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Rapid urbanization induces significant changes in land use, exerting a profound impact on regional habitat quality. Understanding the interconnectedness of urbanization and habitat quality is crucial for safeguarding the regional ecological environment and promoting sustainable urban development. Cities along the Yangtze River, as the core region of the Yangtze River Economic Belt in China, serve as a typical and critically important area to investigate the dynamic response of habitat quality to rapid urbanization. This study employs the InVEST model and entropy method to assess the spatiotemporal dynamics of habitat quality and urbanization in Yangtze River cities. Using the coupling coordination degree model, it analyzes the interplay between urbanization and habitat quality, elucidating dynamic response patterns and emphasizing the need for pertinent policy measures. Our findings reveal that from 1990 to 2019, urbanization levels in the study area surged by over six times, while habitat quality consistently declined, reflecting a 4.5% decrease. Notably, spatial variances were observed along the upstream, midstream, and downstream segments of the river. Although an inverse relationship between urbanization and habitat quality predominates, three cities demonstrated a positive correlation. The study also indicates a stable increase in the coupling coordination degree between urbanization and habitat quality, evolving from a phase of urbanization lag to one of synchronization followed by habitat quality lag. Among the cities, Chongqing emerges as an exemplary model for the coordinated development of urbanization and habitat quality. These insights provide a theoretical foundation and policy guidance for enhancing sustainable urban and ecological strategies in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosquitoes transmit viruses that affect public health in tropical regions. Identifying factors that influence their fitness can help control mosquito-borne diseases. We investigated the impacts of predation risk effects, from a fish predator, and food availability on the oviposition behavior of Aedes aegypti. We hypothesize that predation risk and food availability interactively affect Ae. aegypti oviposition. Gravid Ae. aegypti females were offered oviposition sites with all possible combinations of predation risk (with vs. without predator cues) and food availability (low vs. high). We found a significant interaction between predation risk and food availability. The magnitude of oviposition and the probability of egg laying in high food availability treatments exceeded the values of low food availability treatments, but only in treatments without predation risk. Predation risk critically modulated the effects of food availability on the oviposition of Ae. aegypti. This study demonstrates the interplay between predation risk and food availability in controlling mosquito-borne diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sanjiangyuan is an extremely important biodiversity-conservation area with notable worldwide ecological significance. However, due to global climate change and increased human activities, the natural environment in this region has undergone major alterations. In this work, we used the InVEST model to assess the spatial and temporal distribution of habitat quality and habitat degradation in the Sanjiangyuan region from 2000 to 2020. CA-Markov model was used to predict the land use changes under "natural development" (ND) and "ecological protection" (EP) scenarios from 2025 to 2050, and a comparative analysis of land use and habitat-quality changes was made in combination with the results of ecological zoning planning. We found that changes in human use land and bare land directly affect changes in habitat quality in Sanjiangyuan and are a major threat to habitat quality. Using the human-footprint index, Sanjiangyuan was divided into key protected areas, key restoration areas, and moderately developed areas. We compared the changes in habitat quality under two scenarios and discovered that under the EP scenario, the region of high habitat quality expanded, indicating that the EP scenario is beneficial for the sustainable development and conservation of biodiversity in Sanjiangyuan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use change stands as the primary factor influencing habitat quality (HQ). Clarifying the spatiotemporal change and the obstacle factors of the coupling relationship between HQ and urbanization level (UL) can provide imperative references for achieving sustainability in the Yellow River Basin (YRB). This study is based on the InVEST model, spatial autocorrelation, and obstacle factor analysis to measure the spatiotemporal dynamics and impediments of the coupling relationship between HQ and UL from 2000 to 2020 in the YRB. The findings were as follows: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the HQ showed a tendency of rise first and then fall, with the pattern of "High in the middle and west, low in the east"; (2) from 2000 to 2020, the UL had an upward trend, with the pattern of "Low in the west, high in the middle and east"; (3) the coupling and coordination level of HQ and UL in the YRB changed from extreme incoordination to verge of coordination, and it had a distribution pattern of "High in the east, low in the west", with the high-value area expanding to the east and the low-value area shrinking to the west. (4) Location condition, climate, proportion of construction land, vegetation index, and proportion of non-agricultural employment are the main obstacle factors that determined the coupling and coordination of the HQ and UL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use change profoundly impacts habitat quality, necessitating an understanding of historical and future trends for effective regional planning and ecological protection, particularly in ecologically sensitive areas. This study examines the Taihu Lake Basin (TLB), a region undergoing significant land use changes and exhibiting considerable ecological vulnerability. Utilizing the InVEST model (v3.14.2), we analyzed the dynamics of land use and habitat quality in the TLB from 2000 to 2020. We subsequently employed the PLUS model (v1.40) to predict future land use and habitat quality under various scenarios. Our key findings include the following: (1) From 2000 to 2020, TLB experienced a 97.62% increase in construction land, alongside significant reductions in cultivated land and forestland. (2) Population density, precipitation, DEM, and temperature were identified as the main drivers of land use expansion in TLB. (3) Habitat quality declined by 11.20% over the study period, exhibiting spatial disparities including higher quality in the southwest and central regions and lower quality in the east and north. (4) Scenarios prioritizing urban development led to substantial construction land expansion and reduced habitat quality, whereas scenarios emphasizing ecological protection effectively mitigated habitat fragmentation. This study highlights the critical need to integrate ecological protection into regional planning to balance economic development with environmental sustainability. The findings underscore the importance of prioritizing ecological conservation in land use policies to maintain habitat quality and promote sustainable development in the TLB. These insights are valuable for guiding future land use planning and ecological management in similarly sensitive regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protected areas are typically considered a cornerstone of conservation programs and play a fundamental role in protecting natural areas and biodiversity. Human‐driven land‐use and land‐cover (LULC) changes lead to habitat loss and biodiversity loss inside protected areas, impairing their effectiveness. However, the global dynamics of habitat quality and habitat degradation in protected areas remain unclear. We used the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade‐offs (InVEST) model based on global annual remotely sensed data to examine the spatial and temporal trends in habitat quality and degradation in global terrestrial protected areas. Habitat quality represented the ability of habitats to provide suitable conditions for the persistence of individuals and populations, and habitat degradation represented the impacts on habitats from human‐driven LULC changes in the surrounding landscape. Based on a linear mixed‐effects modeling method, we also explored the relationship between habitat degradation trends and protected area characteristics, biophysical factors, and socioeconomic factors. Habitat quality declined by 0.005 (0.6%) and habitat degradation increased by 0.002 (11%) from 1992 to 2020 globally, and similar trends occurred even in remote or restrictively managed protected areas. Habitat degradation was attributed primarily to nonirrigated cropland (62%) and urbanization (27%) in 2020. Increases in elevation, gross domestic production per capita, and human population density and decreases in agricultural suitability were associated with accelerated habitat degradation. Our results suggest that human‐induced LULC changes have expanded from already‐exploited areas into relatively undisturbed areas, and that in wealthy countries in particular, degradation is related to rapid urbanization and increasing demand for agricultural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jialing River watershed has seen substantial changes in habitat quality and land use throughout the last 20 years. It is yet unknown, however, how the habitat quality will react to these changes in land use. In this work, multi-scenario simulations for 2030 were carried out using the PLUS and InVEST models, and the land use changes and habitat quality evolution in the Jialing River basin from 2000 to 2020 were evaluated. In this study, the following facts were determined: (1) The study area's southern region is mainly farmland, whereas the northern part is predominantly forestland. The most significant changes were a decrease of 1.46% in the grassland and an increase of 1.07% in the construction land. (2) The northern area typically has greater habitat quality than the southern region, at habitat quality indices of 0.5401, 0.5338, and 0.5084 for the year 2000, the year 2010, and the year 2020, respectively, demonstrating a pattern of steady decline. (3) Converting farmland to forestland can successfully increase habitat quality, but the conversion of grassland and forestland to farmland is the primary cause of the decline of habitat quality. (4) Global Moran's indices of −0.7809, −0.7537, and −0.6376 for 2000, 2010, and 2020, respectively, were found in the correlation study between habitat quality and land use intensity, showing a high negative link. The local indicators of spatial association (LISA) maps indicated that the northern region had high land use intensity with low habitat quality, while the southern region had low land use intensity with low habitat quality. (5) The outcomes of the multi-scenario simulations show that, except under the ecological conservation scenario (0.5123) where habitat quality improved, there was a certain degree of deterioration under the business-as-usual (0.4381), farmland conservation (0.4941), and sustainable development (0.4909) scenarios. For future sustainable development, strict control of the encroachment on farmland and forestland is recommended, alongside the adoption of proactive measures to improve habitat quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study selects Beijing from 1980 to 2020 as the research area, utilizing high temporal resolution land use data to analyze through the habitat quality module of the InVEST model. Unlike previous research, this study employs the Theil-Sen Median method and Mann-Kendall test to analyze the trend changes in habitat quality more accurately. This method has significant advantages in dealing with non-linear and non-normally distributed data over long time series, providing a more accurate and reliable analysis of habitat quality trends. Methodologically, the study first collects and organizes the land use type data of Beijing from 1980 to 2020, then uses the habitat quality module of the InVEST model to process and analyze the data of each year, assessing the impact of different land use types on habitat quality. Subsequently, the Theil-Sen Median method and Mann-Kendall test are used to analyze the time series trend of habitat quality, to identify and quantify the trend and significance of habitat quality changes. The results show that over the past 40 years, the area of construction land in Beijing has significantly expanded, leading to a compression of other types of land. The spatial distribution of habitat quality shows a clear difference between the two sides divided by a line connecting the northeast and southwest, with the west side being the area of good habitat quality and the east side being poorer. In the past 10 years, the overall habitat quality has improved, but most areas still show a decreasing trend, especially in the western and northern mountainous areas where habitat quality has significantly declined. Based on these findings, it is recommended that future urban planning and land management should pay more attention to the protection and improvement of habitat quality, especially the restoration work for areas with poor habitat quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Road verges can support high densities of flowers and could therefore provide new opportunities for the conservation of flower‐visiting insects. One way of optimizing road verges for vascular plant diversity is to adjust mowing regimes, but to date it is unclear how this affects flower‐visiting insects. Furthermore, for mobile organisms like wild bees and butterflies, there is a risk that the benefit of increased habitat quality in road verges is limited by the proximity to traffic, but this is poorly studied.In a crossed study design, we separated mowing time and frequency (early summer and autumn, or only late summer) from road verge habitat classification (valuable for biodiversity according to transport authority, or regular). We did so along a gradient of traffic intensity, to investigate if a mowing regime designed to enhance plant diversity can also benefit wild bees and butterflies, and if traffic limits the conservation potential of road verges.Road verges that were mown only in late summer had higher flower densities, and there was a positive relationship between flower density and wild bee abundance and species richness. Butterfly abundance and species richness only benefitted from a late summer mowing in valuable but not in regular road verges.Traffic intensity had a substantial negative impact on abundance and species richness of wild bees and butterflies. Higher traffic intensities limited the positive relationship between plant and butterfly species richness that we observed at lower traffic intensities. Increasing width of the road verges buffered negative effects of the traffic on wild bee as well as butterfly abundances, and on wild bee species richness.Synthesis and applications. Road verges can play a valuable role for the conservation of wild bees and butterflies, but there is a need to consider both traffic intensity and resource availability when implementing management strategies. To support wild bee and butterfly diversity, we recommend actions to enhance plant species richness and flower resource availability, and to focus these conservation efforts on roads with low traffic intensity, or on wide road verges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As urbanization accelerates worldwide, understanding the impact of urban expansion on habitat quality has become increasingly critical in environmental science research. This study examines the impact of urban expansion on habitat quality in Beijing, forecasting land cover changes and ecological effects by 2030. Using CA–Markov and FLUS models, the research analyzes habitat quality from 2000 to 2030 through the InVEST model, revealing a significant urban land increase of 1316.47 km2 and a consequent habitat quality decline. Predictions for 2030 indicate varying habitat quality outcomes across three scenarios: ecological priority (0.375), natural growth (0.373), and urban development (0.359). We observed that the natural growth scenario forecasts a further decline in habitat quality, primarily due to increased low–value habitat regions. Conversely, the ecological priority scenario projects a notable improvement in habitat quality. To mitigate habitat degradation in Beijing and enhance regional habitat quality and ecological conditions, it is recommended to control urban land cover expansion, adopt effective ecological conservation policies, and systematically carry out national spatial restructuring and ecological restoration. This research provides vital decision–making support for urban planning and ecological conservation, emphasizing the need for comprehensive land cover and ecological strategies in urban development. Additionally, our findings and methodologies are applicable to other rapidly urbanizing cities worldwide. This demonstrates the broader applicability and relevance of our research, providing a framework for sustainable urban planning in diverse global contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the influences of climate change and human activities, habitat quality (HQ) in inland river basins continues to decline. Studying the spatiotemporal distributions of land use and HQ can provide support for sustainable development strategies of the ecological environment in arid regions. Therefore, this study utilized the SD-PLUS model, InVEST-HQ model, and Geodetector to assess and simulate the land-use changes and HQ in the Tarim River Basin (TRB) at multiple scales (county and grid scales) and scenarios (SSP126, SSP245, and SSP585). The results indicated that (1) the Figure of Merit (FoM) values for Globeland 30, China's 30 m annual land-cover product, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (30 m) product were 0.22, 0.12, and 0.15, respectively. A comparison of land-use datasets with different resolutions revealed that the kappa value tended to decline as the resolution decreased. (2) In 2000, 2010, and 2020, the HQ values were 0.4656, 0.4646, and 0.5143, respectively. Under the SSP126 and SSP245 scenarios, the HQ values showed an increasing trend: for the years 2030, 2040, and 2050, they were 0.4797, 0.4834, and 0.4855 and 0.4805, 0.4861, and 0.4924, respectively. Under SSP585, the HQ values first increased and then decreased, with values of 0.4791, 0.4800, and 0.4766 for 2030, 2040, and 2050, respectively. (3) Under three scenarios, areas with improved HQ were mainly located in the southern and northern high mountain regions and around urban areas, while areas with diminished HQ were primarily in the western part of the basin and central urban areas. (4) At the county scale, the spatial correlation was not significant, with Moran's I ranging between 0.07 and 0.12, except in 2000 and 2020. At the grid scale, the spatial correlation was significant, with clear high- and low-value clustering (Moran's I between 0.80 and 0.83). This study will assist land-use planners and policymakers in formulating sustainable development policies to promote ecological civilization in the basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment and prediction analyses of the ecological environmental quality of river basins are pivotal to realize ecological protection and high-quality coordinated development. Methods: The PLUS and InVEST models were used to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of land-use in the Fen River Basin and simulate the spatial pattern of land-use under natural development (ND), ecological protection (EC), and economic development (ED) scenarios in 2030, as well as evaluate habitat quality (HQ) and its spatiotemporal variation characteristics from 2000 to 2030. From 2000 to 2020, the Fen River Basin consisted primarily of cultivated land, followed by forests, and then unused land. Habitat quality in the Fen River Basin showed a downward trend from 2000 to 2020. Between 2010 and 2020, the rate of decline decreased, and by 2030, the HQ in the EC scenario exhibited improvement compared to 2020. However, there was a reduction in HQ in the natural development and economic development scenarios and there was obvious heterogeneity in spatial distribution, showing the characteristics of "low middle and high edge". The cultivated land was converted into forests, construction land, and grasslands, and the conversion of construction land and forests to cultivated land dominated the changes in HQ in the Fen River Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Rural Water & Hydropower is the property of China Rural Water & Hydropower Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation of habitats are among the most pervasive impacts on species persistence. Mammals may vary in their response to these impacts, both in abundance and in physiological parameters. Herein, we verified how habitat quality influenced the small mammal nutritional status and stress levels among five semi‐deciduous forest remnants in the Brazilian Cerrado. To assess species' physiological responses, we used body condition as an indicator of nutritional status and neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio as an indicator of chronic stress in Gracilinanus agilis and Rhipidomys macrurus. We sampled 264 animals belonging to the following species: G. agilis, Didelphis albiventris, Akodon montensis, Oligoryzomys spp., Rattus rattus, R. macrurus, Oecomys cleberi, Hylaeamys megacephalus, and three unidentified rodent species. We found no negative effect of reduced habitat quality on the body condition of G. agilis and R. macrurus, however, the N/L ratios of these species were lower only in high‐quality habitats, demonstrating that this parameter is an accurate indicator of chronic stress. Based on preliminary analysis, we also reported an impoverished fauna, mainly dominated by generalist species, in low‐quality habitats. Thus, we conclude that short‐term reduction in habitat quality leads to increased stress levels, which can in turn lead to future population declines and culminate in biotic homogenization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensified human activities have been seriously threatening the structure and ecological processes of ecosystems, resulting in habitat degradation. Therefore, coordinating the coupling between human activities and habitat quality (HQ) is crucial for high‐quality sustainable regional development and human well‐being. This study evaluated the human activities and HQ in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) urban agglomeration in China from 2000 to 2020 using the human footprint index (HFI) and the integrated valuation of ecosystem services and tradeoffs model. Then, we employed bivariate spatial autocorrelation and a coupling coordination degree (CCD) model to explore the synergistic relationship between human activities and HQ. The results show that spatial changes in HQ were predominantly driven by human activities. The gradual outward urban expansion resulted in significant HQ degradation. Slight HQ improvement by ecological restoration in urban outskirts cannot offset HQ losses caused by urbanization. During the study period, high‐HQ low‐HFI clusters decreased by 1.02%, while low‐HQ high‐HFI clusters increased by 4.67%, the two main clustering types in the PRD. Despite the CCD between HFI and HQ increased after 2010, the continuous changes of CCD characteristics from the HFI significantly lagged type to the HQ lagged. HFI showed an inverted U‐shaped relationship with CCD. The CCD peaks during 2000–2020 corresponded to HFI decreasing from 0.711 to 0.566. This indicates that the risk of decoupling between human activities and HQ gradually increased. Furthermore, CCD levels and characteristics in different bivariate clusters exhibited varying changes over time. These results reveal that the spatiotemporal dislocation between urbanization and ecological restoration induced the spatial nonstationarity of the coupling relationship between human activities and HQ. Urbanization exacerbates the imbalance between human development and biodiversity conservation. Therefore, we suggest reasonably delimiting urban boundaries, controlling the scale of urban sprawl, and strengthening biodiversity protection in areas undergoing rapid urbanization. In addition, we advocate for the division of ecological barrier zones, urban development buffer zones, and urban built‐up areas, each with tailored management and protection measures. Our findings can provide an important reference for the ecological restoration of urban agglomerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an essential water source conservation area and a fundamental national ecological functional area in the Yellow River Basin, Yinchuan City' s habitat quality is related to regional ecological security and sustainable development. However, further research is needed on the habitat quality and influencing factors in Yinchuan City of Ningxia, China. Based on three phases of land-use data from 2000, 2010, and 2020, as well as the habitat quality module of the InVEST model, Moran' s I index, and Geodetector, habitat quality was estimated and the spatial distribution characteristics were analyzed over the past 20 years. The impact of nine influencing factors, such as elevation, slope, and vegetation coverage, etc, on habitat quality was quantified. The results showed the following: (1) Yinchuan City' s average habitat quality index in 2000, 2010, and 2020 was 0.337, 0.332, and 0.322, respectively. The habitat quality index was low and slightly decreased over the past 20 years. The magnitude and proportion of habitat quality improvement are lower than those of deterioration, and the habitat quality exhibits a spatial distribution characteristic of high in the north and south, and low in the middle. (2) Habitat quality has a strong spatial agglomeration effect in space, and Moran' s I index shows a downward trend. The degree of spatial autocorrelation of habitat quality has weakened, and agglomeration has gradually decreased. The LISA clustering map results show that the areas that have changed over the past 20 years primarily include the central and northern parts of the study area, with high-low clustering areas changing to low-low clustering areas. (3) Elevation and land-use type are the primary factors influencing habitat quality in Yinchuan City. The interplay of various influencing factors showed that the enhancement effect on habitat quality increases accordingly, primarily with a dual-factor enhancement, followed by a nonlinear enhancement. The interaction between elevation and various factors emerges as the most significant contributor. The results provide a scientific basis and support for decision-making for ecological protection and high-quality and sustainable development in Yinchuan City. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activities exert a profound influence on land use and land cover, and these changes directly influence habitat quality and ecosystem functioning. In the Gansu–Qinghai contiguous region of the upper Yellow River, habitat quality has undergone substantial transformations in recent years due to the synergistic impacts of natural processes and human intervention. Therefore, evaluating the effects of land use changes on habitat quality is crucial for advancing regional sustainable development and improving the worth of ecosystem services. In response to these challenges, we devised a two-pronged approach: a land use simulation (FLUS) model and an integrated valuation of ecosystem services and trade-offs (InVEST) model, leveraging remote sensing data. This integrated methodology establishes a research framework for the evaluation and simulation of spatial and temporal variations in habitat quality. The results of the study show that, firstly, from 1980 to 2020, the habitat quality index in the Gansu–Qinghai contiguous region of the upper Yellow River decreased from 0.8528 to 0.8434. Secondly, our predictions anticipate a decrease in habitat quality, although the decline is not pronounced across all scenarios. The highest habitat quality values were projected under the EP (Ecology Priority) scenario, followed by the CLP (Cultivated Land Priority) scenario, while the BAU (Business as Usual) scenario consistently yielded the lowest values in all three scenarios. Finally, the ecological land, including forest land and grassland, consistently occupied areas characterized by high habitat quality. In contrast, Construction land consistently appeared in regions associated with low habitat quality. The implementation of conservation measures emerges as a crucial strategy, effectively limiting the expansion of construction land and promoting the augmentation of forest land and grassland cover. This approach serves to enhance overall habitat quality. These outcomes furnish a scientific foundation for the judicious formulation of future land-use policies and ecological protection measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, increasing urbanization has profoundly impacted the quality of regional habitats, presenting a severe risk to the ability of a region to develop in a high-quality manner. Therefore, the scientific assessment of the features of habitat quality (HQ) evolution over time and space and the prediction of future trends in changes in the HQ are of great significance for the formulation of effective ecological protection policies. Based on five periods of land use and land cover (LULC) data from 2000 to 2020, InVEST model was used to estimate both geographical and chronological trends in the HQ in the Tuha region, China. Spatial autocorrelation analysis methods were used to assess HQ and spatial aggregation of habitat degradation, and ecological zoning was delineated in conjunction with the Human Footprint Index (HFI). Based on the results of ecological zoning, the study predicted changes in habitat quality (HQ) in 2040 under three scenarios: natural development (ND), ecological preservation (EP), and urban development (UD) by applying the Patch-Generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS) model. The results demonstrated that (1) from 2000 to 2020, the habitat quality in the Tuha region exhibited a downward trend, with the proportion of low HQ increasing from 83.63% to 84.24%. Spatially, high habitat quality (HQ) is mainly concentrated in the Tianshan Mountains. From 2000 to 2020, the Moran index for habitat quality (HQ) decreased from 0.967 to 0.959, while the Moran index for habitat degradation declined from 0.805 to 0.780. The habitat quality (HQ) and degradation exhibit significant spatial aggregation, and the degree of degradation has increased incrementally. (2) From 2000 to 2020, human activities in the Tuha area increased continuously and were mainly concentrated in Tuha district and counties. The proportion of high Human Footprint Index (HFI) increased from 0.66% to 1.32%, while the proportion of medium HFI increased from 3.13% to 7.46%. (3) The expansion of urbanized land has exacerbated habitat degradation. The proportion of high HQ in the EP scenario is higher than that in ND and UD scenario. The results show that the ecological protection scenario is more conducive to the sustainable development of habitat quality in the Tuha region. The results can provide a scientific basis for ecological management and protection in the Tuha area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of habitat quality, human footprint, and coupling coordination between two systems in continuous cycles and on national scales is of great significance to maintaining biodiversity and sustainable development. This study took China as an example, based on land-use data from 2000 to 2020, using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs—Habitat Quality (InVEST-HQ) model and the human footprint framework, coupling trend analysis methods such as Theil–Sen Median Analysis, Mann–Kendall Test, and Grid Transition Matrix (GTM) Method and combining the four-quadrant model and the coupling coordination degree model (CCDM) to reveal the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of habitat quality, human footprint, and CCDM in China for 21 consecutive years and the response relationship between the two systems of habitat quality and human footprint. The results show that the land cover change area from 2000 to 2020 accounted for 4.2% of the total area. Both habitat quality and human footprints exhibit apparent spatial heterogeneity along the "Hu Line" and generally fall into two evolutionary stages: "degradation–improvement". The proportions of degradation and improvement were 14.37% and 8.36%, respectively, and the mutation point was in the year 2013; the average human footprint increased by 16.75%, and the increased and decreased area proportions were 63.40% and 21.53%, respectively. The mutation occurred in 2014. The right side of the "Hu Line" primarily hosts areas with high values of the coordinated coupling index of human footprints and habitat quality systems. The four quadrants generally have the following characteristics: "quadrant IV on the right is dominant, quadrants II and III on the left are dominant, and quadrant I is located in the transition zone of the 'Hu Line'". The coupling coordination degree (CCD) and human footprints have a weak, nonlinear "inverted U-shaped" relationship. This study provides compelling evidence for the spatiotemporal evolution and coupling relationship between habitat quality and human footprint in China, provides scientific decision-making support for biodiversity protection and sustainable economic development, and maintains the bottom line of ecological security for a beautiful China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, natural habitats have suffered tremendous damage from human activities, a phenomenon that is increasingly evident in basin regions. The management of natural habitats in basin regions is dependent on understanding of the various impacts of human activities on these ecosystems. Despite the various studies that have been conducted on the effects of human activities on habitats in basin regions, there is still a lot of doubt regarding the impact of these activities on the quality of basin ecosystems. To fill this gap, this study employs a series of spatial analysis methods and logistic regression modeling to delve into the spatial and temporal patterns of human activities and habitat quality in the Yangtze River Basin (YRB) as well as the differences in the impacts of human activities on habitat quality in the sub-basins of the YRB. The findings indicate a 0.408% decline in the overall environmental quality of the YRB area from 2000 to 2020, accompanied by a 15.396% surge in human activities. Notably, the southeastern Qilian Mountains and the mountainous regions in the northwestern sector of the Sichuan Basin emerge as pivotal areas for habitat quality restoration. Conversely, the southwestern Qilian Mountains and the urban clusters in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) face significant habitat quality deterioration. Spatial regression analyses reveal a noteworthy trend: the burgeoning human activities in the Yangtze River region pose a substantial threat to habitat recovery efforts. Further differential analyses focusing on the upper, middle, and lower basin segments underscore that human activities exert the most pronounced impact on habitat quality within the lower basin region, while the upper basin experiences the least influence. The implications of this study are manifold. It furnishes valuable policy insights for the comprehensive management and targeted preservation of habitats across the YRB. By delineating areas of habitat restoration and degradation and highlighting the differential impacts of human activities across basin segments, this research lays a solid foundation for informed decision making in habitat conservation and ecosystem management within the YRB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Habitat quality is a key expression of ecosystem ability and the basis for effective species conservation and regional ecological environment improvement. However, most studies have focused on assessing habitat quality over historical periods, ignoring the influence of coupled future development paths and climate change. The present study addresses this issue by developing a spatial‐temporal variation analysis framework for assessing habitat quality in China, which integrates the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade‐offs (InVEST) model with eight Earth system coupled scenarios (SSP‐RCP). The results showed that from 2020 to 2100, and under five scenarios (SSP2‐4.5, SSP3‐7.0, SSP4‐6.0, SSP5‐3.4, and SSP5‐8.5), habitat quality was generally stable and high, while under three scenarios (SSP1‐1.9, SSP1‐2.6, and SSP4‐3.4), it decreased. The SSP2‐4.5 scenario was significantly better than the SSP4‐3.4 scenario. In all scenarios, the influences of different development patterns on China's ecologically fragile areas were obvious and serious. In 2030 and 2060, the spatial distribution patterns of habitat degradation and habitat quality had similar characteristics. High habitat degradation values were mostly distributed east of the Heihe‐Tengchong Line, while low values were mainly distributed in the arid zone. The mean habitat degradation ranged between 0.0226 and 0.0302, and the degradation degree was relatively light. The habitat quality index mean was 0.5120–0.5376, indicating that the overall habitat quality was at the medium level. This study provides a potential ecological protection baseline for China based on habitat protection and provides an important reference for China's sustainable development. Plain Language Summary: Habitat quality is a key expression of ecosystem ability and the basis for effective species conservation and regional ecological environment improvement. However, most studies have focused on assessing habitat quality over historical periods, ignoring the influence of coupled future development paths and climate change. The present study addresses this issue by developing a spatial‐temporal variation analysis framework for assessing habitat quality in China, which integrates the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade‐offs (InVEST) model with eight Earth system coupled scenarios (SSP‐RCP). The results showed that from 2020 to 2100, and under five scenarios (SSP2‐4.5, SSP3‐7.0, SSP4‐6.0, SSP5‐3.4, and SSP5‐8.5), habitat quality was generally stable and high, while under three scenarios (SSP1‐1.9, SSP1‐2.6, and SSP4‐3.4), it decreased. The SSP2‐4.5 scenario was significantly better than the SSP4‐3.4 scenario. In all scenarios, the influences of different development patterns on China's ecologically fragile areas were obvious and serious. In 2030 and 2060, the spatial distribution patterns of habitat degradation and habitat quality had similar characteristics. High habitat degradation values were mostly distributed east of the Heihe‐Tengchong Line, while low values were mainly distributed in the arid zone. Key Points: We assess habitat quality in China under eight coupled scenarios of climate change and future development pathwaysThe overall habitat quality decreases under different scenarios from 2020 to 2100Climate change and different development patterns have the greatest impact on the ecologically fragile areas [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's national park establishment aims to achieve a balance between ecological conservation and regional development. This study adopts a production–living–ecological (PLE) space perspective to evaluate the park's impact. By quantifying changes and employing a combination of geographic detector and coupling coordination degree analyses, this research explores the dynamics of habitat quality and PLE space within the Wuyishan region, alongside their interrelationships. The national park's influence on the surrounding area exhibits spatial heterogeneity, evident both within and beyond park boundaries, as well as across different counties. Despite the concentration of PLE changes in the park's vicinity, particularly in densely populated urban areas, the influence of the national park on the local area is random and primarily at a low level. Importantly, the ecological space exhibits substantial changes, mirroring improvements in habitat quality. Furthermore, the coupling coordination between habitat quality changes and PLE space changes exhibits remarkable spatial variations. The complex interrelationships among PLE space necessitate a coordinated approach to their development for effective national park management. Ultimately, this investigation provides a novel perspective for the assessment of Wuyishan National Park's conservation effectiveness, contributing practical value for future endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasions of nonnative species have multiple implications, including modification of biogeochemical cycles, inhibition of natural regeneration of native species, and loss of ecosystem biodiversity and productivity. Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) is a vigorous invader of the southern forestlands of the United States (U.S.). Our objectives were to document changes in the distribution of Japanese honeysuckle since the turn of the century, identify climatic variables correlated with its successful invasion, and project its potential future distribution under climate change. To accomplish this, we analyzed the most recent U.S. Forest Service field measurements of Japanese honeysuckle in the southern U.S. Our analysis indicated that the number of sampled plots invaded by Japanese honeysuckle from 2009 to 2017 increased by approximately 53% compared to plots sampled from 2000 to 2008, and the mean percent coverage of Japanese honeysuckle in sampled plots increased significantly. Results of boosted regression tree analysis indicated that probability of invasion was correlated with six climatic variables, including annual precipitation, annual mean temperature, max temperature of warmest month, mean diurnal range, temperature annual range, and isothermality. The states projected to be most at risk to invasion under the historical climate were Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. Future projections imply a northward shift of predominant species presence, with the most likely affected states being Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia. Our model provides important insights into the management of Japanese honeysuckle in the southern forestlands of the U.S. By identifying current and potential future high-risk and low-risk areas, our results can aid forest managers in developing long term monitoring and control strategies for effectively slowing Japanese honeysuckle range expansion and mitigating its effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urgent need for conservation efforts in response to the global biodiversity crisis is exemplified by initiatives, such as the EU LIFE BEETLES project. This project aims to preserve endangered arthropod species that are crucial for ecosystem functionality, with a focus on endemic beetle species in Flores, Pico and Terceira Islands (Azores, Portugal): Tarphius floresensis Borges & Serrano, 2017, Pseudanchomenus aptinoides (Tarnier, 1860) and Trechus terrabravensis Borges, Serrano & Amorim, 2004. These species are single island endemics respectively from Flores, Pico and Terceira. They are threatened by environmental degradation, facing the dual challenge of restricted distribution and habitat degradation due to the spread of invasive plants.The project aims to enhance habitat quality and biodiversity conservation through habitat restoration and plant invasive species control measures. These measures are funded by the European Commission and coordinated by the Azorean Environment Directorate-General. The current Data Paper evaluates the effectiveness of the LIFE BEETLES project in improving habitat quality and offers insights into the balance between habitat restoration efforts and endangered species conservation in island ecosystems, utilising as ecological indicator the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) framework.This study establishes a comprehensive database derived from a long-term arthropod monitoring survey that used SLAM (Sea, Land and Air Malaise) traps and pitfall traps. Our findings present a proxy for assessing the overall habitat quality for endemic invertebrates, using arthropods as main indicators.From September 2020 to June 2023, a total of 31 SLAM traps were monitored. The traps were set up as follows: seven in Flores (three in mixed forest and four in native forest), 10 in Pico (four in mixed forest and six in native forest) and 14 in Terceira (three in mixed forest and 11 in native forest). Traps were monitored every three months.In addition, we surveyed the epigean fauna in 19 transects with 15 non-attractive pitfall traps per transect. The transects were set up during two weeks at the end of August every year between 2020 and 2023. Eight transects were established in Flores, consisting of one in pasture, four in mixed forest and three in native forest. Six transects were established in Pico, consisting of two in pastures and four in native forest. Five transects were established in Terceira, consisting of two in mixed forest and three in native forest.A total of 243 arthropod taxa were recorded, with 207 identified at the species or subspecies level. These taxa belonged to four classes, 24 orders and 101 families. Out of the 207 identified taxa, 46 were endemic, 60 were native non-endemic, 80 were introduced and 21 were of indeterminate status. Habitat information is also provided, including general habitat and dominant species composition. This publication contributes to the conservation of highly threatened endemic beetles by assessing habitat quality, based on arthropod communities and habitat description (e.g. native or exotic vegetation).Using the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) to comparing pre- and post-intervention data, we found no significant change within the epigean community. In contrast, the understorey community sampled with SLAM traps experienced a slight global decrease in biotic integrity over the study period. These findings suggest that the short duration of the study may not be sufficient to detect significant changes, as ecosystem recovery often requires long-term monitoring. The observed changes in the understorey community may be attributed to disturbances from intervention activities, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring to assess long-term ecological resilience and recovery.

[Objective] Habitat quality is the potential of ecosystems to provide the necessary conditions for species survival and reproduction, and is the key to improving ecosystem functions. Studying the habitat quality of the Yangtze River Basin is of great significance for national major strategies such as green development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the protection of the Yangtze River. [Methods] Based on land use data from 1980 to 2018 in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the InVEST model was used to study the spatiotemporal changes in land use change, habitat quality, and habitat degradation in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River from 1980 to 2018. [Results] (1) As the main type of land use in the study area, woodland was decreasing, mainly turning to construction land and water area, which greatly reflected the driving effect of population growth, economic development and environmental protection on the change of land use structure. (2) The overall habitat quality of the study area was at a high level. showing a trend of low in the east and middle, and high in the south, which was consistent with the land use pattern that most of the cities along the Yangtze River in the east and middle of the study area were dominated by construction land, and the south was dominated by woodland and grassland. (3) In the study area, the degree of habitat degradation was higher in the central area and lower in the surrounding area. The change of the degree of habitat degradation showed an upward trend in time, and the areas where the degree of habitat degradation changes were more concentrated in space, such as the urban agglomeration along the river, urban and rural areas and other population agglomerations. [Conclusion] The habitat evolution in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River is in a process of degradation. The process of urbanization makes a large number of woodland, grassland and cultivated land in land use turn to construction land, which leads to the continuous decline of habitat quality, especially the problem of the urban agglomeration. along the Yangtze River. We should develop construction land more reasonably and draw the ecological protection red line, gradually restore and improve the habitat quality of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and make a positive contribution to the process of the Yangtze River protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semi-natural grasslands (SNGLs) in Estonia are threatened by abandonment. This threat is leading to concerns about the degradation of biodiversity within grassland communities. Despite the high relevance of economic incentives in this context, how such incentives influence land managers' decision-making regarding the agricultural use of SNGLs has not been investigated. To obtain its socio-ecological implications for policy-making, we developed regionally specific agricultural scenarios (compensation payments, livestock capacity, hey export, and bioenergy production) and an interdisciplinary modelling approach that made it possible to simulate agricultural land use changes through land managers' responses to varied economic conditions. Through this approach, we found that some economic factors hampered the use of SNGLs: the moderate profitability of beef production, labour shortages, and the relatively high profitability of mulching. We observed a positive relationship between SNGLs and habitat suitability for breeding and feeding birds. However, due to the high maintenance costs of SNGLs, the modelling results indicated that increasing the use of SNGLs through public budgets caused crowding-out effects, i.e., the deteriorating market integration of regional agriculture. This study emphasises the need for policy measures aimed at cost-effective, labour-efficient management practices for SNGLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The present study employed remote sensing images of the Fen River Basin from 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 as the primary data source. The software ENVI, ArcGIS, and Fragstats 4.2 were utilized to measure the landscape pattern index of the Fen River Basin. A collinearity test was conducted to remove any redundant landscape pattern indices. Based on the selected landscape indices, the landscape pattern index values were ascertained as follows. Using the shifting window method, the landscape pattern index of the Fen River Basin was obtained. Second, the habitat quality in the Fen River Basin was assessed using the InVEST model, and the spatial autocorrelation approach was employed to confirm that the habitat quality was spatially autocorrelated. Finally, the spatial impacts of landscape pattern indices on habitat quality were examined using the MGWR model. The results show that (1) the Fen River Basin's overall habitat quality declined between 2005 and 2020; however, the deterioration slowed with time and had a typical "poor in the middle and high around the margins" spatial distribution. The habitat quality of the low-value area continued to increase, the habitat quality of the lower-value area decreased annually, the habitat quality of the middle-value area decreased and then increased, the habitat quality of the higher-quality area tended to increase, decrease, and then increase again, and the habitat quality of the high-quality area decreased annually. (2) The fit of the MGWR model was greater than those of the OLS and traditional GWR models, and it was able to more clearly illustrate the various roles that landscape pattern indices and habitat quality play in one another. (3) Changes in landscape patterns had a major impact on habitat quality; habitat quality was positively impacted by PD and AI, negatively impacted by MESH, and had positive and negative bidirectional effects from CONTAG and AI.

Abstract As a major energy city in China, Yulin City has faced huge challenges to the ecological environment with its rapid economic development and rapid urbanization. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the impact of land use changes on habitat quality. Based on three periods of land use data in Yulin City in 1995, 2005 and 2015, the PLUS model was used to simulate the land use changes in 2015. The measured kappa coefficient was 0.8859, which met the simulation accuracy requirements. By setting development zone boundaries and adjusting parameters, three progressive scenarios are designed to predict the spatial distribution of land use in Yulin City in 2035. The InVEST model was used to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of Yulin City’s habitat quality in the past 20 years and evaluate the distribution of Yulin City’s habitat quality under three scenarios after 20 years. The results are as follows: (1) During the study period, construction land in Yulin City expanded rapidly, with an area increase of 380.87 km2 in 20 years, and ecological land gradually shrank. (2) The land use simulation results of Yulin City under various scenarios in 2035 show that future land use changes in Yulin City will mainly be concentrated in the central and western regions. (3) During the study period, the habitat quality of Yulin City was at a medium level and the overall habitat quality showed a downward trend. Spatially, the degree of habitat quality degradation in Yulin City showed a characteristic of gradually decreasing from West to East. (4) By 2035, under the scenario of suitable urban economic development, Yulin City’s habitat quality has been improved to a certain extent, which not only protects ecological security but also meets the demand for construction land for urban development. The results of this study help the government better understand the evolution of land use and habitat quality in Yulin City in the past 20 years, and provide theoretical support and reference for the formulation of Yulin City’s ecological environment protection policies and the implementation of ecological protection work under the current land spatial planning.

[Objective] Through the spatio-temporal dynamic analysis of landscape ecological pattern and habitat quality, the response of habitat quality before and after the implementation of soil and water conservation measures in PU River Basin of Shenyang City was deeply studied, aiming to provide scientific basis for soil and water conservation strategies in small river basins, so as to promote the coordinated growth of the eco-economy and the sustainable and healthy development of regional ecology. [Methods] Based on the land use data and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of PU River Basin in 2000, 2010 and 2020, combined with the FRAGSTATS and InVEST models, land use transfer matrix, landscape pattern index, habitat quality and habitat degradation degree were used to analyze land use change and explore quality response situation. [Results] (1) During the period from 2000 to 2010, the cultivated land development activities in the PU River Basin were frequent, resulting in a significant decline in the proportion of forest, grassland and other land types; In the period from 2010 to 2020, the construction of the PU River ecological corridor will promote the change of land use, and the cultivated land area will flow to artificial surfaces, forests and grasslands. (2) During 2000 to 2020, the overall landscape pattern of the PU River Basin experienced a process of first becoming complete and then fragmentary. The landscape on both sides of the Puhe River formed a dense pattern of multiple elements, and the habitat in the northern edge of the urban center continued to fragment. (3) From the overall analysis of the basin, the average habitat quality in 2000, 2010, and 2020 was 0.349, 0.329, and 0.354, respectively, showing a trend of first decreasing and then increasing. The mean values of habitat degradation were 0.098, 0.112, and 0.086, which were consistent with the trend in habitat quality. With the construction of the PU River Ecological Corridor, the quality of habitat will be improved significantly in 2020, and the threats to the ecosystem will be reduced. From the analysis of spatial pattern, the northeast and southwest show obvious spatial distribution characteristics. The quality of habitat in the mountainous areas of northeast China and the wetlands of southwest China is generally good, but there is a threat of habitat degradation. [Conclusion] Under the influence of soil and water conservation measures, the ecological pattern of the PU River Basin can be and the degradation of habitat can be effectively inhibited.

Habitat quality is a comprehensive index reflecting ecological conditions, land use impact, and human survival. Susceptibility to geological disasters is influenced by factors such as ecology, the geological environment, and human activities. Analyzing the effects of habitat quality on geological disaster susceptibility and its spatial dynamics is crucial for ecological protection and assessing geological disaster risks. This research focused on Pingshan County, using the InVEST 3.7.0 model and ArcGIS to evaluate habitat quality and geological disaster susceptibility for 2020. The spatial relationships were examined with GeoDa to investigate the impact of habitat quality on geological disaster susceptibility. The findings are as follows: (1) Pingshan County generally exhibits high habitat quality, showing significant spatial clustering with geological disaster susceptibility—predominantly high–high in the west and low–low in the east. (2) The geological environment significantly influences the relationship between habitat quality and geological disaster susceptibility, with an overall positive correlation but negative correlations in certain areas. Geological disaster susceptibility is primarily governed by geological factors rather than habitat quality. (3) In mountainous regions with comparable ecological and geological conditions, variations in geological disaster susceptibility are chiefly driven by human activities. Including human activities as a metric significantly enhances the evaluation accuracy. This study provides a scientific foundation for ecological protection, the assessment of geological disaster susceptibility, and the development of mitigation policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study employed remote sensing images of the Fen River Basin from 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 as the primary data source. The software ENVI, ArcGIS, and Fragstats 4.2 were utilized to measure the landscape pattern index of the Fen River Basin. A collinearity test was conducted to remove any redundant landscape pattern indices. Based on the selected landscape indices, the landscape pattern index values were ascertained as follows. Using the shifting window method, the landscape pattern index of the Fen River Basin was obtained. Second, the habitat quality in the Fen River Basin was assessed using the InVEST model, and the spatial autocorrelation approach was employed to confirm that the habitat quality was spatially autocorrelated. Finally, the spatial impacts of landscape pattern indices on habitat quality were examined using the MGWR model. The results show that (1) the Fen River Basin's overall habitat quality declined between 2005 and 2020; however, the deterioration slowed with time and had a typical "poor in the middle and high around the margins" spatial distribution. The habitat quality of the low-value area continued to increase, the habitat quality of the lower-value area decreased annually, the habitat quality of the middle-value area decreased and then increased, the habitat quality of the higher-quality area tended to increase, decrease, and then increase again, and the habitat quality of the high-quality area decreased annually. (2) The fit of the MGWR model was greater than those of the OLS and traditional GWR models, and it was able to more clearly illustrate the various roles that landscape pattern indices and habitat quality play in one another. (3) Changes in landscape patterns had a major impact on habitat quality; habitat quality was positively impacted by PD and AI, negatively impacted by MESH, and had positive and negative bidirectional effects from CONTAG and AI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective]The aims of this study are to evaluate the habitat quality in Anhui Province, to explore its driving mechanism, and to provide a theoretical reference and scientific basis for ecological environment management and the sustainable and high-quality development of social economy in Anhui Province. [Methods]In this study, Anhui Province was used as the study area to evaluate habitat quality in 2000, 2010 and 2020 based on the InVEST model. The hot spot analysis and MGWR model were used to analyze the natural and socioeconomic impacts on habitat quality in Anhui Province. [Results]The average habitat quality of Anhui Province showed a downward trend from 2000 to 2020, with a decline rate of 3. 01％, and the area of poor habitat quality most widely distributed. The spatial distribution pattern of habitat quality was high level in the south and west of mountainous and hilly areas and low level in the north and central part dominated by arable land and building land. Slope, NDVI, construction land ratio and land reclamation rate were the key factors affecting the spatial distribution of habitat quality in Anhui Province, and the average regression coefficients were 0. 138, 0. 084, -0. 213 and-0. 557, respectively. Slope had positive effects on habitat quality, NDVI had positive effects on habitat quality in most regions, the positive proportion of the area in the three phases reached more than 80％, and the negative effects of the proportion of building land and land reclamation rate on habitat quality increased and weakened with time, respectively. [Conclusion]The proportion of building land and land reclamation rate can decrease the habitat quality, so the management of land use and the scale of urban expansion should be strengthened in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study investigated core habitat areas for yellow-throated martens and leopard cats, two endangered forest species sensitive to habitat fragmentation in Korea. Overlaying the InVEST-HQ and MaxEnt models, priority conservation areas were identified by analyzing gaps in currently protected areas. The core area (14.7%) was mainly distributed in forests such as the Baekdudaegan Mountains Reserve and 12.9% was outside protected areas, and only 1.8% was protected. Conservation priority areas were identified as those with more than 95% forest cover, offering an appropriate habitat for the two species. These findings can be used to identify priority conservation areas through objective habitat analysis and as a basis for protected area designation and assessment of endangered species habitat conservation, thereby contributing to biodiversity and ecosystem conservation. This study investigated core habitat areas for yellow-throated martens (Martes flavigula) and leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis), two endangered forest species sensitive to habitat fragmentation in Korea. Overlaying the InVEST-HQ and MaxEnt models, priority conservation areas were identified by analyzing gaps in currently protected areas. The InVEST-HQ model showed that habitat quality ranged from 0 to 0.86 on a scale from 0 to 1, and the majority of the most suitable areas on the Environmental Conservation Value Assessment Map, designated as grade 1, were derived correctly. The MaxEnt model analysis accurately captured the ecological characteristics of the yellow-throated marten and the leopard cat and identified probable regions of occurrence. We analyzed the most suitable yellow-throated marten and leopard cat habitats by superimposing the two results. Gap analysis determined gaps in existing protected areas and identified priority conservation areas. The core area (14.7%) was mainly distributed in forests such as the Baekdudaegan Mountains Reserve in regions such as Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam, and Gangwon; 12.9% was outside protected areas, and only 1.8% was protected. The overlap results between protected and non-protected areas were compared with different land use types. Conservation priority areas were identified as those with more than 95% forest cover, offering an appropriate habitat for the two species. These findings can be used to identify priority conservation areas through objective habitat analysis and as a basis for protected area designation and assessment of endangered species habitat conservation, thereby contributing to biodiversity and ecosystem conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ganjiang River Basin, situated within the Yangtze River Basin, holds substantial ecological significance. A comprehensive understanding of the spatial-temporal variations and underlying drivers of habitat quality in this region is imperative for ensuring ecological security and upholding national ecological rights and interests. In this study, we utilized a remote sensing dataset and employed the InVEST model to analyze habitat quality distribution across both watershed and sub-watershed scales. Additionally, we integrated a land use transfer matrix and Moran's I index to examine the spatial and temporal patterns of habitat quality variation. The impact of 12 primary driving factors on habitat quality distribution was assessed using the geo-detector method. Our findings indicate the following: (1) Over the past two decades, the overall habitat quality in the Ganjiang River Basin has remained high, albeit exhibiting a consistent downward trend. (2) Approximately 60% of the basin area experienced degradation in habitat quality, primarily concentrated in the upper reaches characterized by initially favorable ecological conditions. Conversely, approximately 14% of the area demonstrated improvements in habitat quality, suggestive of the efficacy of select environmental protection initiatives. (3) Land use intensity emerged as the predominant factor influencing habitat quality, with inter-factor interactions exhibiting greater explanatory power than individual factors. Notably, the interaction between land use intensity and terrain exerted the strongest influence, underscoring the disproportionate impact of economic activities in rugged terrain on habitat quality decline. Our findings hold significant implications for guiding ecological protection efforts in critical regions and provide a robust scientific foundation for ecosystem management and sustainable development initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatio-temporal evolution of land use/land cover (LULC) and habitat quality (HQ) is vital to maintaining ecological balance and realizing regional sustainable development. Using the InVEST and CA-Markov model, with the Kendall coefficient as the sensitivity value, LULC and HQ in Lu'an City from 2000 to 2030 are simulated and evaluated. Then, Spearman is used to analyze the correlation between HQ and driving factors. Finally, the influence of policy factors on HQ is discussed. The results show the following: (1) from 2000 to 2030, the LULC of Lu'an is mainly cropland (about 40%) and forest land (about 30%) which are transferred to construction land; (2) the kappa coefficient is 0.9097 (>0.75), indicating that the prediction results are valid; (3) the Spearman coefficient shows that DEM (0.706), SLOPE (0.600), TRI (0.681), and HFI (−0.687) are strongly correlated with HQ, while FVC (0.356) and GDP (−0.368) are weakly correlated with HQ; (4) the main reasons for the decrease in HQ are the increase in construction land area, the decrease in forest area, the vulnerability of artificial forests to threat factors, and their low biodiversity. This study outlines exploratory research from two perspectives of HQ factors and policy effects to provide policy suggestions for the sustainable development of Lu'an City. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Revealing the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and key driving processes behind the habitat quality is of great significance for the scientific management of production, living, and ecological spaces in resource-based cities, as well as for the efficient allocation of resources. Focusing on the largest coal-mining subsidence area in Jiangsu Province of China, this study examines the spatiotemporal evolution of land use intensity, morphology, and functionality across different time periods. It evaluates the habitat quality characteristics of the Pan'an Lake area by utilizing the InVEST model, spatial autocorrelation, and hotspot analysis techniques. Subsequently, by employing the GTWR model, it quantifies the influence of key factors, unveiling the spatially varying characteristics of their impact on habitat quality. The findings reveal a notable surge in construction activity within the Pan'an Lake area, indicative of pronounced human intervention. Concurrently, habitat degradation intensifies, alongside an expanding spatial heterogeneity in degradation levels. The worst habitat quality occurs during the periods of coal mining and large-scale urban construction. The escalation in land use intensity emerges as the primary catalyst for habitat quality decline in the Pan'an Lake area, with other factors exhibiting spatial variability in their effects and intensities across different stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A habitat's structural complexity is a key determinant of the recruitment and composition of associated communities. While the influence of the physical structure of corals on coral reef fish recruitment is well studied, the significance of other benthic components, like macroalgae, remains unclear. We used experimental patches of the canopy-forming macroalga Sargassum to assess the influence of macroalgal complexity, which was manipulated by altering thallus density and biomass, on coral reef fish recruitment. We established twenty-five 75 × 75 cm patches on the reef flat of Orpheus Island, (inshore, central Great Barrier Reef) during austral summer. Patches were randomly divided into five treatments of varying Sargassum thallus density (3–9 thalli) and/or biomass (177–779 g per patch) and surveyed daily for recruiting fishes for 18 d. We recorded 35 fish species recruiting to our patches, with Sargassum biomass having the greatest influence on fish recruits' abundance and species richness. Comparisons between treatments with equal thallus density but varying biomass revealed a positive association between Sargassum biomass and fish species richness and abundance (up to ~ 2.5-fold differences). Additionally, treatments with similar total Sargassum biomass but different density revealed a negative relationship between density and fish species richness and abundance (20–30% reduction). These positive associations with Sargassum thallus biomass suggest that recruiting fishes favour the fine-scale complexity of intra-thallus spaces, rather than the larger, inter-thallus gaps. This study highlights that fine-scales of complexity within tropical macroalgal beds may influence the reef fish recruitment value of these often-underappreciated areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Habitat quality (HQ) is vital for achieving sustainable regional development. Understanding the spatial patterns and temporal evolution of HQ in the context of land use–cover change (LUCC) is crucial for promoting ecological civilisation and high-quality growth, especially for regions with rapid economic development. Aims: In order to analyse the impact of LUCC on habitat quality in the coastal areas with frequent human activities. Methods: This study focused on the Greater Bay Area around Hangzhou Bay and analysed the HQ on the basis of LUCC data during 2010–2020 by using the InVEST model and spatial autocorrelation analysis. Additionally, land-use data for multiple scenarios in 2030 were predicted using the PLUS model, and the variations in land use and HQ in the study region during 2020–2030 were assessed. Key results: During 2010–2020, the construction land in the region expanded by 1932.79 km2, primarily at the expense of cropland and water areas. The mean HQ values were 0.6287, 0.6181 and 0.6037 for 2010, 2015 and 2020 respectively, indicating a continuous decline. Spatially, HQ exhibited strong clustering during this period. However, there was a clear trend of fragmentation and reduction in 'high–high' cluster areas along the coast, mostly owing to the transformation of water areas and wetlands into construction land and cropland. In the projected scenarios (natural development, ND; economic development, ED; crop protection, CP; and ecological protection, EP) for 2030, the mean HQ values are estimated to be 0.5881, 0.5837, 0.5915 and 0.5965 respectively. Compared with 2020, there will be a certain decrease in HQ, with the EP scenario showing the lowest decrease of 0.0052. Conclusions: The HQ changes were closely linked to LUCC, the construction-land expansion was the main cause of HQ destruction in the Greater Bay Area around Hangzhou Bay. To alleviate the trend of declining HQ, it is essential to select appropriate development scenarios for each city in the region and coordinate the development of the cities. Implications: These findings provide valuable insights for promoting sustainable economic growth in the Greater Bay Area around Hangzhou Bay. Land use–cover change affects habitat quality and sustainable growth. This study predicted 2030 land-use scenarios with the PLUS model and assessed habitat quality from 2010 to 2030 with InVEST in the Greater Bay Area around Hangzhou Bay. Limiting construction, protecting farmland and expanding green spaces are essential for improving habitat quality. Findings have provided insights for sustainable growth. This article belongs to the collection Ecological Monitoring and Assessment of Freshwater Ecosystems: New Trends and Future Challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat quality is an important basis for human well-being and the achievement of sustainable development. Based on land-use data for the Bosten Lake Basin in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2022, the PLUS and InVEST models are applied in this study to predict and analyze land-use changes and explore the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of the region's habitat quality. Additionally, we use a geographic detector model to reveal the drivers of spatial variation in habitat quality. The results show that: (1) Land use in Bosten Lake Basin is dominated by grassland and bare land, with an area share of 93.21%. Habitat quality shows a trend of degradation followed by improvement, with a spatial pattern of high in the northwest and low in the southeast. (2) Habitat quality in 2030 increased from 2022 in all cases, with a mean of 0.354 for the natural development scenario, a maximum of 0.355 for the ecological development scenario, and a minimum of 0.353 for the economic development scenario. (3) The main drivers affecting habitat quality in the Bosten Lake watershed are DEM, mean annual precipitation (MAP), and GDP per capita. X1∩X4 (0.50) and X4∩X10 (0.51) are the interaction factors with the largest dominant effect in 2000, 2010 and 2020, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the resource optimization allocation method for the rapid development of urbanization in Urumqi and achieve sustainable development of the city from the perspective of “ecological-production-living spaces”, on remote sensing image data of land cover in Urumqi from 1980 to 2020 (every 10 years, a total of 5 periods) was based. Methods such as land use transfer matrix, ecological environment quality index, land use transformation ecological contribution rate, and InVEST model were used to estimate habitat quality, Quantitative analysis was conducted on the transformation of land use functions and ecological environmental effects in Urumqi City. The results show as follows. The ecological space in Urumqi continues to be compressed, the living space continues to increase, while the production space undergoes an inverted “V” shaped trend of first increasing and then decreasing. The transformation of land use function in Urumqi mainly manifests in the mutual transformation between grassland ecological space and production and living space. The ecological environment quality index in Urumqi continues to decline, and the transformation of grasslands into other ecological spaces is the main reason for the deterioration of the ecological environment quality in Urumqi. The level of habitat quality in Urumqi continues to decline, with the conversion of grassland and water ecological spaces into other ecological spaces being the main reason for the decline in habitat quality. It can be seen that land use transformation will have a huge impact on the quality of the ecological environment. The research results can provide guarantees for the sustainable improvement of the ecology in Urumqi City, and also provide reference for coordinating the sustainable use of land resources and protecting the ecological environment in Xinjiang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of ponds constructed to restore ecological infrastructure for pond‐breeding amphibians and benefit aquatic biodiversity depends on where and how they are built. We studied effects of pond and landscape characteristics, including connectivity, on metapopulation dynamics of 12 amphibian species in Switzerland. To understand the determinants of long‐term occupancy (here summarized as incidence), environmental effects on both colonization and persistence should be considered. We fitted dynamic occupancy models to 20 years of monitoring data on a pond construction program to quantify effects of pond and landscape characteristics and different connectivity metrics on colonization and persistence probabilities in constructed ponds. Connectivity to existing populations explained dynamics better than structural connectivity metrics, and simple metrics (distance to the nearest neighbor population, population density) were useful surrogates for dispersal kernel‐weighted metrics commonly used in metapopulation theory. Population connectivity mediated the persistence of conservation target species in new ponds, suggesting source–sink dynamics in newly established populations. Population density captured this effect well and could be used by practitioners for site selection. Ponds created where there were 2–4 occupied ponds within a radius of ∼0.5 km had >3.5 times higher incidence of target species (median) than isolated ponds. Species had individual preferences regarding pond characteristics, but breeding sites with larger (≥100 m2) total water surface area, that temporarily dried, and that were in surroundings with maximally 50% forest benefitted multiple target species. Pond diversity will foster amphibian diversity at the landscape scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural intensification, afforestation and land abandonment are major drivers of biodiversity loss in semi‐natural grasslands across Europe. Reversing these losses requires the reinstatement of plant–animal interactions such as pollination. Here we assessed the differences in species composition and patterns of plant‐pollinator interactions in ancient and restored grasslands and how these patterns are influenced by landscape connectivity, across three European regions (Belgium, Germany and Sweden).We evaluated the differences in pollinator community assemblage, abundance and interaction network structure between 24 ancient and restored grasslands. We then assessed the effect of surrounding landscape functional connectivity (i.e. green infrastructure, GI) on these variables and tested possible consequences on the reproduction of two model plants, Lotus corniculatus and Salvia pratensis.Neither pollinator richness nor species composition differed between ancient and restored grasslands. A high turnover of interactions across grasslands was detected but was mainly due to replacement of pollinator and plant species. The impact of grassland restoration was consistent across various pollinator functional groups, whereas the surrounding GI had differential effects. Notably, bees, butterflies, beetles, and dipterans (excluding hoverflies) exhibited the most significant responses to GI variations. Interestingly, networks in restored grasslands were more specialised (i.e. less functionally redundant) than in ancient ones and also showed a higher number of insect visits to habitat‐generalist plant species. Landscape connectivity had a similar effect, with habitat‐specialist plant species receiving fewer visits at higher GI values.Fruit set in S. pratensis and L. corniculatus was unaffected by grassland type or GI. However, the fruit set in the specialist S. pratensis increased with the number of pollinator visits, indicating a positive correlation between pollinator activity and reproductive success in this particular species.Synthesis and applications. Our findings provide evidence of the necessity to enhance ecosystem functions while avoiding biotic homogenisation. Restoration programs should aim at increasing landscape connectivity which influences plant communities, pollinator assemblages and their interaction patterns. To avoid generalist species taking over from specialists in restored grasslands, we suggest reinforcing the presence of specialist species in the latter, for instance by means of introductions, as well as increasing the connectivity to source populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Ecology & Rural Environment is the property of Journal of Ecology & Rural Environment Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A series of ecological and environmental issues often occur in the coal resources and large-scale exploitation activities. The Qinling Mountains have been the most vulnerable ecological areas in China. This study aims to explore the temporal and spatial evolution of mine habitat quality in the northern foot of the Qinling Mountains for regional ecological protection and sustainable development. A systematic investigation was implemented to clarify the impact of human activities on the ecological environment of mining areas under small river basins. The land use pattern was extracted from the Xiangyu mining area in the Feng River basin, according to the remote sensing images in 1985, 2002, 2010, and 2022. The InVEST model and geographical detector were used to quantitatively analyze the habitat quality and driving factors. The results showed that the land use in the Xiangyu mining area was mainly from the dry land to the forest and industrial land from 1985 to 2022, where the transfer area of forest reached 18 245 505.71 m², indicating the remarkable project performance of returning farmland to forest and grassland. Large ranges of bare and cultivated land were occupied by the development of the urban economy after 2010, where the industrial land was expanded rapidly. The habitat quality index decreased from 0.50 to 0.49, whereas, the standard deviation increased from 0.06 to 0.09, indicating the decreasing habitat quality and the ever-expanding spatial difference. Medium and low habitat quality were concentrated mainly in the areas with bare and construction land. In addition, the overall average degree of habitat degradation decreased from 0.48 to 0.47, but the rapid expansion of industrial land continued to affect the surrounding forests. There was a high spatial consistency in the distribution of habitat quality, habitat degradation, and land use patterns. The geographical detector showed that the influence degree of driving factors on habitat quality was ranked in the descending order of the land use (0.82), DEM (0.40), temperature (0.31), precipitation (0.30), population (0.29), NDVI (0.26), GDP (0.22), slope (0.12), and aspect (0.11). Among them, land use was the main cause of the fragile ecological environment. The coupled influence of natural with human factors on the ecological environment was greater than that of single factors. The interaction between land use and natural factors showed a double-factor enhancement, illustrating habitat quality was the result of natural factors and human factors. Research on mining areas should focus mainly on the land use policy and the impact of natural factors on engineering activities. Timely measures should be taken after high-intensity engineering activities, such as industrial construction and mining areas. The vegetation can be reconstructed to restore the water quality in the watershed. This finding can provide the scientific reference for the evolution of the ecological environment in similar mining areas, thus promoting the optimization of landscape patterns and the construction of ecological civilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial barriers are one of the most damaging anthropogenic factors, but are also socio-economic constructions, so the decision between removing a barrier and installing a fishway must be justified. The aim was to develop a system to quantify the amount of suitable habitat for migratory fish above barriers, to assess barriers' passability, to prioritise them in current and historical terms and to take into account the impact of the reservoir in the selection of barrier management alternatives. For this purpose, the proportion of suitable area and the potential number of spawners were calculated separately for the flooded and free-flowing river sections above the barrier. The effect of the flooded area and fishway efficiency on the potential number of individuals was assessed and the historical importance of the areas above each barrier was evaluated. The results show that the proportion of suitable area in the total area above the barriers varies between 5 and 31%. Short river stretches of high habitat quality have a higher reproductive potential than much longer stretches of lower habitat quality. Dams with fishways can still be among the most negatively impacting barriers if they are located in the migration route of fish into a large part of the basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The decline in biodiversity in agricultural areas in much of biological Europe is linked to agricultural intensification and land use changes. Bird species inhabiting natural and semi-natural grassland are among the most endangered ecological groups in Europe. This study aimed to determine the impact of grassland use on the availability of arthropods for red-backed shrike Lanius collurio and the condition of their chicks. A total of 133 pastures with different types of use were delineated: 1. extensively used meadows, 2. intensively used meadows fertilised with mineral fertilisers, and 3. intensively used meadows fertilised with manure. The analyses also took into account environmental factors that can affect food availability and condition parameters of chicks (distance to the forest, distance to the river, soil moisture, and proportion of shrubs and tree stands in the meadow border zone). The diversity of arthropods was greatest in extensively used meadows, and the average abundance and proportion of invertebrates over 1 cm in length was highest in intensively used meadows, especially those fertilised with manure. Coefficients characterising body condition parameters (resBCI) and glucose levels of nestlings associated with breeding birds foraging in extensively used meadows indicate good nutrition, but blood parameters suggest severe environmental stress, as is the case in the intensively used meadows fertilised with manure. The study aimed to determine the influence of grassland management on the potential food base of the red-backed shrike Lanius collurio and the condition of chicks in the population inhabiting semi-natural grasslands in the Narew floodplain. The grassland area was divided into three groups: extensively used meadows, intensively used meadows fertilised with mineral fertilisers, and intensively used meadows fertilised with liquid manure, and selected environmental factors that may influence food availability were determined. Using Barber traps, 1825 samples containing 53,739 arthropods were collected, and the diversity, abundance, and proportion of large arthropods in the samples were analysed depending on the grassland use type. In the bird population, the condition of the chicks was characterised by the BCI (Body Condition Index) and haematological parameters (glucose level, haemoglobin level, haematocrit, and H:L ratio). The diversity of arthropods was highest in extensively used meadows. Still, the mean abundance and proportion of arthropods over 1 cm in length differed significantly for Orthoptera, Hymenoptera, Arachne, and Carabidae between grassland use types, with the highest proportion of large arthropods and the highest abundance recorded in manure-fertilised meadows. The highest Body Condition Indexes and blood glucose levels of nestlings indicating good nestling nutrition were recorded in nests of birds associated with extensive land use. The H:L ratio as an indicator of the physiological condition of nestlings was high on manure-fertilised and extensively managed meadows, indicating stress factors associated with these environments. This suggests that consideration should be given to the effects of chemicals, such as pesticides or drug residues, that may come from slurry poured onto fields on the fitness of red-backed shrike chicks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arid Zone Research / Ganhanqu Yanjiu is the property of Arid Zone Research Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Given the rapid response of insects to environmental changes, their most prominent threats may change quickly as well. For effective insect species conservation it is therefore necessary to discriminate between former and current drivers of decline and to focus conservation efforts on the latter. We investigated how various environmental pressures, including former drivers of decline, have affected populations of the regionally endangered damselfly Coenagrion hastulatum and how their relevance has evolved over time. In our analysis, we compared water quality, vegetation properties and population trends across three distinct time spans: 1921–2000, 2001–2015 and 2016–2021. We included all known reproduction sites in the Netherlands, both current and historical, and also considered adjacent sites that were never inhabited. Ponds suitable for the species were characterised by mesotrophic conditions and high coverage of emergent and floating vegetation. Never inhabited ponds differed from inhabited ponds in being either more acidic or more eutrophic. Ponds where C. hastulatum disappeared between 2001 and 2015 had less of the mentioned vegetation structures and higher concentrations of various minerals. Ponds where the species disappeared after 2015 experienced severe droughts during 2018–2020. Most primary threats to C. hastulatum have shifted over time. In the past, changes in human use of ponds and increased sulphur and nitrogen deposition posed prominent threats. Presently, severe droughts, alongside nitrogen deposition have become the dominant concerns. Consequently, restoration of groundwater systems and rewetting measures are now first conservation priorities. Implications for insect conservation: Our study highlights how threats to insect populations can rapidly evolve. Consequently, conservation strategies need regular evaluation and adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deforestation remains the most pervasive driver of biodiversity erosion across tropical forests. Understanding how species can cope with such habitat changes is particularly important along the rapidly expanding agricultural frontiers. To do so, we used a functional perspective examining small mammal responses to habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation across the 'Arc of Deforestation' in the Southern Brazilian Amazon. Small mammals were surveyed using a combination of conventional and pitfall traps across 20 forest fragments—ranging from 42 to 4743 ha—in addition to two relatively continuous forest sites (> 7000 ha). These fragments lie isolated by a cattle pasture matrix of varying grazing intensity. We then analysed taxonomic and functional diversity patterns—represented by Simpson Diversity and Rao Quadratic entropy indices—in Generalised Linear Models containing local- to landscape-scale predictors of variation. Further, we used a functional trait composition approach based on community-weighted mean trait values to depict and predict small mammal functional variations across this degradation gradient. From a total of 847 individuals recorded belonging to 24 taxa, functional responses tended to follow the taxonomic diversity, both increasing with fragment area. The functional dimension further was promoted by low fire-related disturbance. Functional trait composition was mainly driven by habitat quality, represented by tree density, arthropod biomass, and fire-related disturbance. Our results reinforce that small forest fragments sustain depauperate small mammal assemblages both taxonomically and functionally. Accounting for habitat quality further allows for boosting the persistence across functional groups. Our findings can be used to improve the efficiency of management practices thereby maximising the multiple dimensions of small mammal diversity and their associated ecosystem services across tropical deforestation frontiers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]