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Arid Land Geography ›› 2026, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (10): 2042-2053.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2025.538

• Ecology and Environment • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Evolution and simulation of habitat quality in the urban agglomeration on the northern slope of Tianshan Mountains based on the PLUS-InVEST-GeoDetector model

SHI Tiange1,2(), YANG Chenliang1, SHI Hui3(), TONG Yanjun1   

  1. 1 School of Economics, Xinjiang University of Finance and Economics, Urumqi 830012, Xinjiang, China
    2 Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China
    3 School of Tourism, Xinjiang University of Finance and Economics, Urumqi 830012, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2025-09-08 Revised:2025-11-10 Online:2026-10-25 Published:2026-10-26
  • Contact: SHI Hui E-mail:stg@xjufe.edu.cn;shihui_129@163.com

Abstract:

Exploring the evolution trend and influencing factors of habitat quality in the urban agglomeration on the northern slope of Tianshan Mountains is crucial for regional ecological conservation and the high-quality development of the Silk Road Economic core area. Utilizing land use data from six periods between 2000 and 2023, this study used the PLUS and InVEST models to evaluate the evolution of habitat quality and predict scenarios for 2035. The results reveal the following: (1) From 2000 to 2023, areas of cultivated and construction land consistently increased, with the most significant conversions occurring between grassland and unused land. Economic factors dominated the expansion of cultivated and construction land, whereas natural factors drove changes in forest and grassland areas. (2) Habitat quality exhibited a U-shaped trend from 2000 to 2023, characterized by low to moderately high-quality levels. Temperature, precipitation, and transportation significantly affected changes in habitat quality. (3) Habitat is expected to improve under all four prediction scenarios by 2035, with the most notable improvement occurring in the ecological protection scenario. This research provides a scientific basis for developing ecological protection policies and promoting the rational use of land resources in the urban agglomeration on the northern slope of Tianshan Mountains.

Key words: land use, habitat quality, PLUS model, InVEST model, the northern slope of Tianshan Mountains