Integrating ecosystem integrity and ES supply - demand process to explore ecological connectivity in Wuhan metropolitan area, China

Protecting ecosystem integrity and maintaining ecosystem service (ES) supply-demand process through ecological connectivity (EC) is crucial for achieving sustainable development of metropolitan area. Currently, EC research focuses more on the combination of protecting the ES supply and maintaining ecosystem integrity, and less on effectively meeting human needs. To bridge this gap, we integrated the theory of ES supply-demand process, connectivity research methods to form a demand-oriented EC research framework, and conducted empirical research on the Wuhan metropolitan area (WHA). Firstly, we evaluated the supply-demand matches status of the key four ESs; And then, from the aspects of flow quantity, flow direction, flow boundary, and allocation principles, the spatial process of ESs flow were decomposed, and the ecological sources that meet demand while supporting the ESs supply-demand process were identified; Finally, based on the comprehensive resistance surface, connected corridors and important strategic points that are crucial for ecological protection were extracted, and an EC network was constructed. The results were the following:(1) the supply and demand of the key ESs in the study area showed a significant spatial mismatch, especially for water conservation (WC) and carbon sequestration (CS); (2)55 ecological sources, 84 ecological corridors and 25 strategic points were identified, and a stable structurally EC network was constructed; (3) The ecological sources were also crucial for ESs supply while meeting human demand and supporting the spatial process of ESs supply-demand. This research is beneficial for deepening the understanding of the supply-demand status of ESs, and providing a support for ecological lands protection planning.