Anthropogenic activities amplify spatiotemporal variations in regional ecological security patterns dominated by natural factors: Evidence from the West Liaohe River Basin, China

Ecological security patterns (ESPs) represent an effective way to maintain regional ecological security and promote regional sustainable development. This study investigated the spatiotemporal variations of ESPs in the West Liaohe River Basin (WLRB), China during 2000–2020 on the basis of five key ecosystem services (net primary production, soil conservation, habitat quality, water retention, and soil loss by wind). On the basis of the Geodetector model, we initially measured the explanatory rates of various natural and anthropogenic factors on the spatial differentiation of ecological sources and ecological corridors. The Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) model was subsequently used to elucidate the driving mechanism of ESPs at the interannual scale. During 2000–2020, a "fan-shaped" ESP of "two zones, three belts, and many branches" formed in the WLRB. Natural factors dominated the spatial distribution of ESPs, and the average spatial explanation rate for ecological sources and ecological corridors was 23.86%, which was higher than that of anthropogenic activities (13.29%). However, anthropogenic activities amplified the spatiotemporal variations in ESPs. On this basis, this study proposed an ecological security protection and regulation strategy from three aspects, namely, regional priority, suitability analysis, and risk regulation, which might provide a working direction for regional practical management. This study extends the paradigm of ESP research and offers an important theoretical basis for regional ecological security, from "passive management" to "active management".