Using source-sink landscape theory to investigate factors influencing
ecological processes in Kaiyang County, China
Abstract
How landscapes affect ecological processes is an important area of
research that needs to be developed. To reveal the mechanisms of
ecological processes, a study was carried out in Kaiyang County, China.
Source–sink landscapes and the mechanisms influencing ecological
processed were identified using correlation analysis and regression
analysis. The results showed that: urbanization led to more land being
used for construction and less cultivated land, forest land, and
grassland. Some types of land use as source landscapes contributed to
the thermal process, while others did the opposite. This was true at
both the city scale and the county scale. Source and sink landscape
changes were investigated as factors potentially influencing ecological
processes: a relationship model between source–sink landscapes and
thermal process provided significant correlation. The source–sink
landscapes area ratio at the city scale versus the county scale was 1.6,
changing the ecological landscape from a low scale to high scale did not
affect the mechanisms influencing ecological processes. Temperature is
the limiting factor for NPP and precipitation was a further
consideration based on the temperature state. The study provides an
effective reference for exploring the mechanisms influencing ecological
processes and understanding the mechanism of ecosystem-scale
transformation, and could be used as a basis for the regulation of
ecosystem functions.