Response of vegetation ecological quality to temperature and precipitation in the Qilian Mountains in 2001-2024

doi:10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00317

Journal of Desert Research ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (1): 121-129.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00317

Response of vegetation ecological quality to temperature and precipitation in the Qilian Mountains in 2001-2024

Chuan Wang¹(), Rui He¹, Wenzhi Zhao², Yongyong Zhang²()

^1.College of Resource Environment and Tourism，Hubei University of Arts and Science，Xiangyang 441053，Hubei，China
^2.Chinese Ecosystem Network Research Linze Inland River Basin Research Station / State Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands，Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources，Chinese Academy of Science，Lanzhou 730000，China

Received:2025-11-23 Revised:2025-12-16 Online:2026-01-20 Published:2026-03-09
Contact: Yongyong Zhang

Abstract

Abstract:

The Qilian Mountains are an important ecological security barrier in Northwest China. Accurately assessing their vegetation ecological quality and its changing patterns is of great significance for regional ecological protection and sustainable development. This paper constructs the Vegetation Ecological Quality Index （VEQI） of the Qilian Mountains based on net primary productivity and vegetation coverage， and systematically analyzes its spatiotemporal variation characteristics and response patterns of VEQI to temperature and precipitation. The results indicate that the spatial distribution of VEQI exhibits a pattern of gradually increasing from northwest to southeast， with strong ecological quality stability in high-value areas. From 2001 to 2024， VEQI showed a significant upward trend with an average annual increase of 0.08， with grassland and desert vegetation experiencing the most pronounced improvement. The variation in VEQI demonstrates significant interannual fluctuations， accompanied by periodic changes of 3 years. The areas with significant increases account for 33.64% of the total study area， primarily distributed in the western and southeastern parts of the Qilian Mountains， indicating significant vegetation restoration in these regions. In the future， the overall trend of VEQI variation is expected to be upward but unstable， reflecting a certain degree of uncertainty in vegetation evolution. Partial correlation analysis results show that precipitation has a stronger impact on VEQI than temperature， primarily exerting a promoting effect. The research findings provide a scientific basis for the formulation of policies for vegetation ecological protection and ecological governance in the Qilian Mountains.

Key words: vegetation ecological quality, spatial and temporal changes, temperature, precipitation, Qilian Mountains

CLC Number:

Chuan Wang, Rui He, Wenzhi Zhao, Yongyong Zhang. Response of vegetation ecological quality to temperature and precipitation in the Qilian Mountains in 2001-2024[J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2026, 46(1): 121-129.

Figures/Tables 9

Fig.1 Spatial distribution of altitude， vegetation type， average annual temperature， and annual precipitation in the research area

Fig.2 Spatial pattern of VEQI and coefficient of variance of VEQI in Qilian Mountains

Fig.3 Interannual variations of VEQI in the Qilian Mountains from 2001 to 2024 （A） and changes in VEQI across different vegetation types （B）

Table 1 Average period and variance contribution rate

本征模态函数	平均周期/a	方差贡献率/%
分量1（IMF1）	3	19.71
分量2（IMF2）	8	3.94
分量3（IMF3）	12	0.06
残差趋势项	—	23.01

Fig.4 VEQI trends in Qilian Mountains

Fig.5 Spatial distribution of the trend （A） and changing types （B） of VEQI in the Qilian Mountains from 2001 to 2024

Fig.6 Hurst index （A） and future change type （B） of the VEQI in Qilian Mountains

Fig.7 The response of VEQI to precipitation and temperature in Qilian Mountain

Fig.8 Spatial distribution of temperature and precipitation dominant zones

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Response of vegetation ecological quality to temperature and precipitation in the Qilian Mountains in 2001-2024

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