Can ecological landscape pattern influence dry-wet dynamics? A national scale assessment in China from 1980 to 2018

Land cover has been demonstrated to have substantial impacts on climate and dry-wet environment, but potential influence of landscape pattern dynamics accompanying land cover change on drought remains unclear. In this study, response of dry-wet dynamics to landscape pattern in China was examined. Results suggest that landscape pattern in China's nine agricultural districts had transformed to varying extents and showed spatiotemporal heterogeneity from 1980 to 2018. For forest landscape, the highest annual average Percentage of Landscape (PLAND) was recorded in SC, reaching 62.26%; and the highest Largest Patch Index (LPI) was presented in YGP, followed by SC, with annual values of 53.79% and 46.26% respectively. The QTP has the most prominent forest connectivity in spite of its lower abundance. For grass landscape, the highest abundance and dominance were recorded in QTP, with annual PLAND fluctuation range of 49.66%-63.52% and annual LPI variation range of 34.10%-58.46%, which is associated with its climate and altitude. The most prominent crop landscape abundance and dominance were recorded in HHHP, with annual PLAND fluctuating interval of 56.53%-60.64%, indicating the highest agricultural development level in this district. At landscape level, dry-wet circumstance could be improved with enhancements in the largest patch percentage, patch density and spatial connectivity, while worsen with increases of landscape fragmentation and separated degree. At class level, increases in abundance and dominance of forest and crop landscapes would reduce drought risk, while it was opposite for grass landscape. Improved forest connectedness would optimize dry-wet environment and reduce drought risk. The PLAND of forest and crop landscapes contributed the most prominent effect to alleviate drought intensity. Compared with forestland and grassland, determining suitable crop landscape configura-tion to reduce drought risk is more complex because the balance between agricultural economic benefits and ecological landscape effects should be taken into account.

Automated summary

This study examines the response of dry-wet dynamics to landscape pattern in China's agricultural districts and finds that different landscape types have different impacts on drought risk. Increases in abundance and dominance of forest and crop landscapes can reduce drought risk, while the impact is opposite for grassland. Improved forest connectedness plays a positive role in optimizing dry-wet environment and reducing drought risk. Determining suitable crop landscape configurations to reduce drought risk is more complex due to the balance between agricultural economic benefits and ecological landscape effects.