Spatio-temporal evolution analysis of landscape pattern and habitat quality in the Qinghai Province section of the Yellow River Basin from 2000 to 2022 based on InVEST model

Habitat quality is an important indicator for evaluating the quality of ecosystem. The Qinghai Province section of the Yellow River Basin plays an important role in the ecological protection of the upper reaches of the Yellow River Basin. To comprehensively analysis the alterations of habitat quality in the Qinghai Province section of the Yellow River Basin, this study utilized the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model to calculate the habitat quality index and analyze the spatio-temporal variation characteristics of habitat quality in the study area from 2000 to 2022, and calculated seven landscape pattern indices (number of patches, patch density, largest patch index (LPI), landscape shape index (LSI), contagion index (CONTAG), Shannon diversity index, and Shannon evenness index) to research the variation of landscape pattern in the study area. The results showed that the number of patches, patch density, LPI, LSI, Shannon diversity index, and Shannon evenness index increased from 2000 to 2022, while the CONTAG decreased, indicating that the landscape pattern in the Qinghai Province section of the Yellow River Basin changed in the direction of distribution fragmentation, shape complexity, and heterogeneity. The average value of the habitat quality index in the Qinghai Province section of the Yellow River Basin from 2000 to 2022 was 0.90. Based on the value of habitat quality index, we divided the level of habitat quality into five categories: lower (0.00-0.20), low (0.20-0.40), moderate (0.40-0.60), high (0.60-0.80), and higher (0.80-1.00). Most areas were at the higher habitat quality level. The lower habitat quality patches were mainly distributed in Longyang Gorge and Yellow River-Huangshui River Valley. From 2000 to 2022, the habitat quality in most areas was stable; the increase areas were mainly distributed in Guinan County, while the decrease areas were mainly distributed in Xining City, Maqen County, Xinghai County, Qumarleb County, and Darlag County. To show the extent of habitat quality variation, we calculated Sen index. The results showed that the higher habitat quality area had a decrease trending, while other categories had an increasing tendency, and the decreasing was faster than increasing. The research results provide scientific guidance for promoting ecological protection and high-quality development in the Qinghai Province section of the Yellow River Basin.