Abstract: By using the multi-temporal Landsat TM (or MSS) images in 1978-2007 as the basic data, this paper analyzed the landscape changes of Wuhan wetlands under the background of urbanization in recent 30 years. In the study period, the wetland area in Wuhan was decreasing, with a mean annual decreasing rate of 0.89% and a mean annual decrement of 1655.79 hm². In 1991-2002, the annual decreasing rate of wetland landscape was higher than the mean decreasing rate in recent 30 years, and was synchronous with the area increase of Wuhan built-up area. During the study period, the area of natural wetland decreased, while that of constructed wetland increased. As a major type of Wuhan wetland, the lake wetland had the fastest decline in area, being a direct cause of wetland area decrease in Wuhan. The increasing area of constructed wetland did not change the decreasing trend of total wetland area. With rapid urbanization, the wetlands in Wuhan showed the trends of patch density and fragmentation increased and fractal and connectivity decreased. Though the implementation of related protection laws kept the rate of wetland shrinking within limits, the decreasing trend of wetland area in Wuhan did not have any change. Therefore, the protection and planning of Wuhan wetlands, especially the river and lake wetlands should be further strengthened.

Key words: Damage of M.micrantha, Community types, Cluster analysis, Correlation analysis, Neilingding Island, Guangdong Province