Abstract: We analyzed the land use intensity in the middle and lower reaches of Shule River Basin and the temporal and spatial variation of influencing factors between 1987 and 2015 by using the comprehensive index of land use intensity and the model of SFA (Stochastic Frontier Analysis). The results showed that there was no obvious change in the land use structure of the middle and lower reaches of the Shule River Basin between 1987 and 2015. Non-vegetative area still dominated over 80%, followed by grassland, and construction land was the least (<1%). The comprehensive index land use intensity showed an increase trend, with significant spatiotemporal differences. The index raised by 35.36 during 1987-2015, with a sharp increase during 1996-2007, reaching 24.17, which accounted for 68.35% of the total increment value. After 2007, the increase became steadier than the previous stage, and the spatial pattern of land use intensity showed a trend from “low in east and west, and high in middle” to “high in east and middle, and low in west”. The spatiotemporal difference of influencing factors of land use intensity was significant at irrigation district level. Land use intensity change in the three irrigation districts was related to agricultural production structure and immigrants during 1987-1996, and was affected by land use change and immigrants during 1996-2007, and by agricultural production structure and land use change between 2007 and 2015.

Key words: Changbai Mountain, Plant community, α diversity, Altitude gradient