Spatiotemporal evolution of habitat quality and its response to ecological restoration in coastal saline-alkali wetlands

Coastal deltas are critical global biodiversity hotspots but face intensifying conflicts between anthropogenic development and ecosystem fragility, particularly in saline-alkali environments. However, quantifying the specific effectiveness of ecological restoration within these sensitive zones remains a challenge, as most assessments overlook soil-specific responses to land use transitions. Using the Yellow River Delta as a representative case, this study integrated the InVEST model with spatial intersection analysis to evaluate habitat quality evolution from 2000 to 2020. Results reveal a spatial polarization: while urbanization degraded inland habitats, the policy-driven conversion of cropland to wetland significantly enhanced coastal zones. Crucially, the intersection analysis demonstrated that habitat quality in protected saline-alkali wetlands improved substantially, significantly outperforming natural succession in unprotected areas. These findings validate the efficacy of active restoration measures (e.g., Suaeda salsa rehabilitation) in reversing degradation in saline contexts and provide a transferable framework for spatial zoning management in complex coastal ecosystems globally.