Construction of an ecological security pattern in Jiangnan water network area based on an integrated Approach: A case study of Gaochun, Nanjing

Rapid urbanization in the Jiangnan Water Network region has resulted in the degradation of ecosystems and interruption of ecological functions. The ecological security pattern (ESP) is crucial for balancing economic development and ecological protection within an area. In this study, we focused on a representative region of Gaochun in the Jiangnan water network area and devised a comprehensive ESP methodology. This study combined the importance of ecosystem services (ESI), landscape connectivity (Con), and ecological sensitivity (ESS), starting with an analysis of ecological sources. Furthermore, both natural and human factors are emphasized when constructing a comprehensive ecological resilience surface. Nighttime lighting data (NTL), ecological risk index (ERI), and land intensity factor (CI) were used to calibrate the resistance values. Finally, circuit theory was applied to determine the optimal path, width, and ecological strategy points for the ecological corridors. The results indicate We identified 39 ecological source areas, 74 ecological corridors, 33 ecological pinch points, and 45 ecological barriers. Based on this, an overall spatial optimization plan of “five cores, three patches, three belts, multiple corridors, and multiple points” is obtained. This study aimed to explore and optimize a comprehensive approach to ESP with regional characteristics, providing new pathways and decision support for the future construction of ecological security patterns in the Jiangnan Water Network region.