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Arid Land Geography ›› 2021, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (6): 1740-1749.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000–6060. 2021.06. 22

• Biology and Environment • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Changes in the number and habitat of vertebrata in northwest China from 1980 to 2015

WAN Huawei1(),ZHANG Zhiru1,2,XIA Lin3,LIU Yuping1,HOU Peng1,SUN Chenxi1,JIN Yanli4   

  1. 1. Center for Satellite Application on Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing 100094, China
    2. Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
    3. Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    4. University of Science and Technology Liaoning, Anshan 114051, Liaoning, China
  • Received:2021-01-13 Revised:2021-08-13 Online:2021-11-25 Published:2021-12-03

Abstract:

The northwestern region of China has a vast territory, a unique geographical location, and a special and rich fauna. However, its ecosystem is fragile and vulnerable to environmental changes. This region is facing the dual pressure of climate and human activities, which critically affects the number of species and habitat conditions. Therefore, this article uses satellite remote sensing and ground-based species survey data as the main data source. Living planet index is used to analyze the level and the change trend of biodiversity and characterize the change status of species. Land use data were reclassified into six ecosystem types. Forest, grassland, desert, water, and wetland ecosystems were defined as natural habitats, and settlement and farmland ecosystems were defined as artificial habitats. Their area represented the habitat status of species. A comprehensive analysis of the change trend of the vertebrate population and habitat status since 1980—2015. The results showed that the vertebrate population in northwest China had a downward trend since 1980 and decreased by 57.83% in 2013, but it gradually recovered after 2005. The number of Gymnocypris przewalskii, Procapra przewalskii, and Nipponia nippon in Qinghai Lake increased by 55.77%, 26.03%, and 304%, respectively. This number exhibited a downward trend before 2000 and increased significantly after 2000, but the population number of Camelus ferus, Testudo horsfieldii, and other species decreased exponentially, and the downward trend has not been alleviated. The area of grassland and desert ecosystem decreased, and the area of forest, water body, and wetland ecosystem increased. On the whole, it has mainly changed from natural habitat to artificial habitat. The research is of great significance to understand the animals and their environmental changes and eco-environmental protection in the study area. Such an analysis plays a major role in formulating measures to control the number of species and predicting the change of species according to the research results. It is also conducive to the research and the management of biodiversity conservation in northwest China.

Key words: vertebrata, population change, biodiversity, habitat, ecosystem