Comparison of spatial-temporal evolution of habitat quality between Xinjiang Corps and Non-corps Region based on land use

Abstract

Regional habitat quality is an important indicator of ecosystem health. Understanding land use change and habitat quality will help protect biodiversity and build an ecological security pattern. We used the InVEST model to quantitatively evaluate the habitat quality of the Xinjiang Corps and Non-corps Region based on land use data of 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2018, and further analyzed the similarities and differences of the spatiotemporal distribution. The results showed that from 1990 to 2018, Xinjiang's land use types were generally stable, characterized mainly by the expansion of cultivated land and construction land, and the decrease of grassland and unused land. The main changes were shown as the mutual conversion of grassland and cultivated land, and the conversion of cultivated land to construction land. The cultivated land and construction land of the Corps increased by 8.3% and 0.7%, while the grassland and forest land decreased by 6.7% and 0.3%, respectively. The change in the Non-corps region was relatively small, with a 1.5% reduction of grassland, a 1.2 % increases of cultivated land, and a 0.2% increase of construction land. From 1990 to 2018, the degree of habitat degradation in Xinjiang first decreased and then increased, with the quality of habitats decreasing gradually. The low-quality habitat areas were distributed in cities and towns, which gradually expand. The high-value areas of the Corps were distributed on the edge of the basin, and the patches tend to be fragmented. The high-value areas of the Non-corps Region were located in the mountains, with little change. The habitat quality level of Corps was higher than that of the Non-corps Region, with fast decline. Higher or lower habitat quality grades were easily transferred to medium ones. Compared with the Non-corps region, the transfer rate of the Corps was higher and the habitat damage was more severe. Economic development resulted in rapid expansion of low-level regions, which seriously threatened the quality of regional habitats. The prediction of land use showed that the area of cultivated and construction land in the Crops and the Non-corps Region would gradually increase in 2018-2035, and forest land and grassland would gradually decrease, which may lead to a gradual decline in habitat quality.