Abstract: The main objective of establishing natural reserve is to protect its natural resources from human disturbances and maintain its critical ecological service values. This paper introduced the concept of hemeroby, and by using remote sensing technology, systematically assessed the dynamic changes of landscape pattern and eco-disturbance degree in Shuangtai estuary wetland of Liaoning Province, China. Firstly, a knowledge-based expert system was used to classify the landscape into three first-level types based on eco-disturbance degree, i.e., undisturbed, partially disturbed, or completely disturbed, which were further classified into 30 second-level categories. Secondly, questionnaire and experts knowledge were adopted to determine the hemeroby index for each landscape type and to formulate a landscape classification system. Finally, the landscape classification maps and hemeroby indices were derived by using the Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM)/Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM⁺) data acquired on 30 April 1987, 7 June 1995, 12 June 2000, and 11 October 2006. The results indicated that from 1987 to 2006, the landscape patches in the study area became more fragmented, being most obvious for reed marsh. Undisturbed landscape type decreased in area, while partially and completely disturbed types were in adverse. The overall characteristics of the spatial distribution of hemeroby index were of most variable in the areas along the river and surrounding the estuary and being the highest in the areas surrounding the city, largely due to the rapid urbanization and the blooming fishery in the study area.

Key words: nature reserve, landscape change, hemeroby index, wetland, Shuangtai estuary, remote sensing, plant functional trait, Artemisia sacrorum, adaptation strategy.