officials, and Green Innovation of Enterprises," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-16, March.
    19. Nabil Ahmed Mareai Senan & Haider Mahmood & Sehrish Liaquat, 2018. "Financial Markets and Electricity Consumption Nexus in Saudi Arabia," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 8(1), pages 12-16.
    20. Zaman, Khalid & Moemen, Mitwali Abd-el., 2017. "Energy consumption, carbon dioxide emissions and economic development: Evaluating alternative and plausible environmental hypothesis for sustainable growth," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 1119-1130.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:12:p:2910-:d:191701. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.