Evaluating and optimizing ecological networks in the Hubei Yangtze river economic belt using an importance–sensitivity and circuit–graph approach

Abstract

Abstract This study focuses on the Yangtze River Economic Belt in Hubei Province, addressing ecosystem service degradation and ecological risks under rapid urbanization. An integrated “Importance–Sensitivity–Circuit Theory–Graph Theory” framework was developed to optimize the regional ecological network. Ecological sources were identified by combining ecosystem service importance and ecological sensitivity. Circuit theory was applied to simulate multi-path corridors and key nodes, while graph theory quantitatively evaluated network connectivity. Results indicate that ecological sources show a spatial pattern of “high in the east and west, low in the middle,” with the Jianghan Plain identified as a key corridor break zone; Circuit theory revealed multiple potential corridors, high-priority pinch points, and barriers needing restoration; Graph analysis confirmed that the optimized network achieved significant improvements in closure, connection efficiency, and overall connectivity. By coupling ecological functional attributes with structural network optimization, this framework overcomes the limitations of traditional approaches that focus primarily on landscape morphology or single indicators, and its systematic and quantitative evaluation pathway provides a transferable methodological reference for constructing ecological networks in complex regions. The findings offer scientific support for regional ecological security pattern development and territorial spatial planning.