Ecological and risk networks: Modeling positive versus negative ecological linkages

This paper proposes a network structure that simulates regions’ dual positive and negative ecological linkages based on ecological protection and risk management perspectives. This network structure model simulates positive and negative ecological flows between regions by establishing ecologically discrete, isolated, structurally and functionally interconnected regions. We first define the concepts related to ecological networks and risk networks. Taking Shaanxi Province as a case study, we construct a comprehensive ecological security pattern based on identifying ecological and risk networks. (1) Our results show 30 ecological and 34 risk source patches in our study area. These patches are connected through 103 ecological and 77 risk corridors, respectively. (2) Most of the ecological nodes, ecological corridors, risk nodes, risk corridors, and integrated ecological and risk nodes in the ecological security pattern of our study area are distributed along the watershed. Additionally, some risk nodes and risk corridors are distributed along the transportation network. Our study area shows a comprehensive ecological security pattern of protection and control with emphasis on protection in the south, protection in the center, and control in the north. (3) Further analysis showed that the intersection of ecological corridors and risk corridors with different degrees of importance would form four types of integrated ecological and risk nodes. The first type of integrated node has a strong isolation effect on both ecological and risk sources; the second type of integrated node has a weak isolation effect on ecological source sites but a strong isolation effect on risk source sites; the third type of integrated node has a strong isolation effect on ecological source sites but a weak isolation effect on risk source sites; and the fourth type of integrated node has a weak isolation effect on both ecological and risk sources. Our research contributes to the existing scholarship by providing a scientific basis for the comprehensive management of ecological security. Furthermore, it also provides support for enriching and developing the connotation and extension of ecological network research.