Spatio-temporal evolution in habitat quality and its driving factors in Han River Basin, China

Abstract Habitat quality (HQ) is a key indicator of regional ecological environment and biodiversity. Understanding the evolution of HQ is essential for establishing regional ecological security patterns and promoting green and high-quality development.The Han River Basin (HRB) is an area that has b...

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Main Authors: Jiefeng Kou, Jun Liu, Hongliang Wang, Shun Huang, Zheng Zhou, Chao Yang, Xiaolong Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10514-z
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author Jiefeng Kou
Jun Liu
Hongliang Wang
Shun Huang
Zheng Zhou
Chao Yang
Xiaolong Huang
author_facet Jiefeng Kou
Jun Liu
Hongliang Wang
Shun Huang
Zheng Zhou
Chao Yang
Xiaolong Huang
author_sort Jiefeng Kou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Habitat quality (HQ) is a key indicator of regional ecological environment and biodiversity. Understanding the evolution of HQ is essential for establishing regional ecological security patterns and promoting green and high-quality development.The Han River Basin (HRB) is an area that has been strongly affected by human activities. However, it is still unclear how the HQ of the basin has changed over the past 20 years and to what extent human activities have affected the HQ. In order to address the above issues, this study analyzed the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of HQ from 2000 to 2023 based on the InVEST model, and quantitatively explored the primary driving factors of HQ changes through the Geodetector method. The results indicate that: (1) From 2000 to 2023, the HQ index in the HRB ranged between 0.446 and 0.461, representing a moderate level of HQ. The overall trend showed an initial decline followed by a gradual recovery, with a net decrease of 0.008. In addition, it presents ‘high in the middle, low on both sides’ in space. (2) Approximately 69.31% of the basin maintained stable HQ, while 14.73% of the area experienced improvement and 15.96% suffered degradation. The spatial distribution revealed a vertical differentiation pattern characterized by ‘concentrated degradation at low elevations and localized improvement at middle and high elevations.’ (3) Over the past two decades, the primary driving factors for the evolution of HQ in the HRB were land use intensity and elevation, followed by temperature and GDP. The coupling effect of human activities, topography and climate finally formed a dual-mode driving pattern of ‘human-induced stress at low elevations and natural regulation at high elevations’. These findings provided insights into the spatial and temporal dynamics of HQ in the HRB, and offered scientific support for enhancing ecological conservation and fostering green and high-quality development in the region.
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spelling doaj-art-b2ff33fde6b54a509ec2555b44b3601a2025-08-20T04:01:51ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-10514-zSpatio-temporal evolution in habitat quality and its driving factors in Han River Basin, ChinaJiefeng Kou0Jun Liu1Hongliang Wang2Shun Huang3Zheng Zhou4Chao Yang5Xiaolong Huang6Changjiang Basin Ecology and Environment Monitoring and Scientific Research Center, Changjiang Basin Ecology and Environment Administration, Ministry of Ecology and EnvironmentSchool of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese MedicineChina South-to-North Water Diversion Jianghan Water Network Construction and Development Corporation LimitedChina South-to-North Water Diversion Jianghan Water Network Construction and Development Corporation LimitedChangjiang Basin Ecology and Environment Monitoring and Scientific Research Center, Changjiang Basin Ecology and Environment Administration, Ministry of Ecology and EnvironmentChangjiang Basin Ecology and Environment Monitoring and Scientific Research Center, Changjiang Basin Ecology and Environment Administration, Ministry of Ecology and EnvironmentChangjiang Basin Ecology and Environment Monitoring and Scientific Research Center, Changjiang Basin Ecology and Environment Administration, Ministry of Ecology and EnvironmentAbstract Habitat quality (HQ) is a key indicator of regional ecological environment and biodiversity. Understanding the evolution of HQ is essential for establishing regional ecological security patterns and promoting green and high-quality development.The Han River Basin (HRB) is an area that has been strongly affected by human activities. However, it is still unclear how the HQ of the basin has changed over the past 20 years and to what extent human activities have affected the HQ. In order to address the above issues, this study analyzed the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of HQ from 2000 to 2023 based on the InVEST model, and quantitatively explored the primary driving factors of HQ changes through the Geodetector method. The results indicate that: (1) From 2000 to 2023, the HQ index in the HRB ranged between 0.446 and 0.461, representing a moderate level of HQ. The overall trend showed an initial decline followed by a gradual recovery, with a net decrease of 0.008. In addition, it presents ‘high in the middle, low on both sides’ in space. (2) Approximately 69.31% of the basin maintained stable HQ, while 14.73% of the area experienced improvement and 15.96% suffered degradation. The spatial distribution revealed a vertical differentiation pattern characterized by ‘concentrated degradation at low elevations and localized improvement at middle and high elevations.’ (3) Over the past two decades, the primary driving factors for the evolution of HQ in the HRB were land use intensity and elevation, followed by temperature and GDP. The coupling effect of human activities, topography and climate finally formed a dual-mode driving pattern of ‘human-induced stress at low elevations and natural regulation at high elevations’. These findings provided insights into the spatial and temporal dynamics of HQ in the HRB, and offered scientific support for enhancing ecological conservation and fostering green and high-quality development in the region.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10514-zHabitat qualityThe InVEST modelGeodetectorHan River Basin
spellingShingle Jiefeng Kou
Jun Liu
Hongliang Wang
Shun Huang
Zheng Zhou
Chao Yang
Xiaolong Huang
Spatio-temporal evolution in habitat quality and its driving factors in Han River Basin, China
Scientific Reports
Habitat quality
The InVEST model
Geodetector
Han River Basin
title Spatio-temporal evolution in habitat quality and its driving factors in Han River Basin, China
title_full Spatio-temporal evolution in habitat quality and its driving factors in Han River Basin, China
title_fullStr Spatio-temporal evolution in habitat quality and its driving factors in Han River Basin, China
title_full_unstemmed Spatio-temporal evolution in habitat quality and its driving factors in Han River Basin, China
title_short Spatio-temporal evolution in habitat quality and its driving factors in Han River Basin, China
title_sort spatio temporal evolution in habitat quality and its driving factors in han river basin china
topic Habitat quality
The InVEST model
Geodetector
Han River Basin
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10514-z
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