What question did this study set out to answer?

To develop a geomorphology-based framework for assessing coastal ecological risk and its nonlinear effects.

May 6, 2026Land0 citationsOpen Access

Coastal Landscape Ecological Risk Assessment for Adaptive Management: Nonlinear Effects and Threshold Responses Across Multiple Geomorphic Types in Guangdong, China

SFSiyi FengSouth China University of Technology YSYing ShiSouth China University of Technology YPYing PanSouth China University of Technology

Key Points

To develop a geomorphology-based framework for assessing coastal ecological risk and its nonlinear effects.
Utilized multi-source data from 1980 to 2020
Identified optimal analytical scale of 120 m (grain) and 1000 m (extent)
Applied OPGD, XGBoost–SHAP, and restricted cubic spline models to examine risk patterns
Variability in driving factors was observed among different geomorphic types
Key statistical thresholds for risk sensitivity were found in specific coastal areas
Clear nonlinear responses to environmental changes were identified

Abstract

Coastal ecosystems are highly dynamic and vulnerable to climate change, sea-level rise, and rapid urbanization. However, many landscape ecological risk assessments are limited by fixed scales and assumptions of spatial uniformity. This study develops a geomorphology-based framework to analyze coastal ecological risk. Using multi-source data from 1980 to 2020, the optimal analytical scale was identified as 120 m (grain) and 1000 m (extent). An integrated approach combining OPGD, XGBoost–SHAP, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models was applied to examine risk patterns and driving mechanisms across four coastal types in Guangdong, China. The results show that the importance and interactions of driving factors vary significantly among geomorphic types, with clear nonlinear responses. Key statistical thresholds were identified, indicating ranges where risk sensitivity changes, including NDVI ≈ 0.624 in the Hilly Ria Coast, slope ≈ 2.8° in the Platform Ria Coast, elevation ≈ 14.5 m in the Barrier–Lagoon Coast, and GDP ≈ 1644.65 × 106 CNY/km2 in the Estuarine Delta Coast. These findings provide quantitative evidence for understanding spatial heterogeneity and the nonlinear dynamics of coastal ecological risk, and offer practical references for adaptive management.

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