Effects of Landscape Pattern Evolution on Plant Species and Functional Trait Diversity in Hunshandak Sandland

Landscape pattern is an important driver for the variation in plant species diversity (PSD) and functional diversity (PFD). However, the role of historical and current landscape metrics is still not revealed. Hunshandak Sandland, one of desertification area where landscape pattern undergoing quickly evolution, is a desire area for revealing such mechanism. The remote-sensing images during 2008–2017 were processed, both PSD and PFD were field surveyed and analyzed, the Multiple Linear Stepwise Regression was employed to identify landscape pattern indexes contributing significantly to PSD and PFD. Structural equation model was used to model the multivariate relationships. The results show both PSD and PFD are influenced by historical landscape pattern. Shape index, area and edge index, and aggregation index have important effects on PSD in different timescales and land use types. PFD is mainly affected by shape index, Interspersion and Juxtaposition Index (IJI), and Clumpiness Index (CLUMPY). Therefore, landscape history and evolution must be considered in the process of landscape planning, management, and biodiversity conservation in arid and semi-arid lands in the world.