Identification of landscape multifunctionality along urban-rural gradient of coastal cities in South Korea

In order to reflect ecosystem services in environmental policies, it is necessary to assess multiple ecosystem services as well as the correlations among them in complex urban landscapes. Although landscape multifunctionality based on different land use statuses and intensity cause variations in the ecosystem services of complex urban landscapes, research that connect the urban landscape multifunctionality in terms of ecosystem services and urbanization processes is limited. In this study, we assessed ecosystem services and their correlations using correlation and principal component analysis. Then, we identified the urban landscape multifunctionality using ecosystem service bundles with diversity and capacity indices in two coastal cities of South Korea. Subsequently, five landscapes were categorized according to ecosystem services, which reflected landscape multifunctionality in accordance with urbanization levels. The provision of ecosystem services is affected by levels of urbanization from coast areas toward forest areas with increase in diversity and capacity indices. This study contributes to realistically examining the dimensions of regional ecosystem services within complex landscapes with land use changes. The results will support effective management plans and could be applied to other landscapes at various spatial scales.