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Spatial Heterogeneity and Scale Dependence of Ecological Security: Assessing the Impacts of Land Use and Human Activities in a Typical Mountainous Urban Agglomeration

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  • Yixin Chen

    (State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Disaster Risk Reduction, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Key Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Engineering Center of Desertification and Blown-Sand Control of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Faculty of Geographical Science, Academy of Disaster Reduction and Emergency Management, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Shuyu Liao

    (College of Public Administration, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China)

  • Hang Li

    (State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Disaster Risk Reduction, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Key Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Engineering Center of Desertification and Blown-Sand Control of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Faculty of Geographical Science, Academy of Disaster Reduction and Emergency Management, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Zeshi Li

    (State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Disaster Risk Reduction, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Key Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Engineering Center of Desertification and Blown-Sand Control of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Faculty of Geographical Science, Academy of Disaster Reduction and Emergency Management, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Wenxuan Wang

    (State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Disaster Risk Reduction, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Key Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Engineering Center of Desertification and Blown-Sand Control of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Faculty of Geographical Science, Academy of Disaster Reduction and Emergency Management, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Xiaoyu Hu

    (State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Disaster Risk Reduction, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Key Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Engineering Center of Desertification and Blown-Sand Control of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Faculty of Geographical Science, Academy of Disaster Reduction and Emergency Management, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Jialan Liang

    (State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Disaster Risk Reduction, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Key Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Engineering Center of Desertification and Blown-Sand Control of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Faculty of Geographical Science, Academy of Disaster Reduction and Emergency Management, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Lianyou Liu

    (State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Disaster Risk Reduction, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Key Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Engineering Center of Desertification and Blown-Sand Control of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Faculty of Geographical Science, Academy of Disaster Reduction and Emergency Management, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Jifu Liu

    (State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Disaster Risk Reduction, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Key Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Engineering Center of Desertification and Blown-Sand Control of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    Faculty of Geographical Science, Academy of Disaster Reduction and Emergency Management, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

Abstract

Ecological Security (ES) is an essential safeguard for regional sustainable development. Scientifically elucidating the multiscale evolution of ES patterns and their driving mechanisms is critical for ecological governance and conservation in Mountainous Urban Agglomerations (MUAs). Taking the central Yunnan Urban Agglomeration (CYUA) as a representative MUA, this study constructs a three-dimensional ES assessment framework integrating ecological health, ecological sensitivity, and ecological risk. By integrating ES slope-spectrum analysis with spatial autocorrelation, Geodetector, Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR), and machine learning, we analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of regional ES patterns and their driving mechanisms from a multiscale perspective. Results show that from 2000 to 2020, ES in the CYUA exhibited an overall improving trend with clear scale dependency. At the micro-scale, urban expansion intensified ecological fragmentation, whereas at the macro-scale, regional integration under policy guidance was evident. ES shows significant differentiation along slope gradients, forming a typical pattern of “low-slope–high-risk and high-slope–high-security,” with the 10–25° interval identified as a “conflict front” between ecological conservation and urban development, facing elevated degradation risks. Human Activity Intensity (HAI) is the dominant driver of ES spatial differentiation, with a critical pressure threshold of 0.29, and exhibits significant nonlinear interactive effects with slope and NDVI, with q-values exceeding 0.6. Overall, this study reveals complex human–environment interactions in MUAs and provides scientific evidence for balancing topographic constraints with urbanization, optimizing territorial spatial patterns, and promoting coordinated development of ecological conservation and high-quality urbanization.

Suggested Citation

  • Yixin Chen & Shuyu Liao & Hang Li & Zeshi Li & Wenxuan Wang & Xiaoyu Hu & Jialan Liang & Lianyou Liu & Jifu Liu, 2026. "Spatial Heterogeneity and Scale Dependence of Ecological Security: Assessing the Impacts of Land Use and Human Activities in a Typical Mountainous Urban Agglomeration," Land, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-26, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:15:y:2026:i:2:p:284-:d:1860385
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