Restoration dynamics and driving mechanisms of plateau mountain ecosystems under seismic disturbance: A case study of the Ludian M6.5 earthquake

Xin Huang¹Yanbo Cao^1*Shuangyun Peng²Maohao Luo¹Siyang Li¹Yufan Xu¹Jing Liu³

• ¹Earthquake Administration of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China
• ²Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
• ³Kunming Natural Resources Comprehensive Survey Center of China Geological Survey, Kunming, China

Plateau mountain ecosystems are highly sensitive to seismic disturbances due to their complex topography and fragile ecological environment. However, existing research still lacks a systematic understanding of the spatiotemporal dynamics and underlying driving mechanisms of ecosystem recovery in such regions following strong earthquakes. To address this gap, this study employed the 2014 Ludian M6.5 earthquake in Yunnan, China, as a case study. Using the Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI), we quantitatively evaluated the ecological disturbance effects and the post-earthquake recovery trajectory over nearly a decade post-earthquake. Additionally, the Geodetector was employed to uncover the underlying driving mechanisms. The results showed that: (1) Disturbance effects: the earthquake caused a significant short-term decline of 21.3% in the mean RSEI of the affected area, with the degree of degradation intensifying alongside seismic intensity. (2) Recovery dynamics: the ecosystem exhibited a three-stage nonlinear evolution pattern of “rapid recovery – steady recovery – stable surpassing.” By 2021, approximately 91% of the region had experienced ecological quality improvement, while 8.75% of the area still showed degradation, mainly concentrated in zones with intensive human activities. (3) Driving mechanisms: before the earthquake, the ecological pattern was primarily governed by natural background factors such as climate and soil; after the earthquake, aspect became the dominant factor reshaping the ecological pattern; and during the recovery period, the driving mechanisms presented a composite feature characterized by the persistent influence of the topography–climate system combined with the progressively increasing role of human interventions. These findings provide novel theoretical insights into the post-earthquake recovery patterns of plateau mountain ecosystems and provide a scientific foundation for ecological restoration and conservation in disaster-affected regions.