Spatiotemporal patterns of habitat quality and its topographic gradient effects of Hubei Province based on the InVEST model

Based on the DEM (digital elevation model) data and land use data from 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020, the spatiotemporal differentiation characteristics of habitat quality in Hubei Province were evaluated by the InVEST model (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs) and GIS (Geographic Information System) spatial analysis method, and the topographic gradient effect on habitat quality was analyzed by regression analysis and terrain index. The spatial distribution of habitat quality in Hubei Province was quite different, and the overall level was high. High-quality habitats were mainly located in hilly regions and water areas, while low-level habitats are mainly distributed in agricultural areas and urban areas. From 2000 to 2020, the high-level habitats in Hubei Province tended to degenerate to low-level habitats, and the average habitat quality decreased slightly. The habitat quality in most areas of Hubei Province had no obvious change from 2000 to 2020, and the overall spatial features were rising in the southeast and decreasing in the middle. With the elevation of the terrain grade, the number of county-level units with high-level habitat quality increased gradually, and the average habitat quality increased accordingly. From 2000 to 2020, the habitat quality of the first-class terrain improved, while the habitat quality of the other class terrain showed a downward trend. The results are helpful to discover the spatiotemporal change process of habitat quality in Hubei Province, and provide theoretical support for biodiversity conservation and land use planning in Hubei Province.

Automated summary

Based on DEM data and land use data, this study evaluated the spatiotemporal differentiation characteristics of habitat quality in Hubei Province using the InVEST model and GIS spatial analysis method. The results show that the habitat quality in Hubei Province varies spatially, with an overall high level. High-quality habitats are mainly located in hilly regions and water areas, while low-quality habitats are mainly distributed in agricultural areas and urban areas. The study also found that the habitat quality increases with the elevation of terrain grade.