Functional-Zone-Dependent Spatiotemporal Heterogeneity and Driving Mechanisms of Ecological Conditions in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region, China

Urban agglomerations exhibit pronounced ecological heterogeneity due to complex interactions between anthropogenic and natural factors. However, most existing studies assess ecological conditions from an aggregated regional perspective, potentially obscuring localized ecological mechanisms and heterogeneous ecological responses among different functional areas. To address this issue, an integrated ecological assessment framework incorporating anthropogenic indicators was developed to investigate the spatiotemporal heterogeneity and driving mechanisms of ecological conditions across major function-oriented zones in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region from 2001 to 2020. The results revealed significant functional-zone-dependent heterogeneity in ecological responses. The ecological conservation area maintained the highest ecological conditions with continuous improvement, largely attributed to extensive vegetation coverage and ecological restoration efforts. In contrast, the core function area showed relatively low ecological conditions, primarily constrained by urban thermal stress, atmospheric pollution, and intensive human activities. The coastal development area displayed fragmented ecological patterns, with ecological responses influenced jointly by climatic conditions and socioeconomic activities. The secondary function area exhibited more complex ecological dynamics, where ecological conditions were shaped by the interaction of land cover, GDP, and natural factors. These findings demonstrate that ecological responses within urban agglomerations are fundamentally shaped by functional-zone-dependent anthropogenic–natural coupling processes. By integrating anthropogenic indicators into ecological assessment and examining ecological dynamics from a functional-zone perspective, the proposed framework enables the identification of localized ecological mechanisms and heterogeneous driver–response relationships that may be obscured by aggregated regional analyses. Furthermore, the proposed framework provides scientific support for functional-zone-oriented ecological governance, differentiated ecological restoration, and sustainable regional development.