Spatio-temporal variations in mangrove forests in the Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve based on the GEE cloud platform and Landsat data

Conventional processing methods for remote sensing data are inefficient and time-consuming. Using the object-oriented classification method this study extracted the distribution of mangrove forests of 2000, 2010, and 2020 in the Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve in Guangxi based on the GEE cloud platform and Landsat TM/OLI remote sensing data. Then, this study monitored the spatio-temporal variations in mangrove forests in the study area in combination with the landscape analysis method and revealed their driving factors. The results are as follows: ① During 2000—2020, the mangrove forests in the study area increased by about 63 hm², including a significant increase of about 40 hm² during 2010—2020; ② Compared with other land use types, the mangrove forests showed the most intense conversion with spartina alterniflora areas and mudflats, with 152 hm² of spartina alterniflora areas and mudflats being converted to mangrove forests and 122 hm² of mangrove forests being converted to spartina alterniflora areas over the 20 years; ③ During 2000—2020, the mangrove landscape in the study area showed decreased fragmentation, increased patch aggregation, continuously expanded landscape dominance, and landward migration of the mangrove forest centroid; ④ Among the factors affecting the area of mangrove forests in the nature reserve, the control of invasive vegetation and moderate aquaculture can increase the area of mangrove forests, while climate changes and invasive vegetation had adverse effects on the growth of mangrove forests. The results of this study will provide a method reference and data basis for the conservation and management of mangrove wetlands in Shankou, Guangxi.