Spatio‐Temporal Evolution Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms of Habitat Quality on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau: A Multi‐Source Data Approach

Abstract

The Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP), serving as a crucial ecological security barrier in China, exhibits habitat quality patterns that profoundly influence regional ecological stability and human welfare. Although previous studies have examined this relationship, comprehensive investigations on habitat quality dynamics and their underlying mechanisms remain limited. This study presents a multi‐dimensional assessment framework that integrates ecosystem services values, vegetation characteristics, and external threat factors to evaluate spatiotemporal variations in habitat quality. Using a methodological approach combining structural equation modeling (SEM) and geographically weighted regression (GWR), we systematically analyzed the driving factors and their spatial heterogeneity effects. Key findings include: (1) temporal analysis revealed relative stability in overall habitat quality during 1990–2015, followed by a marked decline during 2015–2020, (2) spatially, habitat quality demonstrated a distinct northwest‐to‐southeast increasing gradient, with > 50% of the northern regions maintaining a low‐quality status. Degradation hotspots during 1990–2020 clustered in the central, western, and northern zones, while 38% of the southeastern areas showed improvement, (3) multivariate analysis identified interactive climate‐topography‐anthropogenic effects, with standardized total impact coefficients of 0.76 (climate), 0.28 (topography), and 0.14 (human activities), establishing climate as the predominant driver, and (4) GWR results revealed significant spatial non‐stationarity in factor influences. This study advances methodological integration for ecosystem assessment and provides actionable insights for managing fragile alpine environments.