Analysis of Mapping and LandscapePattern Evolution in the Yellow RiverDelta Wetland in the Last 20 years

Understanding the evolutionary process of land use and the landscape pattern of the Yellow River Delta wetland is an important prerequisite for promoting its sustainable development.In this study, we combined Landsat-5/7/8 data with the random forest algorithm to map the land cover/land use from 2002 to 2021 in the Yellow River Delta wetland and evaluated and analyzed them.The result demonstrated that: (1) the classification method used is promising, with an average OA and Kappa coefficient of 90.5% and 0.891, respectively; (2) the built-up area of Dongying District and some townships has been expanded since 2008; wheat fields are in Guangrao County, while paddy fields are in the northern part of Xicheng in Dongying District, in the east of the built-up area of Hekou District, and in the highstandard farmland project area; tamarisk shrubs are in the northeastern part, and suaeda meadows near the tidal flat; tidal flats, breeding aquatics, and saltern are in the eastern and northern parts; cropland accounted for the largest proportion, but smaller food cropland during 2002-2016; (3) the decreased woodland in the study area was converted to cropland, and the unused land was converted to waters, impervious surfaces, and cropland; (4) the landscape fragmentation, shape complexity, and aggregation were all reduced firstly and then increased with 2008 as the turning point.The research on mapping and landscape pattern evolution analysis in the Yellow River Delta wetland can provide references for environmental protection and urban and rural development.