Abstract: In order to provide theoretical basis for planning,designing and species conservation of the Zhalong Nature Reserve,changes of the reserve in landscape patch area from 1950 to 2004 were analyzed,based on related land use maps and Landsat TM images and with the aid of the ecological quantitative analysis method and GIS technology.The following was found.The marsh landscape dominated the reserve in area in the 54 years,marsh-based mixed landscapes of grassland,cropland or unused land,appeared in parts of the reserve,and some other types of landscapes scattered in patch amid it.The area of marshes increased though somewhat fluctuated,while the area of grassland decreased significantly,the areas of unused land,residential land and cropland in general increased quickly,the area of water surface remained almost unchanged,and the area of forestland was the least in proportion,but showing an increasing trend.In terms of area weighted average,the landscapes followed a decreasing order of marsh > grassland > cropland > unused land > waters > residential land > forestland,and by largest patch index marsh > grassland > cropland > all the other types of landscapes,with index lower than 1.The patch size standard deviation of marshes was the largest and increased year by year,and that of waters,forestland and residential land were rather small.The patch size variance coefficient of the landscape of residential land was the largest in 1978,and that of forestland and unused land was quite stable.

Key words: wetland, total area of patches, the largest patch index, standard deviation, coefficient of variance, Zhalong Nature Reserve