Geomorphic influences on land use/cover diversity and pattern

Landforms directly or indirectly affect land use/cover diversity and its spatial distribution. However, the interactions between complex topography and land use/cover patterns remain unclear. To explore this concern, a study was performed in the Altay region, Xinjiang, which is a typical region with multiple geomorphic and land use/cover types. Topographic variables, including elevation, slope, aspect, relief amplitude, topographic wetness index (TWI), surface solar radiation value (SRV) and land use/cover diversity indexes (LDIs) were extracted and calculated. Firstly, the dominant distribution area of each land use/cover type was calculated by a topographic distribution index, and the results showed that forest and steppe land covers were mainly distributed on mountains with slopes > 5 degrees, small relief platforms and hills and large relief mountains; agricultural, urban, water and Gobi desert land uses/covers were concentrated on plains, gently rolling hills and low mountains with slopes < 5 with elevation of approximately 800 m. Further research indicated that the moving-window method providing the characteristic scale of land use/cover diversity was 210 m, and the spatial distributions of the LDIs were obtained. Combined with landscape structure information entropy (LSIE), the results showed that the LDIs and LSIE were highest on plains, hills and low-mountains. Regularity occurred between landform and land use/ cover: a higher elevation, greater relief amplitude, higher TWI, and gentle slope resulted in a simpler land use/ cover type and smaller LDIs. The interrelationships between LDIs and topographic variables were evaluated via redundancy analysis (RDA) and Spearman correlation coefficient analysis, and results indicated that elevation, slope and TWI, strongly influenced the land use/cover diversity and pattern. Fully considering the relationship between geomorphic conditions and land use/cover is essential for rationally developing land resources and sustainable development.

Automated summary

Landforms have a direct or indirect impact on land use/cover diversity and spatial distribution. However, the relationship between complex topography and land use/cover patterns is still unclear. A study was conducted in the Altay region, Xinjiang to explore this relationship. The results showed that higher elevation, greater relief amplitude, higher topographic wetness index (TWI), and gentle slope result in simpler land use/cover types and smaller land use/cover diversity indexes (LDIs).