Modeling the bidirectional feedbacks between land use and ecological networks to identify future ecological security core areas

The rapid urbanization intensifies the conflict between land use and ecological protection. While existing studies acknowledge the role of ecological networks in mitigating human-land conflicts, most focus on one-way impact analyses and neglect the dynamic feedback mechanisms between land use change and ecological network evolution. This study develops a bidirectional feedback framework integrating ecological networks and land use simulation. By quantifying the ecological network's constraint effect, we adjust the development probabilities in land use simulations, update predicted land use patterns, and synchronously update the ecological network structure. Through iterative feedback, we identify core areas critical to regional ecological security. Results reveal a strong feedback mechanism between land use change and ecological network structure, with spatially differentiated mutual influences. The bidirectional feedback suppresses construction land expansion near ecological networks, redirecting development to distant areas. Applying the framework to Huanggang City, we identify 2257.55 km2 of key ecological source areas and 20.56 km2 of core ecological corridors as future ecological security core areas (FESCA). This study advances dynamic feedback analysis of ecological network-land use co-evolution, offering scientific insights for regional spatial planning and ecological conservation.