Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Multi-Scenario Projections of the Land Use and Habitat Quality in the Yellow River Basin: A GeoDetector-PLUS-InVEST Integrated Framework for a Coupled Human–Natural System Analysis

The Yellow River Basin (YRB) is a critical ecological zone in China now confronting growing tensions between land conservation and development. This study combines land use, climate, and socio-economic data with spatial–statistical models (GeoDetector [GD]–Patch-generating Land Use Simulation [PLUS]...

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Main Authors: Xiuyan Zhao, Jie Li, Fengxue Ruan, Zeduo Zou, Xiong He, Chunshan Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Remote Sensing
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/13/2181
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author Xiuyan Zhao
Jie Li
Fengxue Ruan
Zeduo Zou
Xiong He
Chunshan Zhou
author_facet Xiuyan Zhao
Jie Li
Fengxue Ruan
Zeduo Zou
Xiong He
Chunshan Zhou
author_sort Xiuyan Zhao
collection DOAJ
description The Yellow River Basin (YRB) is a critical ecological zone in China now confronting growing tensions between land conservation and development. This study combines land use, climate, and socio-economic data with spatial–statistical models (GeoDetector [GD]–Patch-generating Land Use Simulation [PLUS]–Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-Offs [InVEST]) to analyze land use changes (2000–2020), evaluate habitat quality, and simulate scenarios to 2040. Key results include the following: (1) Farmland was decreased by the conversion to forests (+3475 km<sup>2</sup>) and grasslands (+4522 km<sup>2</sup>), while construction land expanded rapidly (+11,166 km<sup>2</sup>); (2) the population and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) pressures drove the farmland loss (q = 0.148 for population, q = 0.129 for GDP), while synergies between evapotranspiration (ET) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) promoted forest/grassland recovery (q = 0.155); and (3) ecological protection scenarios increased the grassland area by 12.94% but restricted the construction land growth (−13.84%), with persistent unused land (>3.61% in Inner Mongolia) indicating arid-zone risks. The Habitat Quality-Autocorrelated Coupling Index (HQACI) declined from 0.373 (2020) to 0.345–0.349 (2040), which was linked to drought, groundwater loss, and urban expansion. Proposed strategies including riparian corridor protection, adaptive urban zoning, and gradient-based restoration aim to balance ecological and developmental needs, supporting spatial planning and enhancing the basin-wide habitat quality.
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spelling doaj-art-76791619bcba4ddf8d4dbe7aed1039232025-08-20T03:28:37ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922025-06-011713218110.3390/rs17132181Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Multi-Scenario Projections of the Land Use and Habitat Quality in the Yellow River Basin: A GeoDetector-PLUS-InVEST Integrated Framework for a Coupled Human–Natural System AnalysisXiuyan Zhao0Jie Li1Fengxue Ruan2Zeduo Zou3Xiong He4Chunshan Zhou5School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, ChinaNational Ecological Science Data Center Guangdong Branch, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, ChinaCollege of Geographic Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, ChinaSchool of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, ChinaSchool of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, ChinaSchool of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, ChinaThe Yellow River Basin (YRB) is a critical ecological zone in China now confronting growing tensions between land conservation and development. This study combines land use, climate, and socio-economic data with spatial–statistical models (GeoDetector [GD]–Patch-generating Land Use Simulation [PLUS]–Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-Offs [InVEST]) to analyze land use changes (2000–2020), evaluate habitat quality, and simulate scenarios to 2040. Key results include the following: (1) Farmland was decreased by the conversion to forests (+3475 km<sup>2</sup>) and grasslands (+4522 km<sup>2</sup>), while construction land expanded rapidly (+11,166 km<sup>2</sup>); (2) the population and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) pressures drove the farmland loss (q = 0.148 for population, q = 0.129 for GDP), while synergies between evapotranspiration (ET) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) promoted forest/grassland recovery (q = 0.155); and (3) ecological protection scenarios increased the grassland area by 12.94% but restricted the construction land growth (−13.84%), with persistent unused land (>3.61% in Inner Mongolia) indicating arid-zone risks. The Habitat Quality-Autocorrelated Coupling Index (HQACI) declined from 0.373 (2020) to 0.345–0.349 (2040), which was linked to drought, groundwater loss, and urban expansion. Proposed strategies including riparian corridor protection, adaptive urban zoning, and gradient-based restoration aim to balance ecological and developmental needs, supporting spatial planning and enhancing the basin-wide habitat quality.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/13/2181land use changespatiotemporal analysisdriving factorsPLUSInVESThabitat quality
spellingShingle Xiuyan Zhao
Jie Li
Fengxue Ruan
Zeduo Zou
Xiong He
Chunshan Zhou
Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Multi-Scenario Projections of the Land Use and Habitat Quality in the Yellow River Basin: A GeoDetector-PLUS-InVEST Integrated Framework for a Coupled Human–Natural System Analysis
Remote Sensing
land use change
spatiotemporal analysis
driving factors
PLUS
InVEST
habitat quality
title Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Multi-Scenario Projections of the Land Use and Habitat Quality in the Yellow River Basin: A GeoDetector-PLUS-InVEST Integrated Framework for a Coupled Human–Natural System Analysis
title_full Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Multi-Scenario Projections of the Land Use and Habitat Quality in the Yellow River Basin: A GeoDetector-PLUS-InVEST Integrated Framework for a Coupled Human–Natural System Analysis
title_fullStr Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Multi-Scenario Projections of the Land Use and Habitat Quality in the Yellow River Basin: A GeoDetector-PLUS-InVEST Integrated Framework for a Coupled Human–Natural System Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Multi-Scenario Projections of the Land Use and Habitat Quality in the Yellow River Basin: A GeoDetector-PLUS-InVEST Integrated Framework for a Coupled Human–Natural System Analysis
title_short Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Multi-Scenario Projections of the Land Use and Habitat Quality in the Yellow River Basin: A GeoDetector-PLUS-InVEST Integrated Framework for a Coupled Human–Natural System Analysis
title_sort spatiotemporal dynamics and multi scenario projections of the land use and habitat quality in the yellow river basin a geodetector plus invest integrated framework for a coupled human natural system analysis
topic land use change
spatiotemporal analysis
driving factors
PLUS
InVEST
habitat quality
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/13/2181
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