The study looked at changes in wetland patterns in the Tarim River area over 20 years. They used satellite images to track how wetlands changed in size and shape. From 1980 to 1990, wetland areas decreased by 45.7%, but the number of patches increased. From 1990 to 2000, wetland areas slightly increased, with more patches forming. Human activities caused more diversity in wetland types, with some areas growing and others shrinking. River-channel, reservoir, and pond wetlands increased, while lake, bottomland, and marsh wetlands decreased. Overall, the wetland landscape became more fragmented and diverse over the years.