Objective It is an important prerequisite for the improvement of the national space development and protection system to scientifically understand the regional spatial evolution of the production−living−ecological space under long−term time series. This study investigates the spatiotemporal evolution of the production−living−ecological space in Northeast China and its coupled natural−human driving mechanisms, to support evidence−based coordination of conflicts between ecological protection, agricultural production, and urban expansion.

Methods Based on five periods of land use data from 1980 to 2020, combined with land use dynamic degree, transfer matrix and information graph, geographic detector and other methods, this paper analyzed the spatial distribution scale, spatio−temporal variation characteristics and driving factors of production−living−ecological space pattern evolution in Northeast China.

Results (1) The production−living−ecological space in Northeast China presents a pattern of "ecological dominance and production support". Ecological (67.42%) and production space (29.95%) accounted for a significant proportion while the expansion of living space (3.89%) is the fastest. (2) The evolution of production−living−ecological space shows that the Production Space first rises and then becomes stable, the living space increases gradually, while the ecological space fluctuates first and then declines. More specifically, the Ecological Space of grassland, woodland and others has been obviously transformed into agricultural production space, and the urban living space has expanded significantly. (3) The evolution of production−living−ecological spatial pattern in Northeast China is influenced by the comprehensive effects of land use intensity, temperature, elevation, regional GDP, population density and other factors. Among them, human activities accelerate the evolution of production−living−ecological spatial pattern.

Conclusions The evolution of production−living−ecological space in Northeast China is influenced by the dual mechanism of constraint of natural base plus dominance of human activities. It is necessary to coordinate the contradictions between ecological protection and agricultural production and urban expansion, and to strengthen the management and control of the resilience of territorial space.