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She H, Hao Y, Song G, Luo X, Lei F, Zhai W, Qu Y. Gene expression plasticity followed by genetic change during colonization in a high-elevation environment. eLife 2024; 12:RP86687. [PMID: 38470231 DOI: 10.7554/elife.86687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity facilitates organismal invasion of novel environments, and the resultant phenotypic change may later be modified by genetic change, so called 'plasticity first.' Herein, we quantify gene expression plasticity and regulatory adaptation in a wild bird (Eurasian Tree Sparrow) from its original lowland (ancestral stage), experimentally implemented hypoxia acclimation (plastic stage), and colonized highland (colonized stage). Using a group of co-expressed genes from the cardiac and flight muscles, respectively, we demonstrate that gene expression plasticity to hypoxia tolerance is more often reversed than reinforced at the colonized stage. By correlating gene expression change with muscle phenotypes, we show that colonized tree sparrows reduce maladaptive plasticity that largely associated with decreased hypoxia tolerance. Conversely, adaptive plasticity that is congruent with increased hypoxia tolerance is often reinforced in the colonized tree sparrows. Genes displaying large levels of reinforcement or reversion plasticity (i.e. 200% of original level) show greater genetic divergence between ancestral and colonized populations. Overall, our work demonstrates that gene expression plasticity at the initial stage of high-elevation colonization can be reversed or reinforced through selection-driven adaptive modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huishang She
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Hao
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Gang Song
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Luo
- Faculty of Biodiversity and Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
| | - Fumin Lei
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Weiwei Zhai
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Yanhua Qu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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2
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Sun Y, Hao Y, Zhang Q, Liu X, Wang L, Li J, Li M, Li D. Coping with extremes: Alternations in diet, gut microbiota, and hepatic metabolic functions in a highland passerine. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167079. [PMID: 37714349 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
In wild animals, diet and gut microbiota interactions are critical moderators of metabolic functions and are highly contingent on habitat conditions. Challenged by the extreme conditions of high-altitude environments, the strategies implemented by highland animals to adjust their diet and gut microbial composition and modulate their metabolic substrates remain largely unexplored. By employing a typical human commensal species, the Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus, ETS), as a model species, we studied the differences in diet, digestive tract morphology and enzyme activity, gut microbiota, and metabolic energy profiling between highland (the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, QTP; 3230 m) and lowland (Shijiazhuang, Hebei; 80 m) populations. Our results showed that highland ETSs had enlarged digestive organs and longer small intestinal villi, while no differences in key digestive enzyme activities were observed between the two populations. The 18S rRNA sequencing results revealed that the dietary composition of highland ETSs were more animal-based and less plant-based than those of the lowland ones. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing results suggested that the intestinal microbial communities were structurally segregated between populations. PICRUSt metagenome predictions further indicated that the expression patterns of microbial genes involved in material and energy metabolism, immune system and infection, and xenobiotic biodegradation were strikingly different between the two populations. Analysis of liver metabolomics revealed significant metabolic differences between highland and lowland ETSs in terms of substrate utilization, as well as distinct sex-specific alterations in glycerophospholipids. Furthermore, the interplay between diet, liver metabolism, and gut microbiota suggests a dietary shift resulting in corresponding changes in gut microbiota and metabolic functions. Our findings indicate that highland ETSs have evolved to optimize digestion and absorption, rely on more protein-rich foods, and possess gut microbiota tailored to their dietary composition, likely adaptive physiological and ecological strategies adopted to cope with extreme highland environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfeng Sun
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China; Ocean College, Hebei Agricultural University, Qinhuangdao 066003, China; Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Yaotong Hao
- Ocean College, Hebei Agricultural University, Qinhuangdao 066003, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Xu Liu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Limin Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Juyong Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Mo Li
- College of Life Sciences, Cangzhou Normal University, Cangzhou 061001, China.
| | - Dongming Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China; Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China.
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3
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Wang S, Shen Y, Lin Z, Miao Y, Wang C, Zhang W, Zhang Y. New genes driven by segmental duplications share a testis-specific expression pattern in the chromosome-level genome assembly of tree sparrow. Integr Zool 2023. [PMID: 38014459 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Based on a chromosome-level genome assembly, a burst of new genes with different structures but a similar testis-specific expression pattern was detected in tree sparrow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengnan Wang
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yue Shen
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhaocun Lin
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yuquan Miao
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Chengqi Wang
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wenya Zhang
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yingmei Zhang
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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4
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Palacios C, Wang P, Wang N, Brown MA, Capatosto L, Du J, Jiang J, Zhang Q, Dahal N, Lamichhaney S. Genomic Variation, Population History, and Long-Term Genetic Adaptation to High Altitudes in Tibetan Partridge (Perdix hodgsoniae). Mol Biol Evol 2023; 40:msad214. [PMID: 37768198 PMCID: PMC10583571 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Species residing across elevational gradients display adaptations in response to environmental changes such as oxygen availability, ultraviolet radiation, and temperature. Here, we study genomic variation, gene expression, and long-term adaptation in Tibetan Partridge (Perdix hodgsoniae) populations residing across the elevational gradient of the Tibetan Plateau. We generated a high-quality draft genome and used it to carry out downstream population genomic and transcriptomic analysis. The P. hodgsoniae populations residing across various elevations were genetically distinct, and their phylogenetic clustering was consistent with their geographic distribution. We identified possible evidence of gene flow between populations residing in <3,000 and >4,200 m elevation that is consistent with known habitat expansion of high-altitude populations of P. hodgsoniae to a lower elevation. We identified a 60 kb haplotype encompassing the Estrogen Receptor 1 (ESR1) gene, showing strong genetic divergence between populations of P. hodgsoniae. We identified six single nucleotide polymorphisms within the ESR1 gene fixed for derived alleles in high-altitude populations that are strongly conserved across vertebrates. We also compared blood transcriptome profiles and identified differentially expressed genes (such as GAPDH, LDHA, and ALDOC) that correlated with differences in altitude among populations of P. hodgsoniae. These candidate genes from population genomics and transcriptomics analysis were enriched for neutrophil degranulation and glycolysis pathways, which are known to respond to hypoxia and hence may contribute to long-term adaptation to high altitudes in P. hodgsoniae. Our results highlight Tibetan Partridges as a useful model to study molecular mechanisms underlying long-term adaptation to high altitudes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catalina Palacios
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Pengcheng Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Nan Wang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, P. R. China
| | - Megan A Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Lukas Capatosto
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Juan Du
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P. R. China
| | - Jiahu Jiang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, P. R. China
| | - Qingze Zhang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, P. R. China
| | - Nishma Dahal
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, HP 176061, India
| | - Sangeet Lamichhaney
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
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Swanson NE, Gluesenkamp AG, Donny AE, Mcgaugh SE. Developmental environment contributes to rapid trait shifts among newly colonized subterranean habitats. Zool Res 2023; 44:808-820. [PMID: 37464938 PMCID: PMC10415762 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2022.488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent colonization of extreme environments provides unique opportunities to study the early steps of adaptation and the potential for rapid convergent evolution. However, phenotypic shifts during recent colonization may also be due to plasticity in response to changes in the rearing environment. Here, we analyzed a suite of morphological and behavioral traits in paired surface, subterranean, and facultatively subterranean Mexican tetras ( Astyanax mexicanus) from recent introductions in two separate watersheds outside of their native range. We found a variety of phenotypic and behavioral shifts between subterranean and surface populations that are similar to those observed in relatively ancient populations in Mexico. Despite this rapid morphological divergence, we found that most of these trait differences were due to plasticity in response to rearing environments. While most trait assays in common-garden, lab-raised fish indicated that phenotypic shifts in wild fish were the result of plasticity, we also found evidence of genetic control in several traits present in subterranean populations. Interestingly, wall-following behavior, an important subterranean foraging behavior, was greater in lab-born subterranean fish than in lab-born surface fish, suggesting rapid divergence of this trait between subterranean and surface populations. Thus, this study sheds light on the early steps of subterranean evolution, identifies potential rapid behavioral evolution, and suggests that plasticity in traits involving exploratory behavior may facilitate subterranean colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan E Swanson
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-2525, USA. E-mail:
| | - Andrew G Gluesenkamp
- Center for Conservation and Research, San Antonio Zoo, San Antonio, Texas 78212, USA
| | - Alexandra E Donny
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Suzanne E Mcgaugh
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA. E-mail:
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Hao Y, Song G, Zhang YE, Zhai W, Jia C, Ji Y, Tang S, Lv H, Qu Y, Lei F. Divergent contributions of coding and noncoding sequences to initial high-altitude adaptation in passerine birds endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:3524-3540. [PMID: 37000417 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
Early events in the evolution of an ancestral lineage can shape the adaptive patterns of descendant species, but the evolutionary mechanisms driving initial adaptation from an ancestor remain largely unexplored. High-altitude adaptations have been extensively explored from the viewpoint of protein-coding genes; however, the contribution of noncoding regions remains relatively neglected. Here, we integrate genomic and transcriptomic data to investigate adaptive evolution in the ancestor of three high-altitude snowfinch species endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Our genome-wide scan for adaptation in the snowfinch ancestor identifies strong adaptation signals in functions of development and metabolism for the coding genes, but in functions of the nervous system development for noncoding regions. This pattern is exclusive to the snowfinch ancestor compared to a control ancestral lineage subject to weak selection. Changes in noncoding regions in the snowfinch ancestor, especially those nearest to coding genes, may be disproportionately associated with the differential expression of genes in the brain tissue compared to other tissues. Extensive gene expression in the brain tissue can be further altered via genetic regulatory networks of transcription factors harbouring potential accelerated regulatory regions (e.g., the development-related transcription factor YEATS4). Altogether, our study provides new evidence concerning how coding and noncoding sequences work through decoupled pathways in initial adaptation to the selective pressure of high-altitude environments. The analysis highlights the idea that noncoding sequences may be promising elements in facilitating the rapid evolution and adaptation to high altitudes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Hao
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Gang Song
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yong E Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Weiwei Zhai
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Chenxi Jia
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanzhu Ji
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shiyu Tang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongrui Lv
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanhua Qu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fumin Lei
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
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7
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Ye LJ, Möller M, Luo YH, Zou JY, Zheng W, Liu J, Li DZ, Gao LM. Variation in gene expression along an elevation gradient of Rhododendron sanguineum var. haemaleum assessed in a comparative transcriptomic analysis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1133065. [PMID: 37025136 PMCID: PMC10070981 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1133065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Selection along environmental gradients may play a vital role in driving adaptive evolution. Nevertheless, genomic variation and genetic adaptation along environmental clines remains largely unknown in plants in alpine ecosystems. To close this knowledge gap, we assayed transcriptomic profiles of late flower bud and early leaf bud of Rhododendron sanguineum var. haemaleum from four different elevational belts between 3,000 m and 3,800 m in the Gaoligong Mountains. By comparing differences in gene expression of these samples, a gene co-expression network (WGCNA) was constructed to identify candidate genes related to elevation. We found that the overall gene expression patterns are organ-specific for the flower and leaf. Differentially expressed unigenes were identified in these organs. In flowers, these were mainly related to terpenoid metabolism (RsHMGR, RsTPS), while in leaves mainly related to anthocyanin biosynthesis (RsCHS, RsF3'5'H). Terpenoids are the main components of flower scent (fragrance) likely attracting insects for pollination. In response to fewer pollinators at higher elevation zone, it seems relatively less scent is produced in flower organs to reduce energy consumption. Secondary metabolites in leaves such as anthocyanins determine the plants' alternative adaptive strategy to extreme environments, such as selective pressures of insect herbivory from environmental changes and substrate competition in biosynthesis pathways at high elevations. Our findings indicated that the gene expression profiles generated from flower and leaf organs showed parallel expression shifts but with different functionality, suggesting the existence of flexibility in response strategies of plants exposed to heterogeneous environments across elevational gradients. The genes identified here are likely to be involved in the adaptation of the plants to these varying mountainous environments. This study thus contributes to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of adaptation in response to environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin-Jiang Ye
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Biodiversity of Jiangxi Province, Jingdezhen University, Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, China
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Michael Möller
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Ya-Huang Luo
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Lijiang Forest Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lijiang, Yunnan, China
| | - Jia-Yun Zou
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Wei Zheng
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - De-Zhu Li
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Lijiang Forest Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lijiang, Yunnan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lian-Ming Gao
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Lijiang Forest Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lijiang, Yunnan, China
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Enlarged fins of Tibetan catfish provide new evidence of adaptation to high plateau. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2023:10.1007/s11427-022-2253-7. [PMID: 36802318 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-022-2253-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
The uplift of the Tibetan Plateau significantly altered the geomorphology and climate of the Euroasia by creating large mountains and rivers. Fishes are more likely to be affected relative to other organisms, as they are largely restricted to river systems. Faced with the rapidly flowing water in the Tibetan Plateau, a group of catfish has evolved greatly enlarged pectoral fins with more numbers of fin-rays to form an adhesive apparatus. However, the genetic basis of these adaptations in Tibetan catfishes remains elusive. In this study, we performed comparative genomic analyses based on the chromosome-level genome of Glyptosternum maculatum in family Sisoridae and detected some proteins with conspicuously high evolutionary rates in particular in genes involved in skeleton development, energy metabolism, and hypoxia response. We found that the hoxd12a gene evolved faster and a loss-of-function assay of hoxd12a supports a potential role for this gene in shaping the enlarged fins of these Tibetan catfishes. Other genes with amino acid replacements and signatures of positive selection included proteins involved in low temperature (TRMU) and hypoxia (VHL) responses. Functional assays reveal that the G. maculatumTRMU allele generates more mitochondrial ATP than the ancestral allele found in low-altitude fishes. Functional assays of VHL alleles suggest that the G. maculatum allele has lower transactivation activity than the low-altitude forms. These findings provide a window into the genomic underpinnings of physiological adaptations that permit G. maculatum to survive in the harsh environment of the Tibetan Himalayas that mirror those that are convergently found in other vertebrates such as humans.
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Lu CW, Huang ST, Cheng SJ, Lin CT, Hsu YC, Yao CT, Dong F, Hung CM, Kuo HC. Genomic architecture underlying morphological and physiological adaptation to high elevation in a songbird. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:2234-2251. [PMID: 36748940 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Organisms often acquire physiological and morphological modifications to conquer ecological challenges when colonizing new environments which lead to their adaptive evolution. However, deciphering the genomic mechanism of ecological adaptation is difficult because ecological environments are often too complex for straightforward interpretation. Thus, we examined the adaptation of a widespread songbird-the rufous-capped babbler (Cyanoderma ruficeps)-to a relatively simple system: distinct environments across elevational gradients on the mountainous island of Taiwan. We focused on the genomic sequences of 43 birds from five populations to show that the Taiwan group split from its sister group in mainland China around 1-2 million years ago (Ma) and colonized the montane habitats of Taiwan at least twice around 0.03-0.22 Ma. The montane and lowland Taiwan populations diverged with gene flow between them, suggesting strong selection associated with different elevations. We found that the montane babblers had smaller beaks than the lowland ones, consistent with Allen's rule, and identified candidate genes-COL9A1 and SOX11-underlying the beak size changes. We also found that altitudinally divergent mutations were mostly located in noncoding regions and tended to accumulate in chromosomal inversions and autosomes. The altitudinally divergent mutations might regulate genes related to haematopoietic, metabolic, immune, auditory and vision functions, as well as cerebrum morphology and plumage development. The results reveal the genomic bases of morphological and physiological adaptation in this species to the low temperature, hypoxia and high UV light environment at high elevation. These findings improve our understanding of how ecological adaptation drives population divergence from the perspective of genomic architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Wei Lu
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Ting Huang
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shun-Jen Cheng
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Tau Lin
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Cheng Hsu
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Te Yao
- Division of Zoology, Endemic Species Research Institute, Nantou, Taiwan
| | - Feng Dong
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Chih-Ming Hung
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Chih Kuo
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
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10
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Yu X, Chen F, Chen Z, Wei P, Song X, Liu C, Liu T, Li X, Liu X. Genetic diversity and gene expression diversity shape the adaptive pattern of the aquatic plant Batrachium bungei along an altitudinal gradient on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 111:275-290. [PMID: 36534297 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-022-01326-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
It is an intriguing issue of evolutionary biology how genetic diversity and gene expression diversity shape the adaptive patterns. Comparative transcriptomic studies of wild populations in extreme environments provide critical insights into the relative contribution of genetic and expressive components. In this study, we analyzed the genetic diversity and gene expression diversity of 20 populations of the aquatic plant Batrachium bungei along elevations ranging from 2690 to 4896 m on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau (QTP). Based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and gene expression data from 100 individuals of B. bungei, we found that variation in genetic sequence was more sensitive to detect weak differentiation than gene expression. Using 292,613 high-quality SNPs, we documented a significant phylogeographical structure, a low within-population genetic diversity, and a high inter-population genetic differentiation in B. bungei populations. Analysis of relationship between geographic distance, genetic distance, and gene expression similarity showed that geographic isolation shaped gene flow patterns but not gene expression patterns. We observed a negative relationship between genetic diversity and gene expression diversity within and among B. bungei populations, and we demonstrated that as environmental conditions worsen with increasing altitude, genetic diversity played an increased role in maintaining the stability of populations, while the corresponding role of gene expression diversity decreased. These results suggested that genetic diversity and gene expression diversity might act as a complementary mechanism contributing to the long-term survival of B. bungei in extreme environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Laboratory of Plant Systematics and Evolutionary Biology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei, China
| | - Feifei Chen
- Laboratory of Extreme Environmental Biological Resources and Adaptive Evolution, Research Center for Ecology, School of Sciences, Tibet University, Lhasa, 850000, Tibet, China
| | - Zhuyifu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Laboratory of Plant Systematics and Evolutionary Biology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei, China
| | - Pei Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Laboratory of Plant Systematics and Evolutionary Biology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaoli Song
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Laboratory of Plant Systematics and Evolutionary Biology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei, China
| | - Chenlai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Laboratory of Plant Systematics and Evolutionary Biology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei, China
| | - Tailong Liu
- Laboratory of Extreme Environmental Biological Resources and Adaptive Evolution, Research Center for Ecology, School of Sciences, Tibet University, Lhasa, 850000, Tibet, China
| | - Xiaoyan Li
- Biology Experimental Teaching Center, School of Life Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei, China.
| | - Xing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Laboratory of Plant Systematics and Evolutionary Biology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei, China.
- Laboratory of Extreme Environmental Biological Resources and Adaptive Evolution, Research Center for Ecology, School of Sciences, Tibet University, Lhasa, 850000, Tibet, China.
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11
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XIONG Y, HAO Y, CHENG Y, FAN L, SONG G, LI D, QU Y, LEI F. Comparative transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis reveals pectoralis highland adaptation across altitudinal songbirds. Integr Zool 2022; 17:1162-1178. [PMID: 34935284 PMCID: PMC9786770 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Pectoralis phenotypic variation plays a fundamental role in locomotion and thermogenesis in highland birds. However, its regulatory and metabolic mechanisms remain enigmatic to date. Here, we integrated phenomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic approaches to determine muscle variation and its underpinning mechanisms across altitudinal songbirds. Phenomics confirmed that all highland birds had considerable increases in muscle oxidative capacity, capillarity, and mitochondrial abundance in our study. Correspondingly, transcriptomic analyses found that differentially expressed genes in phenotype-associated modules enriched for blood vessel, muscle structure development, and mitochondrial organization. Despite similar traits and functional enrichments across highland birds, different mechanisms drove their occurrence in high-altitude tree sparrow and 2 snow finches. Importantly, a metabolic feature shared by all the 3 highland birds is the improvement in insulin sensitivity and glucose utilization through activating insulin signaling pathway, which is vital to increase muscle oxidative capacity and maintain metabolic homeostasis. Nevertheless, fatty acid biosynthesis and oxidation are enhanced in only 2 snow finches which had a long evolutionary history on the high plateau, also differing from ketone body metabolism in recently introduced colonizer of the tree sparrow of the high plateau. Our study represents a vital contribution to reveal the regulatory and metabolic basis of pectoralis variation across altitudinal songbirds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying XIONG
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and EvolutionInstitute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina,University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yan HAO
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and EvolutionInstitute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina,University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yalin CHENG
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and EvolutionInstitute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina,University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Liqing FAN
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and EvolutionInstitute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina,University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina,Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology in Tibet Plateau of Ministry of EducationInstitute of Tibet Plateau EcologyTibet Agriculture & Animal Husbandry UniversityNyingchiChina
| | - Gang SONG
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and EvolutionInstitute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Dongming LI
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life SciencesHebei Normal UniversityShijiazhuangChina
| | - Yanhua QU
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and EvolutionInstitute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Fumin LEI
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and EvolutionInstitute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina,University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and GeneticsChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
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12
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Sjodin BMF, Russello MA. Comparative genomics reveals putative evidence for high-elevation adaptation in the American pika ( Ochotona princeps). G3 GENES|GENOMES|GENETICS 2022; 12:6695220. [PMID: 36087005 PMCID: PMC9635661 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
High-elevation environments have lower atmospheric oxygen content, reduced temperatures, and higher levels of UV radiation than found at lower elevations. As such, species living at high elevations must overcome these challenges to survive, grow, and reproduce. American pikas (Ochotona princeps) are alpine lagomorphs that are habitat specialists typically found at elevations >2,000 m. Previous research has shown putative evidence for high-elevation adaptation; however, investigations to date have been limited to a fraction of the genome. Here, we took a comparative genomics approach to identify putative regions under selection using a chromosomal reference genome assembly for the American pika relative to 8 other mammalian species targeted based on phylogenetic relatedness and (dis)similarity in ecology. We first identified orthologous gene groups across species and then extracted groups containing only American pika genes as well as unclustered pika genes to inform functional enrichment analyses; among these, we found 141 enriched terms with many related to hypoxia, metabolism, mitochondrial function/development, and DNA repair. We identified 15 significantly expanded gene families within the American pika across all orthologous gene groups that displayed functionally enriched terms associated with hypoxia adaptation. We further detected 196 positively selected genes, 41 of which have been associated with putative adaptation to hypoxia, cold tolerance, and response to UV following a literature review. In particular, OXNAD1, NRDC, and those genes critical in DNA repair represent important targets for future research to examine their functional implications in the American pika, especially as they may relate to adaptation to rapidly changing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryson M F Sjodin
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus , Kelowna, V1V 1V7 BC, Canada
| | - Michael A Russello
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus , Kelowna, V1V 1V7 BC, Canada
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13
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Chen Y, Jiang Z, Fan P, Ericson PGP, Song G, Luo X, Lei F, Qu Y. The combination of genomic offset and niche modelling provides insights into climate change-driven vulnerability. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4821. [PMID: 35974023 PMCID: PMC9381542 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32546-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Global warming is increasingly exacerbating biodiversity loss. Populations locally adapted to spatially heterogeneous environments may respond differentially to climate change, but this intraspecific variation has only recently been considered when modelling vulnerability under climate change. Here, we incorporate intraspecific variation in genomic offset and ecological niche modelling to estimate climate change-driven vulnerability in two bird species in the Sino-Himalayan Mountains. We found that the cold-tolerant populations show higher genomic offset but risk less challenge for niche suitability decline under future climate than the warm-tolerant populations. Based on a genome-niche index estimated by combining genomic offset and niche suitability change, we identified the populations with the least genome-niche interruption as potential donors for evolutionary rescue, i.e., the populations tolerant to climate change. We evaluated potential rescue routes via a landscape genetic analysis. Overall, we demonstrate that the integration of genomic offset, niche suitability modelling, and landscape connectivity can improve climate change-driven vulnerability assessments and facilitate effective conservation management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiyong Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Fan
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Per G P Ericson
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, PO Box 50007, SE-104 05, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gang Song
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Luo
- Faculty of Biodiversity and Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
| | - Fumin Lei
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. .,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. .,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China.
| | - Yanhua Qu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. .,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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14
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Liu H, Han X, Zhao N, Hu L, Wang X, Luo C, Chen Y, Zhao X, Xu S. The Gut Microbiota Determines the High-Altitude Adaptability of Tibetan Wild Asses (Equus kiang) in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:949002. [PMID: 35923394 PMCID: PMC9342865 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.949002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
It was acknowledged long ago that microorganisms have played critical roles in animal evolution. Tibetan wild asses (TWA, Equus kiang) are the only wild perissodactyls on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) and the first national protected animals; however, knowledge about the relationships between their gut microbiota and the host's adaptability remains poorly understood. Herein, 16S rRNA and meta-genomic sequencing approaches were employed to investigate the gut microbiota–host associations in TWA and were compared against those of the co-resident livestock of yak (Bos grunnies) and Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries). Results revealed that the gut microbiota of yak and Tibetan sheep underwent convergent evolution. By contrast, the intestinal microflora of TWA diverged in a direction enabling the host to subsist on sparse and low-quality forage. Meanwhile, high microbial diversity (Shannon and Chao1 indices), cellulolytic activity, and abundant indicator species such as Spirochaetes, Bacteroidetes, Prevotella_1, and Treponema_2 supported forage digestion and short-chain fatty acid production in the gut of TWA. Meanwhile, the enterotype identification analysis showed that TWA shifted their enterotype in response to low-quality forage for a better utilization of forage nitrogen and short-chain fatty acid production. Metagenomic analysis revealed that plant biomass degrading microbial consortia, genes, and enzymes like the cellulolytic strains (Prevotella ruminicola, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, Ruminococcus albus, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, and Ruminobacter amylophilus), as well as carbohydrate metabolism genes (GH43, GH3, GH31, GH5, and GH10) and enzymes (β-glucosidase, xylanase, and β-xylosidase, etc.) had a significantly higher enrichment in TWA. Our results indicate that gut microbiota can improve the adaptability of TWA through plant biomass degradation and energy maintenance by the functions of gut microbiota in the face of nutritional deficiencies and also provide a strong rationale for understanding the roles of gut microbiota in the adaptation of QTP wildlife when facing harsh feeding environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjin Liu
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology and Institute of Sanjiangyuan National Park, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
| | - Xueping Han
- Technology Extension Service of Animal Husbandry of Qinghai, Xining, China
| | - Na Zhao
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology and Institute of Sanjiangyuan National Park, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
| | - Linyong Hu
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology and Institute of Sanjiangyuan National Park, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
| | - Xungang Wang
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology and Institute of Sanjiangyuan National Park, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
| | - Chongliang Luo
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology and Institute of Sanjiangyuan National Park, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
| | - Yongwei Chen
- Technology Extension Service of Animal Husbandry of Qinghai, Xining, China
| | - Xinquan Zhao
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology and Institute of Sanjiangyuan National Park, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, China
- Xinquan Zhao
| | - Shixiao Xu
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology and Institute of Sanjiangyuan National Park, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
- *Correspondence: Shixiao Xu
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15
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Hinckley A, Sanchez-Donoso I, Comas M, Camacho-Sanchez M, Hawkins MTR, Hasan NH, Leonard JA. Challenging ecogeographical rules: Phenotypic variation in the Mountain Treeshrew (Tupaia montana) along tropical elevational gradients. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0268213. [PMID: 35714073 PMCID: PMC9205479 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bergmann’s and Allen’s rules were defined to describe macroecological patterns across latitudinal gradients. Bergmann observed a positive association between body size and latitude for endothermic species while Allen described shorter appendages as latitude increases. Almost two centuries later, there is still ongoing discussion about these patterns. Temperature, the common variable in these two rules, varies predictably across both latitude and elevation. Although these rules have been assessed extensively in mammals across latitude, particularly in regions with strong seasonality, studies on tropical montane mammals are scarce. We here test for these patterns and assess the variation of several other locomotory, diet-associated, body condition, and thermoregulatory traits across elevation in the Mountain Treeshrew (Tupaia montana) on tropical mountains in Borneo. Based on morphological measurements from both the field and scientific collections, we found a complex pattern: Bergmann’s rule was not supported in our tropical mountain system, since skull length, body size, and weight decreased from the lowest elevations (<1000 m) to middle elevations (2000–2500 m), and then increased from middle elevations to highest elevations. Allen’s rule was supported for relative tail length, which decreased with elevation, but not for ear and hindfoot length, with the former remaining constant and the latter increasing with elevation. This evidence together with changes in presumed diet-related traits (rostrum length, zygomatic breadth and upper tooth row length) along elevation suggest that selective pressures other than temperature, are playing a more important role shaping the morphological variation across the distribution of the Mountain Treeshrew. Diet, food acquisition, predation pressure, and/or intra- and inter-specific competition, are some of the potential factors driving the phenotypic variation of this study system. The lack of variation in body condition might suggest local adaptation of this species across its elevational range, perhaps due to generalist foraging strategies. Finally, a highly significant temporal effect was detected in several traits but not in others, representing the first phenotypic variation temporal trends described on treeshrews.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arlo Hinckley
- Conservation & Evolutionary Genetics Group, Estación Biológica de Doñana-CSIC, Seville, Spain
- Division of Mammals, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
- * E-mail: (AH); (JAL)
| | - Ines Sanchez-Donoso
- Conservation & Evolutionary Genetics Group, Estación Biológica de Doñana-CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Mar Comas
- Conservation & Evolutionary Genetics Group, Estación Biológica de Doñana-CSIC, Seville, Spain
- Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, United States of America
| | - Miguel Camacho-Sanchez
- Conservation & Evolutionary Genetics Group, Estación Biológica de Doñana-CSIC, Seville, Spain
- Instituto Andaluz de Investigación y Formación Agraria, Pesquera, Alimentaria y de la Producción Ecológica (IFAPA), Alcalá del Río, Seville, Spain
| | - Melissa T. R. Hawkins
- Division of Mammals, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Noor Haliza Hasan
- Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Jennifer A. Leonard
- Conservation & Evolutionary Genetics Group, Estación Biológica de Doñana-CSIC, Seville, Spain
- * E-mail: (AH); (JAL)
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16
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Bo T, Song G, Tang S, Zhang M, Ma Z, Lv H, Wu Y, Zhang D, Yang L, Wang D, Lei F. Incomplete Concordance Between Host Phylogeny and Gut Microbial Community in Tibetan Wetland Birds. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:848906. [PMID: 35663854 PMCID: PMC9161150 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.848906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Gut microbial communities of animals play key roles in host evolution, while the relationship between gut microbiota and host evolution in Tibetan birds remains unknown. Herein, we sequenced the gut microbiota of 67 wild birds of seven species dwelling in the Tibetan wetlands. We found an obvious species-specific structure of gut microbiota among these plateau birds whose habitats were overlapped. Different from plateau mammals, there was no strict synergy between the hierarchical tree of gut microbial community and species phylogeny. In brown-headed gulls (Larus brunnicephalus) as an example, the structure of gut microbiota differed in different habitats, and the relative abundance of bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Paracoccus, Lachnospiraceae, and Vibrio, significantly correlated with altitude. Finally, we found various pathogenic bacteria in the birds of these plateau wetlands, and the interspecific differences were related to their diet and living environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingbei Bo
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Gang Song
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shiyu Tang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mengru Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiwei Ma
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
| | - Hongrui Lv
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dezhi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Le Yang
- Tibet Plateau Institute of Biology, Lhasa, China
| | - Dehua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- *Correspondence: Dehua Wang,
| | - Fumin Lei
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Fumin Lei,
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17
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Comparison between short-term stress and long-term adaptive responses reveal common paths to molecular adaptation. iScience 2022; 25:103899. [PMID: 35243257 PMCID: PMC8873613 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The phenotypic plasticity in responses to short-term stress can provide clues for understanding the adaptive fixation mechanism of genetic variation during long-term exposure to extreme environments. However, few studies have compared short-term stress responses with long-term evolutionary patterns; in particular, no interactions between the two processes have been evaluated in high-altitude environment. We performed RNA sequencing in embryo fibroblasts derived from great tits and mice to explore transcriptional responses after exposure to simulated high-altitude environmental stresses. Transcriptional changes of genes associated with metabolic pathways were identified in both bird and mice cells after short-term stress responses. Genomic comparisons among long-term highland tits and mammals and their lowland relatives revealed similar pathways (e.g., metabolic pathways) with that initiated under short-term stress transcriptional responses in vitro. These findings highlight the indicative roles of short-term stress in the long-term adaptation, and adopt common paths to molecular adaptation in mouse and bird cells. Short-term stress and long-term adaptations share the common metabolic pathways Phenotypic plasticity can promote adaptive evolution Adopt common paths to molecular adaptation in mouse and bird cells
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18
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Cheng Y, Miller MJ, Zhang D, Xiong Y, Hao Y, Jia C, Cai T, Li SH, Johansson US, Liu Y, Chang Y, Song G, Qu Y, Lei F. Parallel genomic responses to historical climate change and high elevation in East Asian songbirds. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2023918118. [PMID: 34873033 PMCID: PMC8685689 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2023918118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Parallel evolution can be expected among closely related taxa exposed to similar selective pressures. However, parallelism is typically stronger at the phenotypic level, while genetic solutions to achieve these phenotypic similarities may differ. For polygenic traits, the availability of standing genetic variation (i.e., heterozygosity) may influence such genetic nonparallelism. Here, we examine the extent to which high-elevation adaptation is parallel-and whether the level of parallelism is affected by heterozygosity-by analyzing genomes of 19 Paridae species distributed across East Asia with a dramatic east-west elevation gradient. We find that western highlands endemic parids have consistently lower levels of heterozygosity-likely the result of late-Pleistocene demographic contraction-than do parids found exclusively in eastern lowlands, which remained unglaciated during the late Pleistocene. Three widespread species (east to west) have high levels of heterozygosity similar to that observed in eastern species, although their western populations are less variable than eastern ones. Comparing genomic responses to extreme environments of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, we find that the most differentiated genomic regions between each high-elevation taxon and its low-elevation relative are significantly enriched for genes potentially related to the oxygen transport cascade and/or thermogenesis. Despite no parallelism at particular genes, high similarity in gene function is found among comparisons. Furthermore, parallelism is not higher in more heterozygous widespread parids than in highland endemics. Thus, in East Asian parids, parallel functional response to extreme elevation appears to rely on different genes, with differences in heterozygosity having no effect on the degree of genetic parallelism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalin Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Matthew J Miller
- Reneco International Wildlife Consultants, LLC, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- University of Alaska Museum, University of Alaska Fairbanks, AK
| | - Dezhi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Ying Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yan Hao
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chenxi Jia
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Tianlong Cai
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shou-Hsien Li
- Department of Life Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, 116, Taiwan, China
| | - Ulf S Johansson
- Department of Zoology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, SE-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Department of Ecology/School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Yongbin Chang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Gang Song
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yanhua Qu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Fumin Lei
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China;
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
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19
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Nabi G, Xing D, Sun Y, Zhang Q, Li M, Jiang C, Ahmad IM, Wingfield JC, Wu Y, Li D. Coping with extremes: High-altitude sparrows enhance metabolic and thermogenic capacities in the pectoralis muscle and suppress in the liver relative to their lowland counterparts. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 313:113890. [PMID: 34453929 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Animals living at high altitudes are challenged by the extreme environmental conditions of cold temperature and hypobaric hypoxia. It is not well understood how high-altitude birds enhance the capacity of metabolic thermogenesis and allocate metabolic capacity in different organs to maximize survival in extreme conditions of a cold winter. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) is the largest and highest plateau globally, offering a natural laboratory for investigating coping mechanisms of organisms inhabiting extreme environments. To understand the adaptive strategies in the morphology and physiology of small songbirds on the QTP, we compared plasma triiodothyronine (T3), pectoralis muscle mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COX) and state IV capacities, the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator α (PGC-1α), adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT), uncoupling protein (UCP), and adenosine monophosphate-dependent kinase (AMPK) α1 mRNA in the pectoralis and liver of Eurasian tree sparrows (Passer montanus) from high-altitude (3,230 m), medium-altitude (1400 m), and low-altitude (80 m) regions. Our results showed that high-altitude sparrows had greater body masses, longer wings and tarsometatarsi, but comparable bill lengths relative to medium- and low-altitude individuals. High-altitude sparrows had higher plasma T3 levels and pectoralis muscle mitochondrial COX capacities than their lowland counterparts. They also upregulated the pectoralis muscle mRNA expression of UCP, PGC-1α, and ANT proteins relative to low-altitude sparrows. Unlike pectoralis, high-altitude sparrows significantly down-regulated hepatic AMPKα1 and ANT protein expression as compared with their lowland counterparts. Our results contribute to understanding the morphological, biochemical, and molecular adaptations in free-living birds to cope with the cold seasons in the extreme environment of the QTP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghulam Nabi
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Danning Xing
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yanfeng Sun
- Ocean College, Hebei Agricultural University, Qinhuangdao, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Mo Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Chuan Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Ibrahim M Ahmad
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - John C Wingfield
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Yuefeng Wu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Dongming Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China.
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20
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Sjodin BMF, Galbreath KE, Lanier HC, Russello MA. Chromosome-Level Reference Genome Assembly for the American Pika (Ochotona princeps). J Hered 2021; 112:549-557. [PMID: 34036348 PMCID: PMC8558581 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esab031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The American pika (Ochotona princeps) is an alpine lagomorph found throughout western North America. Primarily inhabiting talus slopes at higher elevations (>2000 m), American pikas are well adapted to cold, montane environments. Warming climates on both historical and contemporary scales have contributed to population declines in American pikas, positioning them as a focal mammalian species for investigating the ecological effects of climate change. To support and expand ongoing research efforts, here, we present a highly contiguous and annotated reference genome assembly for the American pika (OchPri4.0). This assembly was produced using Dovetail de novo proximity ligation methods and annotated through the NCBI Eukaryotic Genome Annotation pipeline. The resulting assembly was chromosome- scale, with a total length of 2.23 Gb across 9350 scaffolds and a scaffold N50 of 75.8 Mb. The vast majority (>97%) of the total assembly length was found within 36 large scaffolds; 33 of these scaffolds correlated to whole autosomes, while the X chromosome was covered by 3 large scaffolds. Additionally, we identified 17 enriched gene ontology terms among American pika-specific genes putatively related to adaptation to high-elevation environments. This high-quality genome assembly will serve as a springboard for exploring the evolutionary underpinnings of behavioral, ecological, and taxonomic diversification in pikas as well as broader-scale eco-evolutionary questions pertaining to cold-adapted species in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryson M F Sjodin
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, 3247 University Way, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Kurt E Galbreath
- Department of Biology, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI, USA
| | - Hayley C Lanier
- Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Michael A Russello
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, 3247 University Way, Kelowna, BC, Canada
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21
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She H, Jiang Z, Song G, Ericson PGP, Luo X, Shao S, Lei F, Qu Y. Quantifying adaptive divergence of the snowfinches in a common landscape. DIVERS DISTRIB 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Huishang She
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- College of Life Science University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Zhiyong Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- College of Life Science University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Gang Song
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Per G. P. Ericson
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics Swedish Museum of Natural History Stockholm Sweden
| | - Xu Luo
- Faculty of Biodiversity and Conservation Southwest Forestry University Kunming China
| | - Shimiao Shao
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Fumin Lei
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- College of Life Science University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics Chinese Academy of Sciences Kunming China
| | - Yanhua Qu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
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22
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Liu K, Yang J, Yuan H. Recent progress in research on the gut microbiota and highland adaptation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. J Evol Biol 2021; 34:1514-1530. [PMID: 34473899 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Microbial communities that inhabit the host's intestine influence many aspects of the host's health and bear the adaptive potential to alterations in harsh environments and diets. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau represents one of the harshest environments in the world. Preliminary progress has been made in identifying the communities of gut microbes in Indigenous Tibetans and non-human animals. However, due to the complexity of microbial communities, the effects of gut microbes on the host's health and high-plateau adaptation remain unexplained. Herein, we review the latest progress in identifying factors affecting the gut microbiota of native Tibetans and non-human animals and highlight the complex interactions between the gut microbiota, health and highland adaptation, which provides a basis for exploring the correlations between the gut microbiota and clinical indexes in native highland residents and travellers, as well as developing microbiota-based strategies to mitigate health risks for tourists and treatments for mountain sickness during high-altitude travel in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jinshui Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongli Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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23
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Ericson PGP, Irestedt M, She H, Qu Y. Genomic signatures of rapid adaptive divergence in a tropical montane species. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20210089. [PMID: 34314643 PMCID: PMC8315830 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mountain regions contain extraordinary biodiversity. The environmental heterogeneity and glacial cycles often accelerate speciation and adaptation of montane species, but how these processes influence the genomic differentiation of these species is largely unknown. Using a novel chromosome-level genome and population genomic comparisons, we study allopatric divergence and selection in an iconic bird living in a tropical mountain region in New Guinea, Archbold's bowerbird (Amblyornis papuensis). Our results show that the two populations inhabiting the eastern and western Central Range became isolated ca 11 800 years ago, probably because the suitable habitats for this cold-tolerating bird decreased when the climate got warmer. Our genomic scans detect that genes in highly divergent genomic regions are over-represented in developmental processes, which is probably associated with the observed differences in body size between the populations. Overall, our results suggest that environmental differences between the eastern and western Central Range probably drive adaptive divergence between them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Per G. P. Ericson
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, PO Box 50007, 10405, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martin Irestedt
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, PO Box 50007, 10405, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Huishang She
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanhua Qu
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, PO Box 50007, 10405, Stockholm, Sweden
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China
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24
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Xiong Y, Lei F. SLC2A12 of SLC2 Gene Family in Bird Provides Functional Compensation for the Loss of SLC2A4 Gene in Other Vertebrates. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:1276-1291. [PMID: 33316072 PMCID: PMC8042760 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian genomes are small and lack some genes that are conserved in the genomes of most other vertebrates including nonavian sauropsids. One hypothesis stated that paralogs may provide biochemical or physiological compensation for certain gene losses; however, no functional evidence has been reported to date. By integrating evolutionary analysis, physiological genomics, and experimental gene interference, we clearly demonstrate functional compensation for gene loss. A large-scale phylogenetic analysis of over 1,400 SLC2 gene sequences identifies six new SLC2 genes from nonmammalian vertebrates and divides the SLC2 gene family into four classes. Vertebrates retain class III SLC2 genes but partially lack the more recent duplicates of classes I and II. Birds appear to have completely lost the SLC2A4 gene that encodes an important insulin-sensitive GLUT in mammals. We found strong evidence for positive selection, indicating that the N-termini of SLC2A4 and SLC2A12 have undergone diversifying selection in birds and mammals, and there is a significant correlation between SLC2A12 functionality and basal metabolic rates in endotherms. Physiological genomics have uncovered that SLC2A12 expression and allelic variants are associated with insulin sensitivity and blood glucose levels in wild birds. Functional tests have indicated that SLC2A12 abrogation causes hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and high relative activity, thus increasing energy expenditures that resemble a diabetic phenotype. These analyses suggest that the SLC2A12 gene not only functionally compensates insulin response for SLC2A4 loss but also affects daily physical behavior and basal metabolic rate during bird evolution, highlighting that older genes retain a higher level of functional diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fumin Lei
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
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25
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Qu Y, Chen C, Chen X, Hao Y, She H, Wang M, Ericson PGP, Lin H, Cai T, Song G, Jia C, Chen C, Zhang H, Li J, Liang L, Wu T, Zhao J, Gao Q, Zhang G, Zhai W, Zhang C, Zhang YE, Lei F. The evolution of ancestral and species-specific adaptations in snowfinches at the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2012398118. [PMID: 33753478 PMCID: PMC8020664 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2012398118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Species in a shared environment tend to evolve similar adaptations under the influence of their phylogenetic context. Using snowfinches, a monophyletic group of passerine birds (Passeridae), we study the relative roles of ancestral and species-specific adaptations to an extreme high-elevation environment, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Our ancestral trait reconstruction shows that the ancestral snowfinch occupied high elevations and had a larger body mass than most nonsnowfinches in Passeridae. Subsequently, this phenotypic adaptation diversified in the descendant species. By comparing high-quality genomes from representatives of the three phylogenetic lineages, we find that about 95% of genes under positive selection in the descendant species are different from those in the ancestor. Consistently, the biological functions enriched for these species differ from those of their ancestor to various degrees (semantic similarity values ranging from 0.27 to 0.5), suggesting that the three descendant species have evolved divergently from the initial adaptation in their common ancestor. Using a functional assay to a highly selective gene, DTL, we demonstrate that the nonsynonymous substitutions in the ancestor and descendant species have improved the repair capacity of ultraviolet-induced DNA damage. The repair kinetics of the DTL gene shows a twofold to fourfold variation across the ancestor and the descendants. Collectively, this study reveals an exceptional case of adaptive evolution to high-elevation environments, an evolutionary process with an initial adaptation in the common ancestor followed by adaptive diversification of the descendant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhua Qu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China;
| | - Chunhai Chen
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, 518084 Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiumin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
| | - Yan Hao
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
| | - Huishang She
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
| | - Mengxia Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
| | - Per G P Ericson
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, SE-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Haiyan Lin
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
| | - Tianlong Cai
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
| | - Gang Song
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
| | - Chenxi Jia
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
| | - Chunyan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
| | - Hailin Zhang
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, 518084 Shenzhen, China
| | - Jiang Li
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, 518084 Shenzhen, China
| | - Liping Liang
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, 518084 Shenzhen, China
| | - Tianyu Wu
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, 518084 Shenzhen, China
| | - Jinyang Zhao
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, 518084 Shenzhen, China
| | - Qiang Gao
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, 518084 Shenzhen, China
| | - Guojie Zhang
- BGI-Shenzhen, 518083 Shenzhen, China
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 650223 Kunming, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 650223 Kunming, China
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Weiwei Zhai
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 650223 Kunming, China
| | - Chi Zhang
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, 518084 Shenzhen, China;
| | - Yong E Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China;
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 650223 Kunming, China
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, 102206 Beijing, China
| | - Fumin Lei
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China;
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 650223 Kunming, China
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26
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Li M, Nabi G, Sun Y, Wang Y, Wang L, Jiang C, Cao P, Wu Y, Li D. The effect of air pollution on immunological, antioxidative and hematological parameters, and body condition of Eurasian tree sparrows. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 208:111755. [PMID: 33396078 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution constitutes potential threats to wildlife and human health; therefore, it must be monitored accurately. However, little attention has been given to understanding the toxicological effects induced by air pollution and the suitability of bird species as bioindicators. The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus), a human commensal species, was used as a study model to examine toxic metal accumulation, retention of particulate matter (PM), immunological and antioxidant capacities, and hematological parameters in birds inhabiting those areas with relatively higher (Shijiazhuang city) or lower (Chengde city) levels of PM2.5 and PM10 in China. Our results showed that Shijiazhuang birds had significantly more particle retention in the lungs and toxic metal (including aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, iron, manganese, and lead) accumulation in the feathers relative to Chengde birds. They also had lower superoxide dismutase, albumin, immunoglobulin M concentrations in the lung lavage fluid, and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in the lungs and hearts. Furthermore, although they had higher proportions of microcytes, hypochromia, and polychromatic erythrocytes in the peripheral blood (a symptom of anemia), both populations exhibited comparable body conditions, white cell counts, heterophil and lymphocyte ratios, and plasma T-AOC and corticosterone levels. Therefore, our results not only confirmed that Shijiazhuang birds experienced a greater burden from environmental PM and toxic metals but also identified a suite of adverse effects of environmental pollution on immunological, antioxidative, and hematological parameters in multiple tissues. These findings contribute to our understanding of the physiological health consequences induced by PM exposure in wild animals. They suggest that free-living birds inhabiting urban areas could be used as bioindicators for evaluating the adverse effects induced by environmental pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mo Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China; Life Sciences College of Cangzhou Normal University, Cangzhou, China
| | - Ghulam Nabi
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yanfeng Sun
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China; Ocean College of Hebei Agricultural University, Qinhuangdao, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Limin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Chuan Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Pengxiu Cao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yuefeng Wu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China.
| | - Dongming Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China.
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27
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Li D, Davis JE, Wang G, Nabi G, Bishop VR, Sun Y, Meddle SL, Wingfield JC, Lei F. Coping with extremes: Remarkably blunt adrenocortical responses to acute stress in two sympatric snow finches on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during winter relative to other seasons. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2020; 291:113434. [PMID: 32057911 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2020.113434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Revised: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The extreme climatic conditions (ECCs) of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau impose strong selective pressures on the evolution of phenotypic traits in free-living animals. It is not well understood how animals on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau modify their adrenocortical functions in response to both predictable and unpredictable events of ECCs, especially when the available resources are lowest during the wintering life-history stage. To uncover potential physiological mechanisms, we studied the life history stage dependent features of morphology, the plasma corticosterone response to acute stress and brain glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) mRNA expression in two sympatric snow finches: the white-rumped snow finch (Onychostruthus taczanowskii, WRSF); and the rufous-necked snow finch, Pyrgilauda ruficollis, RNSF) in Qinghai Province, China. Our results showed that (a) baseline corticosterone and stressor-induced corticosterone levels significantly varied with life history stage, but not between the species; (b) in WRSF, GR mRNA expression in the paraventricular nucleus was higher in the wintering stage compared to the pre-basic molt stage. There were no differences in hippocampus MR mRNA expression between stages in either species; (c) in the wintering stage, the suppression of corticosterone secretion in both species was an unexpected strategy in free-living animals. Both convergent and divergent phenotypic traits of adrenocortical responses to acute stress in two sympatric snow finches contribute to our understanding of the coping mechanisms of closely related species in the severe winter on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongming Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China; Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Jason E Davis
- Department of Biology, Radford University, Radford, VA, USA
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Ghulam Nabi
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Valerie R Bishop
- The Roslin Institute, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, UK
| | - Yanfeng Sun
- Ocean College, Hebei Agricultural University, Qinhuangdao, China
| | - Simone L Meddle
- The Roslin Institute, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, UK
| | - John C Wingfield
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Fumin Lei
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.
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28
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Harr B, Price T. Three thousand years in Tibet. Natl Sci Rev 2020; 7:129-130. [PMID: 34692024 PMCID: PMC8288932 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwz172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Bettina Harr
- Max-Planck-Institut für Evolutionsbiologie, Germany
| | - Trevor Price
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, USA
- Reviewer of NSR
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29
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Wang W. An unusual case of early speciation associated with human activity. Natl Sci Rev 2020; 7:129. [PMID: 34692025 PMCID: PMC8289161 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwz174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Wen Wang
- Center for Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
- Reviewer of NSR
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30
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Liu Y. High-altitude adaptation in a flutter of sparrows. Natl Sci Rev 2020; 7:130-131. [PMID: 34692026 PMCID: PMC8288982 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwz175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, China
- Reviewer of NSR
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31
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott V Edwards
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, USA
- Reviewer of NSR
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