Spatial-Temporal Heterogeneity of Urbanization and Ecosystem Services in the Yellow River Basin

Taking 736 counties in the Yellow River Basin of China as the research area, the comprehensive urbanization development level and ecosystem service capacity from 2000 to 2020 were measured. Combined with spatial autocorrelation, the spatial pattern evolution characteristics of the two systems in the Yellow River Basin were revealed. The spatio-temporal geographically weighted regression (GTWR) model was used to analyze the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of the impact of various elements of the system on urbanization and ecosystem service capacity. The results showed that (1) the urbanization level and ecosystem service capacity of the Yellow River Basin were on the rise but the urbanization level and ecosystem service capacity were low, while the spatial and temporal heterogeneity was significant. (2) The two systems are positively correlated in space, and the agglomeration characteristics are significant. The evolution trend of urbanization from an L-L agglomeration area to an H-H agglomeration area is occurring gradually. The spatial change in the ecosystem service agglomeration area is small, and the stability is strong. (3) The impact of ecosystem services on comprehensive urbanization is enhanced by time, and the spatial 'center-periphery' diffusion characteristics are significant. (4) The influence of urbanization on the comprehensive ecosystem service capacity is enhanced and shows the law of east-west differentiation in space. There are obvious transition zones in the spatial heterogeneity interval of the interaction between the two systems.

Automated summary

Using 736 counties in the Yellow River Basin of China as the study area, this research measured the comprehensive urbanization development level and ecosystem service capacity from 2000 to 2020. By combining spatial autocorrelation, the spatial pattern evolution characteristics of the two systems in the Yellow River Basin were revealed. The spatio-temporal geographically weighted regression (GTWR) model was employed to analyze the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of the impact of various elements on urbanization and ecosystem service capacity. The results showed that the urbanization level and ecosystem service capacity in the Yellow River Basin were on the rise but still low, with significant spatial and temporal heterogeneity. The two systems exhibited positive correlation in space, with significant agglomeration characteristics. The study also found enhanced impact of ecosystem services on comprehensive urbanization over time, with significant spatial 'center-periphery' diffusion characteristics. The influence of urbanization on comprehensive ecosystem service capacity was enhanced as well, showing the law of east-west differentiation in space. There were obvious transition zones in the spatial heterogeneity interval of the interaction between the two systems.