Abstract:

Aims: Landscape pattern is an important driving factor that influences changes in plant species diversity (PSD) and plant functional diversity (PFD). The Hunshandak Sandland, a region in Inner Mongolia, is characterized by a variety of sand dunes, lakes, and built-up areas to form a complex and evolving landscape, which presents an ideal area to elucidate these mechanisms.
Methods: In this study, we processed remote-sensing images from 2008-2017 from the study area and conducted field surveys and analysis to investigate PSD and PFD. Spearman correlation analysis and general linear mixed model were employed to identify landscape pattern indices that significantly contributed to PSD and PFD. Furthermore, a structural equation model was utilized to determine both the direct and the indirect effects of dynamic changes in the landscape pattern on PSD and PFD.
Results: The results indicated that both PSD and PFD were influenced by landscape patterns from the previous 2-4 years. We discovered that PSD was primarily influenced by shape index, area and edge index, and aggregation index and were relevant in different timescales and land use types. PFD was predominantly affected by shape index and aggregation index.
Conclusion: The dynamics of landscape pattern must be considered in the process of landscape planning, management, and conservation of biodiversity in arid and semi-arid lands in Inner Mongolia and could be translated to similar regions worldwide.

Key words: landscape pattern dynamics, species diversity, functional diversity, Hunshandak Sandland, legacy effect