A systematic review of urbanization-driven variations in landscape patterns, water quality and biodiversity of wetland ecosystems

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Wetlands are frequently described as the "Earth's kidneys" because they are among the most complex, productive, and valuable ecosystems globally. However, rapid urbanization has caused widespread wetland degradation and loss, leading to the depletion of ecosystem services and the emergence of serious environmental problems. A comprehensive understanding of how urbanization reshapes wetland landscape patterns, water quality, and biodiversity remains insufficient. Based on 1,637 records retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, this review combines bibliometric analysis with a qualitative synthesis of 726 studies that met the predefined eligibility criteria to examine urbanization-driven wetland changes from both stress-response and management-response perspectives. The results show that urbanization degrades wetland ecosystems primarily through three interconnected pathways: fragmentation and loss of wetland landscapes, deterioration of water quality due to runoff and pollutant inputs, and biodiversity decline driven by habitat loss and ecological imbalance. At the same time, management responses accompanying urban development, including policy innovation, technological monitoring, restoration investment, and ecological planning, can create opportunities for integrated wetland conservation and urban development. Future urban planning should place greater emphasis on sustainable wetland management and promote the coordinated integration of wetland conservation, restoration, and urban growth.