Effects of built area on net primary productivity provided by different landscape characters and the promotion potential

Abstract

Changes in natural and artificial landscapes due to rapid urbanization in recent decades have greatly altered the supply of net primary productivity (NPP) and its regulation mechanisms at the landscape scale, thus affecting the health of the whole ecosystem. Understanding the capacity and potential of NPP supply at the landscape scale based on landscape integrity is critical for regional ecosystem health and management. In this study, the NPP supply capacity of different types of landscape and the influence of urban built-up areas on it were assessed in Hubei Province, China. The optimal capacity criteria of NPP supply in different types of landscape under current conditions were identified, and the promotion potential of NPP was evaluated based on these criteria. The results show that the landscape with natural elements as the main components has a high NPP supply capacity, but it has been greatly influenced by urban development, and the closer the distance to the city is, the lower the NPP supply capacity will be. The plain landscape with construction land and farmland as the main components has weak NPP supply capacity and low sensitivity to urban development. The trend inflection points for the influence of urban development on the NPP supply capacity of different types of landscape can provide more realistic quantitative targets and spatial distribution of NPP improvement potential for decision making. The findings may help in the management of ecosystem health at the landscape scale.