Optimizing the Ecological Network in the Chagan Lake Region Based on MSPA and MCR Models

Developing ecological networks is essential for preserving regional ecosystem stability and for reducing risks associated with degraded landscape security and ecological health. However, regional ecological network studies in lake environments that combine long-term temporal comparison with location-specific optimization remain relatively limited. Taking the Chagan Lake region as the study area, this research examined landscape pattern changes in 2000, 2010, and 2020 by integrating Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA) with connectivity metrics to determine major ecological source areas. General and key ecological corridors were then identified and evaluated through the joint use of the Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) model and the gravity model. Based on these results, the evolution of the regional ecological network during the past two decades was analyzed, and an optimization strategy was proposed. The results show that important ecological source areas became increasingly fragmented over time. Although corridor numbers continued to rise, connectivity between the eastern and western sectors and across parts of the central zone remained weak. In response, three supplementary ecological source areas, together with restoration nodes and stepping-stone patches, are proposed to reinforce structural linkage and improve the overall network configuration. The study offers a practical basis for ecological network refinement in the Chagan Lake region and provides methodological support for enhancing landscape connectivity and ecosystem resilience.