Evaluation of ecological connectivity in the coastal zone of Laizhou Bay-Yellow River Delta based on ecosystem service value

The ecological connectivity in the Laizhou Bay-Yellow River Delta coastal zone was evaluated by using the minimum cumulative resistance (M C R) and ecological connectivity index (ECI) methods. The results showed: (1) obvious gradient variation in ecological connectivity in the Laizhou Bay-Yellow River Delta, with the coastal beach zone as the centre and decreasing to both sides; (2) a significant overall downward trend of the connectivity index from 2000 to 2015' decreasing by 12.69%. Infrastructure construction, such as urbanization and transportation, has caused agglomeration and expansion of artificial obstacles, aggravating the trend of fragmentation and islanding of the ecological landscape, resulting in the degradation of ecosystem services and decreasing ecological connectivity; (3) generally low ecological connectivity in the Laizhou Bay-Yellow River Delta, with the areas of extremely low connectivity and low connectivity accounting for the largest proportion while the area of higher connectivity showed a trend toward secondary or lower level connectivity. The transfer and distribution of different levels of ecological connectivity areas reflect the change of ecosystem pattern and material, energy, biology, and information flow in the Laizhou Bay-Yellow River Delta under the dual influence of human activities and natural factors. These results provide relevant scientific reference for ecosystem protection and integrated coastal zone management in Laizhou Bay-Yellow River Delta.