Influence of large open-pit mines on the construction and optimization of urban ecological networks: A case study of Fushun City, China

Dongmei Feng; Ge Bai; Liang Wang

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0303016

Peer Review History

Original SubmissionNovember 16, 2023
29 Feb 2024 Decision Letter - Marcela Pagano, Editor PONE-D-23-35075Influence of large open-pit mines on the construction and optimization of urban ecological networks: A case study of Fushun City, ChinaPLOS ONE Dear Dr. Bai, Thank you for submitting your manuscript to PLOS ONE. After careful consideration, we feel that it has merit but does not fully meet PLOS ONE’s publication criteria as it currently stands. Therefore, we invite you to submit a revised version of the manuscript that addresses the points raised during the review process. Please submit your revised manuscript by Apr 14 2024 11:59PM. If you will need more time than this to complete your revisions, please reply to this message or contact the journal office at plosone@plos.org. When you're ready to submit your revision, log on to https://www.editorialmanager.com/pone/ and select the 'Submissions Needing Revision' folder to locate your manuscript file. 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Revision 1
12 Mar 2024 Author Response Dear Editor: I wish to re-submit the manuscript titled “Influence of large open-pit mines on the construction and optimization of urban ecological networks: A case study of Fushun City, China.” The manuscript ID is PONE-D-23-35075. We thank you and the reviewers for your thoughtful suggestions and insights. The manuscript has benefited from these insightful suggestions. I look forward to working with you and the reviewers to move this manuscript closer to publication in the PLOS ONE. The manuscript has been rechecked and the necessary changes have been made in accordance with the reviewers’ suggestions. The responses to all comments have been prepared and attached herewith. Response to "Journal Requirements"： Question 1. Please ensure that your manuscript meets PLOS ONE's style requirements, including those for file naming. The PLOS ONE style templates can be found at https://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/file?id=wjVg/PLOSOne_formatting_sample_main_body.pdf and https://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/file?id=ba62/PLOSOne_formatting_sample_title_authors_affiliations.pdf Response 1. We have modified the paper layout according to PLOS ONE's style requirements. Question 2. Please note that funding information should not appear in any section or other areas of your manuscript. We will only publish funding information present in the Funding Statement section of the online submission form. Please remove any funding-related text from the manuscript. Response 2. We have removed any funding-related text from the manuscript. Question 3. We note that Figures 1-7 in your submission contain map/satellite images which may be copyrighted. All PLOS content is published under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which means that the manuscript, images, and Supporting Information files will be freely available online, and any third party is permitted to access, download, copy, distribute, and use these materials in any way, even commercially, with proper attribution. For these reasons, we cannot publish previously copyrighted maps or satellite images created using proprietary data, such as Google software (Google Maps, Street View, and Earth). Response 3. We checked all the images (fig.1-7) and found that fig.1 may involve copyright issues as you pointed out, so we have modified fig.1 as a whole. First, we deleted the images that might involve copyright infringement. Then we modified the data source of the remote sensing image, and used the resource "Landsat: http://landsat.visibleearth.nasa.gov/" provided by the journal to update the picture by replacing the elevation data with the remote sensing image data, and changed the remote sensing data source in the manuscript. Finally, the Fushun Municipal boundaries in this paper are not subject to copyright disputes due to the fact that the data were purchased from the data public website as a result of the grant received in the study. According to the requirements of the official website of data download, we have adjusted the data citations in the manuscript and added data citations to the references as references [40]. The related information is as follows: (1)Direct link to the source of the base map: https://www.resdc.cn/DOI/DOI.aspx?DOIID=120 (2) Map source attribution: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS (3) Map Terms of Use or License Information “Data Citation Please state in the data source section: China Multi-year District and County Administrative Boundary Data Data from the Resource and Environmental Science Data Registration and Publication System, and cite the following data papers: Xu, Xinliang. Multi-year district and county administrative division boundary data in China. Resource and Environmental Science Data Registration and Publication System (http://www.resdc.cn/DOI), 2023.DOI:10.12078/2023010101” We have deleted the previous Fig. 1 in the submission system and resubmitted the changed Fig. 1 and changed the name of Fig. 1 in the manuscript. The rest of the images in the paper were drawn using ArcGIS (ver.10.8), which are original and do not involve infringement issues. Finally, The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in public repository "Figshare" : Bai, Ge (2024). Urban ecological networks and large open-pit mines. figshare. Figure. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.25390726.v1 Question 4. Please include captions for your Supporting Information files at the end of your manuscript, and update any in-text citations to match accordingly. Please see our Supporting Information guidelines for more information: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/supporting-information. Response 4. We uploaded the "other" file to "supporting information" in the last submission, but there is actually no supporting information, we have corrected it in the submission system. Question 5. Please review your reference list to ensure that it is complete and correct. Response 5. We have checked all references, and there are no retracted papers. Response to "Comments to the Author"： Question 1. Introduction: Introducing the significance and innovative points of this study. Response 1. We have added the significance and innovative points of this study in the manuscript: Starting from the characteristics of damaged urban ecosystems, this study quantitatively assesses the spatial differentiation characteristics of urban ecosystem service functions under the influence of large-scale open-pit mines, and incorporates the quantified ecosystem service functions into the identification and optimization of the ecological network, which is of great significance as a reference for the overall protection of regional ecosystem structure under the influence of large-scale open-pit mining and for the concrete solution of the problem of ecological environment damage. Question 2. The numbering of the formula should be right aligned. Response 2. We have right-justified the numbers of all formulas. Question 3. The conclusion should be described in points, and the discussion section should include the shortcomings and prospects of this study. Response 3. We have revised the manuscript as below to address these. (1) We have added a discussion section that includes the shortcomings and prospects of this study. This paper adopts the research paradigm of “ecological source-ecological resistance face-ecological corridor” to study the construction and optimization of urban ecological network under the influence of large open-pit mines, but there are still some limitations, which will be discussed and prospected below. “This paper adopts the research paradigm of “ecological source-ecological resistance face-ecological corridor” to study the construction and optimization of urban ecological network under the influence of large open-pit mines, but there are still some limitations, which will be discussed and prospected below. In the construction of resistance surface, this study selects 9 resistance factors from natural talent, ecological resources, and human development to construct a comprehensive resistance surface in Fushun city. However, the actual study of large open-pit mines is complex and the impact of mining activities on the surrounding ecological environment is also very complex. Moreover, resistance factor selection should be comprehensive and representative; however, how to more rigorously select factors scientifically to reflect the special characteristics of large open-pit mining areas and accurately simulate the ecological network of mining cities require further in-depth study. As for the extraction results of ecological corridors, this study simplified the corridors into linear elements, and the width of ecological corridors obtained directly by using the MCR model was the pixel width of 30 meters in the grid data, which could not meet the needs of species migration. In fact, the different widths of corridors may have an impact on the ecological mobility, and the degree of connectivity of the network and the heterogeneity of the landscape in reality may also lead to changes in the shape and width of corridors [68]. Therefore, in the next step of the research work, we can consider refining and analyzing the identification of corridor width according to the actual situation of the study area and the results of previous research, so as to increase the consideration of corridor restoration. This study mainly analyzes and discusses the single-year ecological flow of mining cities under the influence of large open-pit mines, and there is not enough research on temporal dynamics. Mineral mining in mining cities often lasts for more than a few decades, and the large open-pit mines in this paper have been mined for a hundred years, but this study has not studied the dynamic changes and dynamic relationships between ecological damage and ecological restoration areas in mining cities. Currently, under the promotion of the management policy of mining ecological environment protection and restoration, new trends of ecological conditions will also occur in large open-pit mines. In the subsequent research, the dynamic simulation and scenario assumptions of the ecological process in the study area can be constructed through the construction of a model to carry out the analysis of the temporal and spatial evolution of ecological flow, with a view to measuring the relationship between ecological environment destruction and restoration triggered by mining exploitation and clarifying the best path for ecological restoration”. (2) Moreover, we have presented the conclusion in points Fushun City exists in China’s large open-pit mine-concentrated area. Under the joint action of urban construction and mining, the Fushun City’s ecological environment has suffered serious damages and become increasingly sensitive. Therefore, the construction of a complete ecological network planning system to restore the ecological balance of Fushun City is of practical significance. This paper utilizes the InVEST model to assess the ecosystem service function of Fushun City under the influence of large open-pit mines and determines the ecological sources by combining with the landscape connectivity index. Then it constructs a comprehensive ecological resistance surface in Fushun City, extracts ecological corridors in Fushun City using the MCR model, and finally determines ecological breakpoints by combining the distribution characteristics of the mines and the road network, so as to proffer suggestions for the optimization of ecological network management in the Fushun city area. The results show that, first, critical ecosystem service areas influenced by large open-pit mines in Fushun City are located in the Dongzhou and northern Shuncheng districts, whereas low-value areas are located in construction lands at the city center and the areas affected by open-pit mining south of the Hunhe River. Second, based on a combination of ecosystem service functions and landscape connectivity, 21 ecological sources were identified. Under the influence of large open pit mining, the ecological sources in the study area were unevenly distributed, the internal connectivity of the landscape was weak, and the fragmentation degree was high. Third, the ecological resistance surface in Fushun City generally shows the distribution characteristics of high in the center and west, and low in the surrounding area. High ecological resistance value areas in Fushun City overlapped with mines and expressways. Fourth, the MCR and gravity models identified 210 corridors, including 46 important ecological corridors. The Dongzhou district contained a large number of important ecological corridors, the ecological network structure was complex, and the connectivities between source areas were strong. Few corridors were identified in the mining area, resulting in poor connectivity between the southern and northern parts of Fushun City. Finally, two “ecological fracture surfaces” were extracted under the influences of the west and east open-pit mines. Thirty-seven “ecological breakpoints” were extracted under the influence of the expressway and first-class highway network, 18 of which were located in important ecological corridors. Based on the findings, Fushun City should strengthen its source protection, strengthen its broken landscape restoration and open-pit mine ecological environmental management/restoration practices, add new ecological sources and corridors, improve the general ecological corridors, and restore and renovate “ecological breakpoints” and “ecological fracture surfaces” in the region. Enhancing the living environment of the city center and ecological restoration at the mines south of the Hunhe River will improve the network stability and build a safer and more stable ecological network. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Ge Bai College of Business Administration Liaoning Technical University [Liaoning Technical University, 188 Longwan South Street, Xingcheng City, Huludao City, Liaoning Province, China, 125100] Tel.: +17335833151 2433293485@qq.com Attachments Attachment Submitted filename: Response to Reviewers.docx https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0303016.r002
4 Apr 2024 Decision Letter - Marcela Pagano, Editor PONE-D-23-35075R1Influence of large open-pit mines on the construction and optimization of urban ecological networks: A case study of Fushun City, ChinaPLOS ONE Dear Dr. Bai Thank you for submitting your manuscript to PLOS ONE. After careful consideration, we feel that it has merit but does not fully meet PLOS ONE’s publication criteria as it currently stands. Therefore, we invite you to submit a revised version of the manuscript that addresses the points raised during the review process. Please submit your revised manuscript by May 19 2024 11:59PM. If you will need more time than this to complete your revisions, please reply to this message or contact the journal office at plosone@plos.org. When you're ready to submit your revision, log on to https://www.editorialmanager.com/pone/ and select the 'Submissions Needing Revision' folder to locate your manuscript file. Please include the following items when submitting your revised manuscript: A rebuttal letter that responds to each point raised by the academic editor and reviewer(s). You should upload this letter as a separate file labeled 'Response to Reviewers'. A marked-up copy of your manuscript that highlights changes made to the original version. You should upload this as a separate file labeled 'Revised Manuscript with Track Changes'. An unmarked version of your revised paper without tracked changes. You should upload this as a separate file labeled 'Manuscript'. If you would like to make changes to your financial disclosure, please include your updated statement in your cover letter. Guidelines for resubmitting your figure files are available below the reviewer comments at the end of this letter. If applicable, we recommend that you deposit your laboratory protocols in protocols.io to enhance the reproducibility of your results. Protocols.io assigns your protocol its own identifier (DOI) so that it can be cited independently in the future. For instructions see: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/submission-guidelines#loc-laboratory-protocols. Additionally, PLOS ONE offers an option for publishing peer-reviewed Lab Protocol articles, which describe protocols hosted on protocols.io. Read more information on sharing protocols at https://plos.org/protocols?utm_medium=editorial-email&utm_source=authorletters&utm_campaign=protocols. We look forward to receiving your revised manuscript. Kind regards, Marcela Pagano, Ph.D, M.D. Academic Editor PLOS ONE Journal Requirements: Please review your reference list to ensure that it is complete and correct. If you have cited papers that have been retracted, please include the rationale for doing so in the manuscript text, or remove these references and replace them with relevant current references. Any changes to the reference list should be mentioned in the rebuttal letter that accompanies your revised manuscript. If you need to cite a retracted article, indicate the article’s retracted status in the References list and also include a citation and full reference for the retraction notice. Additional Editor Comments: Dear authors, please, check for references not found in the revision version R1, [Note: HTML markup is below. Please do not edit.] [NOTE: If reviewer comments were submitted as an attachment file, they will be attached to this email and accessible via the submission site. Please log into your account, locate the manuscript record, and check for the action link "View Attachments". If this link does not appear, there are no attachment files.] While revising your submission, please upload your figure files to the Preflight Analysis and Conversion Engine (PACE) digital diagnostic tool, https://pacev2.apexcovantage.com/. PACE helps ensure that figures meet PLOS requirements. To use PACE, you must first register as a user. Registration is free. Then, login and navigate to the UPLOAD tab, where you will find detailed instructions on how to use the tool. If you encounter any issues or have any questions when using PACE, please email PLOS at figures@plos.org. Please note that Supporting Information files do not need this step. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0303016.r003
Revision 2
4 Apr 2024 Author Response [April 5, 2024] Dear Editor: I wish to re-submit the manuscript titled “Influence of large open-pit mines on the construction and optimization of urban ecological networks: A case study of Fushun City, China.” The manuscript ID is PONE-D-23-35075R1. We thank you and the reviewers for your thoughtful suggestions and insights. The manuscript has benefited from these insightful suggestions. I look forward to working with you and the reviewers to move this manuscript closer to publication in the PLOS ONE. The manuscript has been rechecked and the necessary changes have been made in accordance with the reviewers’ suggestions. The responses to all comments have been prepared and attached herewith. Question about "Journal Requirements": Please review your reference list to ensure that it is complete and correct. Question about "Additional Editor Comments": please, check for references not found in the revision version R1. Response to the above questions: Due to our citation of references in the process of the wrong operation led to the citation reported error, we have made changes to the citation of references, and there is no withdrawn paper. Along with the modification of the submission, we uploaded the figure files to the Preflight Analysis and Conversion Engine (PACE) digital diagnostic. Finally, The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in public repository "Figshare" at: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.25390726.v1. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Ge Bai College of Business Administration Liaoning Technical University [Liaoning Technical University, 188 Longwan South Street, Xingcheng City, Huludao City, Liaoning Province, China, 125100] Tel.: +17335833151 2433293485@qq.com Attachments Attachment Submitted filename: Response to Reviewers.docx https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0303016.r004
18 Apr 2024 Decision Letter - Marcela Pagano, Editor Influence of large open-pit mines on the construction and optimization of urban ecological networks: A case study of Fushun City, China PONE-D-23-35075R2 Dear Dr. Ge Bai, We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements. Within one week, you’ll receive an e-mail detailing the required amendments. When these have been addressed, you’ll receive a formal acceptance letter and your manuscript will be scheduled for publication. An invoice will be generated when your article is formally accepted. Please note, if your institution has a publishing partnership with PLOS and your article meets the relevant criteria, all or part of your publication costs will be covered. Please make sure your user information is up-to-date by logging into Editorial Manager at Editorial Manager® and clicking the ‘Update My Information' link at the top of the page. If you have any questions relating to publication charges, please contact our Author Billing department directly at authorbilling@plos.org. If your institution or institutions have a press office, please notify them about your upcoming paper to help maximize its impact. If they’ll be preparing press materials, please inform our press team as soon as possible -- no later than 48 hours after receiving the formal acceptance. Your manuscript will remain under strict press embargo until 2 pm Eastern Time on the date of publication. For more information, please contact onepress@plos.org. Kind regards, Marcela Pagano, Ph.D, M.D. Academic Editor PLOS ONE Additional Editor Comments (optional): Reviewers' comments: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0303016.r005
Formally Accepted
26 Apr 2024 Acceptance Letter - Marcela Pagano, Editor PONE-D-23-35075R2 PLOS ONE Dear Dr. Bai, I'm pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been deemed suitable for publication in PLOS ONE. Congratulations! Your manuscript is now being handed over to our production team. At this stage, our production department will prepare your paper for publication. This includes ensuring the following: * All references, tables, and figures are properly cited * All relevant supporting information is included in the manuscript submission, * There are no issues that prevent the paper from being properly typeset If revisions are needed, the production department will contact you directly to resolve them. If no revisions are needed, you will receive an email when the publication date has been set. At this time, we do not offer pre-publication proofs to authors during production of the accepted work. Please keep in mind that we are working through a large volume of accepted articles, so please give us a few weeks to review your paper and let you know the next and final steps. Lastly, if your institution or institutions have a press office, please let them know about your upcoming paper now to help maximize its impact. If they'll be preparing press materials, please inform our press team within the next 48 hours. Your manuscript will remain under strict press embargo until 2 pm Eastern Time on the date of publication. For more information, please contact onepress@plos.org. If we can help with anything else, please email us at customercare@plos.org. Thank you for submitting your work to PLOS ONE and supporting open access. Kind regards, PLOS ONE Editorial Office Staff on behalf of Dr. Marcela Pagano Academic Editor PLOS ONE https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0303016.r006

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