Spatial–temporal differentiation law of habitat quality and its driving mechanism in the typical plateau areas of the Loess Plateau in the recent 30 years

The Dongzhi Plateau, the largest remaining loess tableland on the Chinese Loess Plateau, is a critical region within the Yellow River Basin, and its ecological health is vital for regional ecological security and sustainable development. However, it faces severe habitat degradation under climate change and human activities. Utilizing the InVEST model and the geographical detector method, combined with multi-temporal land use data from 1995 to 2023, this study provides a systematic analysis of the spatial–temporal differentiation of land use and habitat quality, and explores the driving mechanisms behind habitat fragmentation in the Dongzhi Plateau, a representative loess tableland region on the Chinese Loess Plateau. The results showed that: (1) land use change was dominated by the bidirectional conversion of cropland and grassland, alongside a significant expansion of impervious. (2) Habitat quality demonstrated pronounced spatial heterogeneity, characterized by a distinct “core-edge” degradation pattern radiating from urban centers. Notably, while the majority of the area (87.41%) remained stable, an improvement was observed in 7.68% of the region, whereas 4.91% exhibited discernible degradation. (3) Land use change was the dominant driver of habitat quality dynamics, with its explanatory power ( q value) strengthening over time, increasing from 0.8334 in 1995 to 0.8887 in 2023. Its interaction with topographic and socioeconomic factors further enhanced this influence. Agricultural and urban expansion has encroached on ecological spaces, exacerbating habitat fragmentation. We propose spatially differentiated ecological restoration strategies, prioritizing gully ridge areas for vegetation recovery and promoting agricultural restructuring. These findings provide a scientific basis for ecological conservation on the Loess Plateau and support the high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin.