Quantifying the dynamics and driving forces of the coastal wetland landscape of the Yangtze River Estuary since the 1960s

Abstract In this study, the land use/cover vector data for 1960, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2015 were used to calculate and characterize the landscape metrics and dynamics of the Yangtze Estuary. The hypsometric 6 m curve was first delineated and considered in the research of the Yangtze Estuary wetlands landscape patterns. The associated landscape-changing driving forces were then analyzed through correlation analyses using socioeconomic variables. Three main conclusions were obtained from the results. First, from 1960, the total area of coastal wetlands consistently increased while the trend of landscape patterns became more complicated. According to the associated economic development policy during the studied period, the year 2000 was found to be a boundary after which the landscape metrics differed from prior years. Second, the hypsometric 6 m curve can provide indispensable information for characterizing wetland patterns. Even though the patterns are similar when the hypsometric 6 m curve is not considered, the change range of the landscape metrics differs, and the extent and intensity of the metrics are higher than when the hypsometric 6 m curve is not considered. Third, agriculture and urban development are recognized as the major factors driving landscape evolution. This study emphasizes the importance of integrating land and sea when crafting wetlands conservation policies on coasts around the world.