Habitat identification and fragmentation risk assessment of key species in the Altai Mountains transboundary region

Abstract

National boundaries partition transboundary mountains in geographical space, making the process of habitat fragmentation more complex and difficult to coordinate. Biodiversity conservation and maintaining habitat integrity in transboundary mountain regions require global attention and international collaboration. The Altai Mountains are a highly representative transboundary mountain range and one of the global biodiversity hotspots. Finding out the spatial change trends and potential risks of suitable habitats for key species is urgent. This paper applies the MaxEnt model to predict potential habitats and hotspots for flagship species, umbrella species, and representative species with transboundary distribution in the Altai Mountains. A quantitative assessment of the transformation in suitable habitats in the Altai Mountains transboundary region over the past 20 years found that habitat fragmentation and loss showed an increasing trend. This paper argues that enhancing the habitat connectivity of the Altai Mountains can achieve minimum cost conservation and proposes establishing transboundary ecological corridors and networks through international cooperation to promote the coordinated sustainability of the ecological-social system. Our research is significant for global biodiversity conservation and improving human well-being and can provide valuable experience and models for Earth's transboundary protection and sustainable development.