Abstract:
Most of the world’s mountains are distributed across national boundaries. However, due to
the sovereignty of national boundaries, conservation plans between neighboring countries
are often uncoordinated. Against the backdrop of impending environmental changes, transboundary mountain ecosystems and biodiversity face significant threats. This study
employs the MaxEnt model, leveraging data on climate, topography, landscape, and human
activities to predict potential distribution areas for mammals and birds, aiming to identify biodiversity hotspots (BHs) and analyze their distribution mechanisms in the Altai Mountains
transboundary region (AMTR). Results indicate that BHs are primarily located near the Russian-Mongolian border, significantly influenced by climate variables, elevation, and human
activities. The study also highlights changes in key habitat types (KHTs), particularly transitions between grassland and bareland, and the impact of climate-driven land cover change
on the distribution of BHs. Furthermore, the research evaluates the coverage of protected
areas and emphasizes the importance of identifying key biodiversity areas (KBAs) and
establishing transboundary corridors for enhanced species protection and future environmental change adaptation. The findings underscore the necessity of transboundary cooperation and focused strategies for biodiversity conservation to mitigate the adverse effects of
climate change and human activities.
