Abstract: The aim of this study was to understand the regional differences in ecological resilience in coastal areas and their related driving factors in the Bohai Sea coastal zone. By constructing an ecological resilience assessment framework encompassing resistance, adaptability, and recovery, we evaluated the ecological resilience levels in the Bohai Sea coastal zone in 2000, 2010, and 2020. Geographic detectors were employed to assess key driving factors. Finally, the spatial scale dependency characteristics of ecological resilience assessments were explored. The results showed that: (1) The overall ecological resilience in the Bohai Sea coastal zone exhibited a declining trend from 2000 to 2020. The rate of decline was 2.2% between 2000 and 2010 and accelerated to 10.8% between 2010 and 2020, implying that rapid economic development led to a swift decrease in ecological resilience. (2) Ecological resilience in the Bohai Sea coastal zone displayed significant spatial and temporal heterogeneity. Jinzhou, Huludao, the Shandong Peninsula, and the Liaodong Peninsula exhibited a gradual increase in ecological resilience over the past 20 years, while Tianjin demonstrated a rapid and gradual decline. (3) Economic development and environmental protection measures were key drivers. Within the economic development factor, indicators such as economic density and human activity intensity exerted significant negative impacts on ecological resilience. Conversely, indicators related to the proportions of forest, grassland, and wetland areas within environmental protection measures primarily manifested positive effects. Moreover, the intensity of these driving factors varied across different regions. (4) The outcomes of assessment highly depended on spatial scales. Larger spatial scales (13 km×13 km) tended to average out the distribution of ecological resilience but might mask local details, whereas smaller scales (1 km×1 km) provided a more refined assessment, offering clearer insights into specific features. For a comprehensive understanding of overall characteristics at larger scales, a resolution of 10 km×10 km or above is recommended. For a detailed understanding of assessment targets, resolutions below 7 km×7 km are suggested.

Key words: ecological resilience, spatiotemporal pattern, scale dependence, Bohai Rim region