Linking landscape patterns with ecological functions: A case study examining the interaction between landscape heterogeneity and carbon stock of urban forests in Xiamen, China

► The most appropriate scale for landscape pattern analysis is 80 km2. ► Landscape heterogeneity showed a significant increase and then remained stable. ► Shannon's diversity index was the most sensitive landscape metric among all selected landscape heterogeneity metrics. ► This study assesses the relationship between landscape heterogeneity and carbon stock of urban forests.