Priority evaluation of ecological protect areas based on MSPA, landscape connectivity, and spatial syntax methods in the Su-Xi-Chang Region

With the acceleration of urbanization processes, priority identification of ecological protect areas(EPAs) has become an important method to protect biodiversity, alleviate urban ecological pressure, and improve land use efficiency. In this study, taking the Su-Xi-Chang region as a case study area, EPAs were identified using the Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis(MSPA). The priority of EPAs was determined using the landscape connectivity method. High priority areas, such as forests and water bodies, were identified as the "source area" of the EPA network. However, the landscape connectivity method failed to reflect the unequal weight effect of EPAs on species decision making. Therefore, this study introduced a spatial syntax method to further determine the priority of EPAs. The results showed that: 1) forestland No. 1 and 2, and Taihu Lake were identified with the highest priority in the Su-Xi-Chang region. They were the three centers of the EPA network that required prioritized protection; 2) there were remarkable differences between the results of priority recognition using landscape connectivity and the spatial syntax method. For example, the priority of eight EPAs determined using the landscape connectivity method decreased by 1 to 2 levels after combining it with the spatial syntax method. However, the priority of another four EPAs determined using the landscape connectivity method increased by 2 levels after combining it with the spatial syntax method. Therefore, the combined connectivity-spatial syntax method for priority identification of EPAs could reflect an unequal weight influence of different landscape elements on species decision-making behavior and the ecological effect of spatial configuration of ecological elements. The combined method could also provide an effective method for identifying key ecological spaces and is of great significance for protecting biodiversity and maintaining regional ecological security.