Temporal and Spatial Variations in Landscape Pattern–Function Risk Coupling over 20 Years in the Dry–Hot Valley of the Jinsha River in China

Abstract

Extensive and profound landscape alterations significantly contribute to ecological vulnerability in environmentally delicate regions. Existing research primarily emphasizes ecological risks caused by landscape alterations, while overlooking vulnerable characteristics of landscape functions; particularly lacking are studies on the driving mechanism of landscape ecological risk through the reciprocal relationship between landscape pattern risk and function risk. Based on these issues, this paper constructed a landscape pattern risk index (LPRI), a landscape function risk index (LFRI), and a landscape ecological risk index (LERI) in the counties of the dry–hot valley of the Jinsha River in southwest China. By employing a coupling degree and a coordination model, we analyzed temporal and spatial variations in the interaction between two types of ecological risk, thereby revealing the driving mechanisms of landscape ecological risk. The results indicated that the average LPRI values of the study area were 0.373, 0.327, and 0.427, respectively, while the average LFRI values were 0.451, 0.356, and 0.442 in 2000, 2010, and 2020, respectively. More than 90% of the study area exhibited a medium coupling relationship between the two types of ecological risks. The area proportion of the coupling coordination regions has increased from 25.58% to 31.07% from 2010 to 2020. The two types of risk exhibited a low level of constraint inhibition. Extremely evident expansion of high pattern–function risk areas and the area increase of coupling coordination region resulted in the acceleration of regional landscape ecological risk level. Increasing competition between market-driven land-use activities and ecological regulations from the government has rendered the diversification of landscape ecological risk sources and its underlying mechanisms intricate. This study serves as a model reference for assessing landscape ecological risk and a theoretical basis for sustainable landscape management and ecological regulation in the Yangtze River basin.