Under the background of rapid urbanization, the study explored the adaptive relationship between urban spatial development and water landscape in different stages in Caidian District, Wuhan in order to reveal the characteristics and influencing factors of water landscape adaptability of urban spatial development and improve urban sustainability aiming at optimizing spatial development and improving water landscape function. Caidian District was seen as a complex adaptive system formed by the interaction between the base layer and the occupation layer. The assessment system of urban spatial development is constructed based on land use data and landscape pattern indices, and the coupling coordination degree model and correlation analysis were used to describe the characteristics of water landscape adaptability of urban spatial development. The results showed that: (1) the adaptation relationship between urban space and water landscape in Caidian District was becoming tense; (2) different spatial systems have unique adaptation cycles to water landscape; (3) the 1000 m buffer is the main area affected by water landscape adaptability of urban spatial development. This study provides a new perspective for the urban adaptability. Finally, improvement suggestions were put forward by three aspects of water landscape structure control, urban development control, and ecological space demarcation.

Urban agglomerations are the main form of China’s future promotion of new urbanization development. Nevertheless, their accelerated expansion and development are increasingly threatening the security of regional ecosystems. The identification and optimization of ecological safety patterns (ESPs) is the fundamental spatial way to guarantee the ecological safety of urban circles and realize the sustainable development of the socio-economic and ecological environment. Nevertheless, from the perspective of urban green, low-carbon, and ecological restoration, regional safety evaluation still lacks a complete framework integrating ecological elements and social and natural indicators. Moreover, the evaluation method of ESPs also has a lack of judgment on the long-term change dynamics of regional landscape ecological risks and ecosystem service values. Thus, we proposed a new regional ecological security evaluation system based on ecosystem service value (ESV) and landscape ecological risk (LER), using the Wuhan urban agglomeration (WUA) as the research object. This study analyzed LER and ESV’s spatial and temporal changes over nearly 40 years from 1980 to 2020. LER and LSV were used as ecological elements combined with natural and human-social elements to jointly model the resistance surface of the landscape pattern. Applying the minimum cumulative resistance model (MCR), we identified green ecological corridors, constructed the ESPs of WUA, and proposed optimization measures. Our results show that: (1) The proportion of higher- and high-ecological-risk areas in WUA has decreased from 19.30% to 13.51% over the past 40 years. Over time, a “low–high–low” hierarchical distribution characteristic centered on Wuhan city was gradually formed in the east, south, and north; the total value of ecosystem services increased from CNY1110.998 billion to CNY1160.698 billion. The ESV was higher in the northeastern, southern, and central parts of the area. (2) This study selected 30 ecological source areas with a total area of about 14,374 km² and constructed and identified 24 ecological corridors and 42 ecological nodes, forming a multi-level ecological network optimization pattern with intertwined points, lines, and surfaces, increasing the connectivity of the ecological network and improving the ecological security level of the study area to a large extent, which is of great significance to promote the ecological priority and green-rise strategy of WUA and the high-quality development path of the green ecological shelter.

Wetlands play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance. Preserving the ecological security of wetlands is critically important for regional environmental protection and sustainable development. However, in the core area of the Wuhan metropolitan circle, which is rapidly urbanizing, its wetlands are more susceptible to external natural environmental risks, such as changes in temperature and rainfall, as well as risks to human activity, such as social and economic activities, urban expansion, land use changes, and population growth. Meanwhile, the internal vulnerability of wetlands in terms of their spatial extent, structure, and functions also exacerbates ecological risks. These factors collectively influence the formation and development of wetland ecological risks. This study aims to comprehensively assess wetland ecological risks in the core area of the Wuhan metropolitan circle by combining external hazards and internal vulnerabilities and to construct and optimize the wetlands’ ecological security pattern. We used the MSPA method to identify potential ecological sources. Additionally, the MCR model was employed to integrate ecological risk assessment results into the resistance surface, identify potential ecological corridors and nodes, construct the wetland ecological security pattern for the urban circle, and propose specific optimization strategies. In total, 31 primary and 106 secondary ecological sources were selected, along with 20 primary and 42 secondary ecological nodes. Furthermore, 10 major ecological corridors were constructed. Considering the landscape characteristics of the wetlands in the core area of the Wuhan metropolitan circle, the southern Yangtze River region will center around the Liangzi Lake group to establish a crucial corridor network, promoting overall wetland restoration and connectivity. Meanwhile, the northern Yangtze River region will form a chain-like distribution along the river, creating diverse ecosystems. This study provides a theoretical foundation for constructing and optimizing the ecological security pattern of wetlands, laying a solid groundwork for promoting regional wetland conservation and sustainable development.