Arid Zone Research ›› 2021, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (6): 1782-1792.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2021.06.30

• Ecology and Environment • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Grey correlation analysis of human activities and watershed biodiversity based on land use and cover change

SUN Yanxu(),ZHOU Zixiang(),MI Zhaojuan   

  1. College of Geomatics, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, Shaanxi, China
  • Received:2021-03-31 Revised:2021-06-30 Online:2021-11-15 Published:2021-11-29
  • Contact: Zixiang ZHOU E-mail:1377052897@qq.com;zhouzixiang@xust.edu.cn

Abstract:

Studies on the relationship between human activities and biodiversity in the Loess Plateau can provide a scientific basis for ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation. For example, in the Jinghe River Basin in the middle part of the Loess Plateau, biodiversity is rich, but problems such as a fragile ecological environment exist. Although studies have been addressing such issues, effective methods for assessing medium-or large-scale biodiversity changes are lacking because of insufficient basic data and coexistence of multiple habitat types. In this study, a comprehensive method combining a model of Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs on habitat quality and vegetation coverage was used to analyze the spatiotemporal changes in plant diversity on a grid scale. Gray correlation analysis was also performed to analyze the relationship of plant diversity, land use intensity, population density, and other factors. Results show that (1) the level of plant diversity in the Jinghe River Basin was moderate (BS>0.53), and the spatial pattern changed significantly. The average plant diversity in the basin increased from 0.5382 in 2000 to 0.5951 in 2015. Areas with a high plant diversity accounted for 22.1% of the total area, and they were mainly distributed in mountainous areas, national nature reserves, and forestry areas. By comparison, areas with a low plant diversity accounted for 5.99% of the total area, and they were mostly distributed in urban areas and areas with low vegetation coverage in the north of the basin. (2) Plant diversity is influenced by many factors, but it is mainly affected by land use intensity, followed by solar radiation and population density. This study can provide additional information about the basin and a basis for developing biodiversity conservation policies and managing human activities.

Key words: biodiversity, LUCC, vegetation coverage, grey relational degree, Jinghe River Basin