The spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and influencing factors of habitat quality in the typical region of the Lunan Economic Belt: a case study of Donggang District, Rizhao

Habitat quality is a key indicator for evaluating the biodiversity of a region. This study aims to assess the current status and characteristic changes of habitat quality in Donggang District, Rizhao while analyzing the potential factors influencing the quality of the habitat. The study employed the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs Habitat Quality (InVEST-HQ) mode to assess the spatiotemporal variations in habitat quality in the Donggang District from 2008 to 2022. GeoDetector was utilized to investigate the impact of various factors on the spatial differentiation characteristics of habitat quality. The potential correlation between economic development and habitat quality was further explored using the Spearman correlation coefficient and Grayscale Association Analysis. The results reveal that habitat quality in Donggang District is highest in the east and lowest in the west, with significant correlations to land use and vegetation coverage. The study highlights a decline in habitat quality over the period, linked to rapid economic growth and industrial expansion. These insights are crucial for balancing urban biodiversity with economic development.