Spatial Response of Habitat Quality to Climate Change and Human Activities

Abstract

[Objective] To explore the dynamic changes in the environmental quality of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and provide reference for ensuring the ecological security of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, protecting biodiversity and building a strong ecological barrier. [Methods] Based on five periods of land use data in 1985, 1995, 2005, 2015 and 2022, with the help of the InVEST model, we quantitatively assessed the habitat quality status of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau in 1985—2022 and analyzed its spatiotemporal pattern. Finally, we used bivariate spatial autocorrelation explore the spatial response of habitat quality to climate change and human activities. [Results] (1) In 1985—2022, the habitat index of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau has increased by 0.052 9, and the proportion of higher and higher habitat areas has increased by 5.51% in total, the overall habitat quality level has improved but is still at a low level. (2) In 1985—2022, the habitat quality of most areas on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau has increased by 48.14%, but the overall spatial distribution of habitat levels has not changed much, and each level area has increased in nested levels from outside to inside. (3) In 1985—2022, the main types of environmental quality grade transfer in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau have remained unchanged, but the intensity of grade transformation has continued to increase. (4) In 1985—2022, the habitat quality of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau has a significant spatial correlation with climate change and human activities, the average annual temperature has a significant spatial negative correlation with the habitat quality, the annual precipitation and human activity intensity have a significant spatial correlation with the habitat quality, there is a significant positive spatial correlation. [Conclusion] The research results reveal the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau's habitat quality, and clarify that climate change and human activities have a profound impact on habitat quality. In the future, bottom-line constraints and human activity guidance should be strengthened.

Keywords

• habitat quality
• biodiversity
• invest model
• bivariate spatial autocorrelation
• qinghai-xizang plateau