Evolution characteristics and its driving forces analysis of vegetation ecological quality in Qinling Mountains region from 2000 to 2019

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2020.0253

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims This study was conducted to illustrate the spatial heterogeneity of vegetation ecological quality change, and to clarify the driving forces of ecological quality change in Qinling Mountains region from 2000 to 2019.

Methods The methods of model simulation and satellite observation were used.

Important findings The results showed that (1) Vegetation ecological quality in Qinling Mountains region was significantly improved, and the average increase rates of net primary productivity (NPP) and vegetation fractional coverage (VFC) were 8 g C·m^-2·a^-1 and 0.005 4·a^-1, respectively. Spatially, 85%-95% of the Qinling Mountains region showed a significant improvement in ecosystem quality, but NPP and VFC decreased significantly in some areas such as Xiʼan City. (2) 80%-85% of the Qinling Mountains region showed an increasing trend in precipitation and temperature, which was consistent with the distribution area increasing NPP and VFC. These evidence confirmed that warm and humid climate played an important role in improving vegetation ecological quality. (3) Human protection activities (Natural Forest Protection, Grain for Green Project, etc.) have increased the area of woodland, grassland and water area significantly, and a large range of vegetation ecosystems have been nurtured in the Qinling Mountains region. The expansion of construction land represented by the northern slope of Qinling Mountains was the main reason for the deterioration of vegetation ecological quality. However, human destructive activities were limited to local areas.

Key words: Qinling Mountains, ecological quality, climate change, normalized difference vegetation index, vegetation fractional coverage, net primary productivity

JI Yu-He, ZHOU Guang-Sheng, WANG Shu-Dong, WANG Li-Xia, ZHOU Meng-Zi. Evolution characteristics and its driving forces analysis of vegetation ecological quality in Qinling Mountains region from 2000 to 2019[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2021, 45(6): 617-625.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2020.0253

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2021/V45/I6/617

Figures/Tables 7

Fig. 1 Geographical range of Qinling Mountains region in a broad sense.

Fig. 2 Annual vegetation net primary productivity (NPP)(A), average vegetation coverage (VFC)(B), their change trends (C, D) at spatial resolution of 1 km × 1 km, and the average change trends from all grids (E, F) in Qinling Mountains region from 2000 to 2019.

Fig. 3 Change trends of mean annual temperature (A) at spatial resolution of 1 km × 1 km, and the average trend from all grids over Qinling Mountains region from 2000 to 2019 (B).

Fig. 4 Change trends of annual precipitation (A) at spatial resolution of 1 km × 1 km, and the average trend from all grids over Qinling Mountains region from 2000 to 2019 (B).

Table 1 Partial correlations between climate variables (annual precipitation and annual mean air temperature) and vegetation variables (net primary productivity and coverage) from 1 km × 1 km spatial accuracy over Qinling Mountains region from 2000 to 2019

植被变量 Vegetation variables	年降水量 Annual precipitation			年平均气温 Annual mean air temperature
植被变量 Vegetation variables	相关系数 Correlation coefficient	显著性 Significance (Two-tailed)	自由度 df	相关系数 Correlation coefficient	显著性 Significance (Two-tailed)	自由度 df
净初级生产力 Net primary productivity	0.603	0.006	17	0.360	0.130	17
覆盖度 Coverage	0.291	0.226	17	0.393	0.096	17

Table 2 Land use types and their change in Qinling Mountains region from 2000 to 2015

土地利用变化 Land use change	农田 Farmland	林地 Forest land	草地 Grassland	水域 Body of water	建设用地 Construction land
2000年面积 Area in 2000 (hm²)	3 243 955	4 902 716	3 652 886	107 819	187 831
2015年面积 Area in 2015 (hm²)	3 092 793	4 928 172	3 671 340	118 299	282 880
增减面积 Increase or decrease area (hm²)	-151 162	25 456	18 454	10 480	95 049
增减幅度 Range of increase or decrease (%)	-4.66	0.52	0.51	9.72	50.60

Fig. 5 Change of land use in Qinling Mountains region from 2000 to 2015.

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