Evolution and Optimization of Territorial-Space Structure Based on Regional Function Orientation

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

GENERAL COMMENTS

I read the manuscript entitled “Evolution and optimization of territorial space structure based on regional function orientation”. Based on regional functional orientation, the authors put forward a theoretical framework for assessing the evolution and the optimization of territorial space structure (TSS). The study examines the driving factors of TSS in Shandong Province (China) and, resorting to the analyses of multi-scenario simulation of territorial space distribution in 2025, highlights the difficulty in reconciling different human needs (agricultural space and urban space) and ecosystem services (ecological space). Thus, considering the dominant regional functions of territorial space, the authors propose seven different categories of territorial space. The proportion and distribution of those categories “reflect the optimal path for a sustainable relationship between man and land with respect to territorial space.”

The text is understandable and includes the necessary information. Nevertheless, some concepts need to be clarified (see specific comments), there are several grammatical errors (see specific comments), and I had trouble following a few sentences (see specific comments). Therefore, I think detailed copyediting would be helpful.

The literature review is comprehensive and shows that the addressed theme is challenging and topical. However, references to some seminal works on space compartmentation strategies are lacking (e.g., Odum’s Compartment Model in Odum (1969) - The Strategy of ecosystem development, Science, 164:262-270). In addition, the discussion of "land sharing versus land sparing" is overlooked (e.g., Green et al. (2005) – Farming and the fate of wild nature. Science, 307:550-555), and the idea of “Landscape as concept and tool to integrate nature and cultural values in spatial planning” (Angelstam et al) is not developed.

The analyses methods are suited, but not all the variables are clearly defined (see specific comments). The results are presented clearly and straightforwardly, though some table and figure legends are short of information, and some figure components are not defined (see specific comments). 

Although providing some advances in the LULCC field of research, this work results are not ground-breaking and, as recognised by the authors in the discussion section, are “still in part uncertain”. Nevertheless, this is honest and valid research that contributes valuable information. Therefore, all considered, I cannot advise against the manuscript publication. If the authors are willing to make Major Revisions, I recommend considering the following specific comments.

 

SPECIFIC COMMENTS

• Instead of representing a single concept throughout the manuscript, TSS seems to be an expression used in two different senses. It is used both to refer the dynamics of a certain space category – namely ecological, agricultural, and urban space – and the dynamic of a comprehensive system including the three mentioned categories. For instance, in lines 134-135, TSS is used in the former sense, whereas in lines 70-73 is used in the latter sense. In coherence with the proposed theoretical framework, I believe TSS should be used just in the latter sense.

 

• Extending the bibliographic review to include the works cited above would enrich the article's content, providing context to a more comprehensive and fertile discussion.

 

• Detailed copyediting would be helpful to avoid grammatical errors and make the text more concise and easier to read. Here is an example concerning the first sentence (lines 36-38):

Instead of

"Since the start of the 21st century, a shortage of resources and environment, as well as environmental risks caused by the disordered expansion of territorial space, has become principal issues for the sustainable development of mankind."

consider

"Since the start of the 21st century, resource consumption and the environmental crisis caused by human population increase have become leading issues for sustainable development."

 

• The variables in Formulas (1) and (2) are not defined.

 

• Figure 4. legend (line 474) instead of “Direction of TSS evolution of TSS from 2000 to 2020” the text should read “Direction of TSS evolution from 2000 to 2020”.

 

• In Figure 5. (line 498), the representation of the changes between the different categories of space is not perceptible.

 

• The Figure 6. legend is not sufficiently descriptive and should encompass all the panels presented, which should also be identified in the figure (e.g., A – corresponding to ecological space, B – corresponding to agriculture space, and C – corresponding to urban space).

 

• The sentence (lines 584-585) “Since the transformation from ecological to agricultural space, and from agricultural to ecological and urban space are significant in Shandong Province from 2000 to 2020” does not make sense.

 

• The p values presented in Table 5. (line 597), since p values can never be zero, should be reported as p < 0.001.

 

• In line 620 instead of “Social life …..” consider “Socioeconomic metabolism …”.

 

• In line 630 instead of “… the leading factors …” the text should read “… the leading factor …”

 

• In Figure 10 (line 739), the representation of some of the space categories is not perceptible.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

This manuscript presents empirical results of evolution and optimization of territorial space structure of Shandong Province, China. Several spatial statistical analyses were conducted based on land use and land cover dynamics of the study area during the period of 2000-2020. I faced some difficulty reading the manuscript because of the authors´ writing style, i.e., lot of secondary information and unnecessary use of adjectives before presenting the main information, data, or findings. I strongly recommend the authors to double check this aspect of the manuscript. See the example below:

Original text (L871-875, second paragraph of the Conclusion section):

For the period between 2000 and 2020, the comprehensive dynamic degree of TSS for the entire period was calculated at 0.56%. Moreover, the scale of TSS changed significantly and the prominence of human activity became more intense. The evolution of TSS in Shandong Province from 2000 to 2020 is characterized by the exchange of ecological space and agricultural space, with an area of 14172 km2 and 100041 km2, respectively.

Suggested text:

For the period between 2000 and 2020, the comprehensive dynamic degree of TSS for the entire period was calculated at 0.56%. Moreover, the scale of TSS changed significantly and the prominence of human activity became more intense. The evolution of TSS in Shandong Province from 2000 to 2020 is MAINLY characterized by the exchange REDUCTION of ecological space and INTO agricultural space, with an area of 14172 km2 and 100041 km2, respectively.

Other minor comments are:

1. Please, identify the letters in the Equations 1 and 2. “Equation” is more common than “Formula” in scientific papers.
2. There are several long paragraphs in the text. Please, split them into 2-3 paragraphs.
3. Figure 5. For clarity purpose, I would leave unchanged spaces (ES to ES, AS to AS, and US to US) as blank in this figure.
4. Figure 6. Please, identify which graphs correspond to the ecological, agricultural, and urban spaces.
5. Discussion section: too philosophical! There is very little discussion about the data found in this study. Please, focuses more on discussion of data and analysis. You have obtained so many interesting results that are not valued in the Discussion section.

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors have accepted the suggestions made and satisfactorily addressed the issues raised regarding the previous submission. As a result,  the overall quality of the manuscript has substantially improved, and, thus, it warrants publication in "Land."

This manuscript is a resubmission of an earlier submission. The following is a list of the peer review reports and author responses from that submission.