Abstract As a key ecological barrier and climatic divide in China, the Qinba Mountains in Shaanxi face growing habitat degradation under climate change and human activities. This study integrated the PLUS and InVEST models to analyze habitat quality dynamics from a bioclimatic perspective. Using land use data from 1990 to 2020, we simulated 2030 landscape patterns under a natural development scenario, assessed spatiotemporal changes in habitat quality, and applied topographic and geographical detectors methods to identify driving mechanisms. Results show: (1) PLUS achieved high simulation accuracy (Kappa = 0.81). Forests remained dominant in 2030, while cropland and built-up areas were concentrated in low-elevation zones; (2) Habitat quality exhibited a “low in the center, high in the periphery” pattern. From 1990 to 2030, 74.67 % of the area remained stable, 11.51 % improved, and 13.82 % declined; (3) Elevation and annual mean temperature were the primary drivers, with all factor interactions showing bivariate enhancement. This highlights how topographic gradients reshape microclimates–a core biometeorological process–constraining species distribution and habitat quality. These findings underscore the coupled impact of natural terrain and human activity on mountain habitat quality, supporting ecological conservation and sustainable land use planning in the Qinba Mountains.
Zou et al. (Thu,) studied this question.