Arid Zone Research ›› 2024, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (1): 169-180.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2024.01.16

• Ecology and Environment • Previous Articles    

Impacts of climate change and land use/cover change on the net primary productivity of vegetation in Hexi Region, Northwest China

LIU Yidan1(),YAO Xiaojun1(),LI Zongxing1,2,HU Jiayu1   

  1. 1. College of Geography and Environment Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
    2. Observation and Research Station of Eco-Hydrology and National Park by Stable Isotope Tracing in Alpine Region, Gansu Qilian Mountains Ecology Research Center, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China
  • Received:2023-08-16 Revised:2023-11-10 Online:2024-01-15 Published:2024-01-24

Abstract:

The Hexi Region holds a dual significance in China, being both a pivotal area for ecological security and the core of the Silk Road Economic Belt. The assessment of the net primary productivity (NPP) of the region and a quantitative analysis of the driving forces behind these dynamics bears immense theoretical importance and practical implications. Based on MOD17A3 product, land use cover, and meteorological information, this study scrutinized the evolving characteristics of the vegetation-related NPP, the influence of land use cover changes, and climate fluctuations on the NPP of the Hexi Region from 2000 to 2020. This study employed R-contribution rate and biased correlation analysis methods. The results show that: (1) There was an overall increase in the area of arable land, waters, and residential land in the Hexi Region, while the grassland and unused land area was reduced. The overall dynamics of land use cover change (LUCC) after 2010 was significantly higher, with grassland, cropland, built-up land, and unused land dominating the inter-conversion of land use types. (2) The overall NPP in the Hexi Region increased, with rates of change of 0.86 and 1.29 in the periods 2000-2010 and 2010-2020, respectively. There was a significant regional variation in NPP, which decreased from southeast to northwest. (3) The influence of LUCC on NPP gradually increased from 2000 to 2020. While climate change contributed more to NPP than LUCC, their respective roles varied among land use cover types. Specifically, climate change dominated the influence factor of NPP on cropland, forested land, and grassland, whereas for unutilized land and residential construction areas, LUCC played a more significant role.

Key words: net primary productivity, land use/land cover, spatial and temporal changes, driving factors, Hexi Region