ORIGINAL ARTICLE
The Relationship Between Linpan Settlements and Plant Diversity
1
Faculty of Built Environment & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Submission date: 2025-01-15
Final revision date: 2025-03-03
Acceptance date: 2025-03-24
Online publication date: 2025-05-06
Publication date: 2025-05-06
Corresponding author
Civil and Environmental Engineering Reports 2025;35(2):297-313
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Linpan settlements are characterized by rich biodiversity and play a critical role in the region's ecological and economic systems. They are significant carrier of agricultural civilization in the Chengdu Plain. However, rapid urbanization has resulted in the degradation of Linpan settlements, with the gradual reduction and even disappearance of natural landscape elements such as traditional agricultural land, woodlands, and water systems. Hence, this paper aims to explore the relationship between Linpan settlements and plant diversity to identify how plant diversity influences Linpan elements and supports biodiversity. This study investigates the distribution characteristics of Linpans in the Chengdu Plain by selecting 60 representative Linpans, categorized into four types: ecological, agricultural, agritourism, and functional industrial. Moreover, plant diversity and landscape unit characteristics were examined, and plant communities were analyzed using the Margalef richness index, Hurlbert diversity index, and Pielou evenness index. The findings indicate the agricultural Linpans exhibit significant advantages in species diversity, plant variety, and community structural integrity. Functional industrial and agritourism Linpans demonstrate lower vegetation coverage and simplified community structures, primarily due to anthropogenic disturbances. Additionally, the complexity of landscape unit structures positively influences the stability and diversity of plant communities. However, rational adjustments to land use patterns and an increased proportion of natural landscape elements are essential to improving landscape continuity and enhancing ecological functionality. Finally, the findings emphasize the number of landscape elements has a measurable impact on species diversity indices, relatively complex landscape structures promote the stable development of plant communities and Linpan settlements.
REFERENCES (47)
1.
Burel, F and Baudry, J 1995. Species biodiversity in changing agricultural landscapes: a case study in the Pays d'Auge, France. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 55, 193–200.
2.
Cai, J, Zhou, X, Li, G, Zhou, H, Tao, S, Su, W and Gao, Y 2024. Analysis of the spatial pattern and driving forces of Linpan in Western Sichuan. The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences 48, 169–176.
3.
Cai, X 2009. An analysis on the value of rural traditional dwellings—taking Linpan as an example. Sichuan Agricultural University 12,151–153.
4.
Cai, Z, Li, J and Wang, J 2020. The protection and landscape characteristics of traditional villages in coastal areas of SW China. Journal of Coastal Research 111, 331–335.
5.
Cao,S, Chen L, and Yu X 2009. Impact of China's Grain for Green Project on the landscape of vulnerable arid and semi‐arid agricultural regions: A case study in northern Shaanxi Province. Journal of Applied Ecology 46(3), 536-543.
6.
Chen, L, Kalonji, G, Xu, L, Ma, P and Hu, L 2023. Combining microclimatic monitoring with questionnaires, for understanding thermal comfort in Linpan, a typical agricultural ecosystem settlement in the Chengdu plain. Building and Environment 228, 109868.
7.
Dearing, JA, Acma, B, Bub, S, Chambers, FM, Chen, X, Cooper, J and Zhang, K 2015. Social-ecological systems in the Anthropocene: the need for integrating social and biophysical records at regional scales. The Anthropocene Review 12, 220–246.
8.
Du, X 2006. Rural revitalization: Sustainable strategy for the development of cultural landscape of traditional villages through optimized IPA approach. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development 13, 66–86.
9.
Fang, Z 2019. Analysis on the cultural value of Linpan in Sichuan. Sichuan Agriculture University 15, 50-53.
10.
Fayiah, M, Dong, S, Li, Y, Xu, Y, Gao, X and Li, S 2019. The relationships between plant diversity, plant cover, plant biomass and soil fertility vary with grassland type on Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 286, 106659.
11.
Fukamachi, K 2017. Sustainability of terraced paddy fields in traditional satoyama landscapes of Japan. Journal of Environmental Management 202, 543–549.
12.
Grunewald, R and Schubert, H 2007. The definition of a new plant diversity index “H′ dune” for assessing human damage on coastal dunes – Derived from the Shannon index of entropy H′. Ecological Indicators 7(1), 1–21.
13.
Han, F 2007. World heritage cultural landscapes: An old or a new concept for China. Built Heritage 2(3), 68–84.
14.
Huang, F 2012. Challenging the pictorial: recent landscape practice. Assemblage 34, 110–120.
15.
Huang, W 2015. A socio-cultural examination of locality and urban village transformation – The case of Hunde Village. Human Geography 3(1), 1–30.
16.
Jia, L L and Cui, H 2023. Status analysis of Linpan protection in land consolidation of Chengdu Plain. Applied Mechanics and Materials 357, 2118–2121.
17.
Jiang, G, Lu, H, Zheng, J, Liu, Y and Ran, Y 2022. Spatial and temporal evolution of ecological vulnerability in Xinjiang and analysis of driving forces. Arid Zone Research 39(1), 258–269.
18.
Jiang, T, Su, X, Li, N, Wang, J and Chen, Q 2019. Research on the eco-wisdom of Linpan in Chengdu Plain. Proceedings of 2nd International Conference on Arts, Design and Contemporary Education, Sichuan University, China, May 16-18, 681–684.
19.
Jiao, Y, Li, X, Liang, L, Takeuchi, K, Okuro, T, Zhang, D and Sun, L 2012. Indigenous ecological knowledge and natural resource management in the cultural landscape of China’s Hani Terraces. Ecological Research 27, 247–263.
20.
Li, J 2011. Research on Marine Cultural Landscape of Zhejiang. Beijing: Ocean Press Publishing House.
21.
Li, MY, Yang, YL, Liu, L and Wang, L 2016. Effects of social support, hope and resilience on quality of life among Chinese bladder cancer patients: a cross-sectional study. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 14, 1–9.
22.
Li, Q, Wumaier, K and Ishikawa, M 2019. The spatial analysis and sustainability of rural cultural landscapes: Linpan settlements in China’s Chengdu Plain. Sustainability 11, 4431.
23.
Li, Z, Zhou, C, Yang, X, Chen, X, Meng, F, Lu, C and Qi, W 2018. Urban landscape extraction and analysis in the mega-city of China’s coastal regions using high-resolution satellite imagery: A case of Shanghai, China. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation 72, 140–150.
24.
Lian, Z, Huang, X and Zhang, L 2022. The influences of various factors and interest demands on Linpan landscape evolution in the Chengdu Plain: A qualitative study based on oral histories. Journal of Resources and Ecology 14(1), 124–136.
25.
Liu, P, Umel, K, Li, Y, Ishikawa, M and Yu, L 2024. Effects of villagers’ socio-economic and resource backgrounds on the perception of cultural landscape values of Linpan agricultural settlements: The case of Dujiangyan City. Ciencia Rural 54, 20230015.
26.
Liu, X, Tan, N, Zhou, G, Zhang, D, Zhang, Q, Liu, S and Liu, J 2021. Plant diversity and species turnover co-regulate soil nitrogen and phosphorus availability in Dinghushan forests, southern China. Plant and Soil 460, 257–272.
27.
Lukács, BA, Sramkó, G and Molnár, A 2013. Plant diversity and conservation value of continental temporary pools. Biological Conservation 158, 393–400.
28.
Qing, Y, Bei, L and Kui, L 2011. The rural landscape research in Chengdu's urban-rural integration development. Procedia Engineering 21, 780–788.
29.
Rad, JE, Manthey, M and Mataji, A 2009. Comparison of plant species diversity with different plant communities in deciduous forests. International Journal of Environmental Science & Technology 6, 389–394.
30.
Rahmanian, S, Nasiri, V, Amindin, A, Karami, S, Maleki, S, Pouyan, S and Borz, SA 2023. Prediction of plant diversity using multi-seasonal remotely sensed and geodiversity data in a mountainous area. Remote Sensing 15(2), 387.
31.
Ren, C, Zhang, W, Zhong, Z, Han, X, Yang, G, Feng, Y and Ren, G 2018. Differential responses of soil microbial biomass, diversity, and compositions to altitudinal gradients depend on plant and soil characteristics. Science of the Total Environment 610, 750–758.
32.
Rocchini, D, Boyd, DS, Féret, JB, Foody, GM, He, KS, Lausch, A, ... and Pettorelli, N 2016. Satellite remote sensing to monitor species diversity: Potential and pitfalls. Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation 2(1), 25–36.
33.
Shu, B, Gao, TN and Zhao, YX 2013. Research on intensive utilization of land and settlements protection under rural housing reconstruction in Chengdu Plain. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment 173, 231–238.
34.
Su, X and Teo, P 2018. Tourism politics in Lijiang, China: An analysis of state and local interactions in tourism development. Tourism Geographies 10(2), 150–168.
35.
Takeuchi, K 2010. Rebuilding the relationship between people and nature: the Satoyama Initiative. Ecological Research 25(5), 891–897.
36.
Taylor, K and Lennon, J 2011. Cultural landscapes: a bridge between culture and nature?. International Journal of Heritage Studies 17, 537–554.
37.
Turner, BL 2010. Vulnerability and resilience: coalescing or paralleling approaches for sustainability science? Global Environmental Change 20(4), 570–576.
38.
Wang, F 2011. An analysis of the regional variability of cultural landscapes on the Qinghai Plateau. Qinghai Social Science 51, 69–73.
39.
Wang, Y 2009. Traditional regional cultural landscape protection model based on landscape insularity analysis—The case of Luzhi Town, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China. Geography Research 3, 1-20.
40.
Wu, J 2010. Landscape of culture and culture of landscape: does landscape ecology need culture?. Landscape Ecology 25, 1147–1150.
41.
Yang, N, Zhang, Y, Li, J, Li, X, and Ruan, H 2022. Interaction among soil nutrients, plant diversity and hypogeal fungal trophic guild modifies root-associated fungal diversity in coniferous forests of Chinese Southern Himalayas. Plant and Soil, 481(1), 395–408.
42.
Yang, Z, Cai, J and Sliuzas, R 2010. Agro-tourism enterprises as a form of multi-functional urban agriculture for peri-urban development in China. Habitat International 34(4), 374–385.
43.
Yue, H, Min, Q, and Zhang, B 2019. Research progress in the conservation and development of China-nationally important agricultural heritage systems (China-NIAHS). Sustainability, 12(1), 126.
44.
Zhang, F., Xu, L., Zhang, K., Wang, E., & Wang, J. 2022. The potential and flux landscape theory of evolution. The Journal of Chemical Physics, 137, 152-170.
45.
Zheng, S, Li, YQ, Luo, YS, Mu, CL, Peng, PH and Li, YQ 2020. Response of woody plant diversity in Linpan of Chengdu Plain to human interference. Sichuan Agricultural University 25, 56–76.
46.
Zhou, Y 2017. Dynamic changes of Linpan landscape pattern in western Sichuan and ecological planning strategy. Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Civil Engineering and Urban Planning (CEUP2016), China, July, 160–171.
47.
Zong, H, Xiong, W, Liu, M. L, Wang, Q and Zhang, L 2020. Seasonal microclimate effect of Linpan settlements on the surrounding area in Chengdu Plain. Theoretical and Applied Climatology 141, 1559–1572.
| eISSN: | 2450-8594 |
| ISSN: | 2080-5187 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
