Gradient analysis of landscape pattern in the core area of the “Zhengzhou and Kaifeng Integration” at the landscape level

Abstract The analysis of landscape pattern change is an effective way to understand urbanization. Research area is the core area of urbanization, which is between Zhengzhou city and Kaifeng city in China. Geographic information system (GIS) and landscape metrics method are used to quantify the gradient landscape pattern changes in the study area. The results show an obvious gradient change of landscape pattern from 2005 to 2015. The landscape pattern in the eastern and western of the study area experienced larger changes than the middle area. The western end mainly changed in terms of the patch number, patch shape and anthropogenic influence, but the patch types in the east changed more rapidly than those in the west. Landscape pattern change is influenced by policy and location, and human influence is the main driving force. Unlike previous study areas, in which urbanization expanded from the center of a city to its surroundings, our study area spread from two ends (Zhengzhou and Kaifeng cities) to the center of the study area. This study could be used as a typical case for the gradient analysis of landscape pattern changes during urbanization.