Spatio-temporal dynamics and driving factors of the Production–Ecological–Living Spaces in the Funiu Mountain Area from 2000 to 2020

Introduction Scientific understanding of the spatio-temporal evolution of Production-Ecological-Living Spaces (PELS) and their driving factors provides theoretical support and practical guidance for territorial spatial planning. This study aimed to investigate the spatio-temporal evolution of PELS and explore its driving factors in the Funiu Mountain area. Methods Digital elevation models (DEMs), multi-source datasets of natural, social, and economic driving factors, and the geographical detector method were used to analyze the spatio-temporal evolution of PELS and identify its driving factors. Results From 2000 to 2020, the area of production space showed a shrinking trend, whereas the areas of ecological space and living space expanded. Among these, grassland ecological space and urban living space expanded significantly. Across different elevation zones, production space decreased in area. Ecological space increased slightly in low-altitude areas (<400 m), while changes in medium- and high-altitude areas were relatively stable. Living space increased across all elevation zones. Urban living space and industrial production space underwent the most frequent changes. In terms of spatial transformation, exchanges between ecological space and production space were dominant, followed by those between living space and production space, whereas transformations between ecological space and living space were infrequent. The evolution of PELS was primarily influenced by natural background conditions, while the driving effects of socio-economic factors became increasingly prominent. The q value of economic density increased 26.4-fold (from 0.0064 to 0.1688), while that of population density increased 7.5-fold, highlighting the increasingly important role of socio-economic factors in shaping the spatial pattern. Discussion Unlike existing regional-scale investigations, this study identifies the elevation-gradient differentiation of the driving mechanisms underlying PELS evolution in mountainous areas. These findings enrich the theoretical understanding of PELS in mountain regions and provide targeted support for territorial spatial optimization and sustainable, coordinated regional development in the Funiu Mountain area.