{
  "abstract": "Assessing mangrove ecosystem stability across space and time remains challenging due to the multidimensional nature of ecological structure and function and the lack of integrative indicators. Here, we developed a Mangrove Ecosystem Stability Index (MESI) based on multiple remote sensing indicators to quantify the spatiotemporal dynamics of mangroves across China from 2000 to 2021. During this period, mangrove forests expanded by 38.5%, largely through the conversion of aquaculture ponds and water bodies under active restoration programs, while the mean MESI increased from 0.49 to 0.55. Bayesian models revealed scale-dependent drivers of stability, with soil organic carbon dominating at the national scale and urbanization intensity and population density shaping patterns at provincial and reserve scales. Spatiotemporal trajectory analysis showed that over 55% of China's mangroves remained stable, with positive changes (23%) slightly exceeding declines (22%). Integrating stability trajectories with spatial prioritization identified 32% of mangroves outside current reserves as high-priority conservation areas, particularly in Guangxi, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, and Hainan. These findings provide a scalable framework for linking ecosystem stability assessment with conservation planning to support adaptive mangrove management under increasing climatic and anthropogenic pressures.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, 518060 Shenzhen, China; MNR Key Laboratory for Geo-Environmental Monitoring of Great Bay Area & Guangdong Key Laboratory of Urban Informatics, Shenzhen University, 518060 Shenzhen, China",
    "College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, 518060 Shenzhen, China",
    "MNR Key Laboratory for Geo-Environmental Monitoring of Great Bay Area & Guangdong Key Laboratory of Urban Informatics, Shenzhen University, 518060 Shenzhen, China; School of Architecture & Urban Planning, Shenzhen University, 518060 Shenzhen, China",
    "College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, 518060 Shenzhen, China; MNR Key Laboratory for Geo-Environmental Monitoring of Great Bay Area & Guangdong Key Laboratory of Urban Informatics, Shenzhen University, 518060 Shenzhen, China; Corresponding author at: College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, 518060 Shenzhen, China.",
    "Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 518055 Shenzhen, China"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Junjie Wang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Haixu Hu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Longda Tan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Haoli Xiang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Hongming Yao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Wenxiu Gao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Guofeng Wu"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8j7a8acvbegjh.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.115657",
  "fulltext_url": "http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X26010599",
  "id": "8j7a8acvbegjh",
  "issns": [
    "1470-160X",
    "1872-7034"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.115657",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "QH540-549.5"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2303|Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223112560",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-30",
  "publisher": "Elsevier",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8j7a8acvbegjh.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:43:32Z",
      "native_id": "5c910d9390a1472baf7b08495f49f160",
      "source": "doaj",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.115657"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:2303|Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics",
      "subfield": "ecology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Ecosystem stability trajectories identify mangrove conservation priorities in China",
  "title_text": "Ecosystem stability trajectories identify mangrove conservation priorities in China",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T13:43:32Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8j7a8acvbegjh",
  "venue": "Ecological Indicators",
  "versions": []
}