Long read genome assemblies complemented by single cell RNA-sequencing reveal genetic and cellular mechanisms underlying the adaptive evolution of yak.

Wild yak (Bos mutus) and domestic yak (Bos grunniens) are adapted to high altitude environment and have ecological, economic, and cultural significances on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). Currently, the genetic and cellular bases underlying adaptations of yak to extreme conditions remains elusive. In the present study, we assembled two chromosome-level genomes, one each for wild yak and domestic yak, and screened structural variants (SVs) through the long-read data of yak and taurine cattle.

Cropping practices manipulate soil bacterial structure and functions on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

There is an increasing awareness of the adverse environmental effects of the intensive practices used in modern crop farming, such as those that cause greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient leaching. Harnessing beneficial microbes by changing planting practices presents a promising strategy for optimizing plant growth and agricultural sustainability. However, the characteristics of soil microorganisms under different planting patterns remain uncertain.

The CXCL12-CXCR4 signaling promotes oocyte maturation by regulating cumulus expansion in sheep.

Gonadotropins and growth factors synergistically regulate folliculogenesis and oocyte development. C-X-C motif chemokine 12 (CXCL12) and its receptor CXCR4 are expressed in ovaries of sheep, cattle and other species, however, roles of this multifunctional signal axis in oocyte maturation are not defined. Using sheep as a model, we examined the expression patterns and functions of the CXCL12-CXCR4 axis during oocyte maturation.

[Adaptation of vigilance behavior in ex situ conservation of Tibetan antelope].

Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsoni) are an endemic and endangered species of the Tibetan Plateau. Ex situ conservation may represent an important way to protect Tibetan antelope; however, this process may influence aspects of their behavior. To investigate the ability of these antelopes to adapt to new environments, a study on the vigilance behavior of captive antelope in different seasons was conducted.

Functional evolution of leptin of Ochotona curzoniae in adaptive thermogenesis driven by cold environmental stress.

Background: Environmental stress can accelerate the directional selection and evolutionary rate of specific stress-response proteins to bring about new or altered functions, enhancing an organism's fitness to challenging environments. Plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae), an endemic and keystone species on Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, is a high hypoxia and low temperature tolerant mammal with high resting metabolic rate and non-shivering thermogenesis to cope in this harsh plateau environment. Leptin is a key hormone related to how these animals regulate energy homeostasis.

[Impacts of uncertainty in data processing on estimation of CO2 flux components].

Based on the eddy covariance observations at 4 sites (2 forested sites and 2 grassland sites) in Chinese Terrestrial Ecosystem Flux Research Network (ChinaFLUX), this paper analyzed the effects of three data processing methods, i.e., spike detection, threshold (u*c) determination of nocturnal friction velocity (u*), and gap-filling model selection, on the estimation of CO2 flux components.

The youngest split in sympatric schizothoracine fish (Cyprinidae) is shaped by ecological adaptations in a Tibetan Plateau glacier lake.

Although new empirical evidence shows that sympatric speciation has occurred in some species, there are few indisputable model organisms for this process of speciation. The two subspecies (Gymnocypris eckloni eckloni and G. e.

Effect of graded levels of rapeseed oil in isonitrogenous diets on the development of the gastrointestinal tract, and utilisation of protein, fat and energy in broiler chickens.

The effect of feeding 0, 4, 8 and 16% rapeseed oil from 12-42 days of age was studied in broiler chickens on performance, digestibility of nutrients, and development of gastrointestinal tract, protein and energy metabolism. Thirty six female chickens (Ross 208) with initial body weight average 246 g were allocated to the four groups and kept pair-wise in metabolism cages. The chickens were fed similar amounts of metabolisable energy (ME) per day and similar amounts of essential amino acids relative to ME by adjusting with crystalline amino acids.

Natural selection and adaptive evolution of leptin in the ochotona family driven by the cold environmental stress.

Background: Environmental stress can accelerate the evolutionary rate of specific stress-response proteins and create new functions specialized for different environments, enhancing an organism's fitness to stressful environments. Pikas (order Lagomorpha), endemic, non-hibernating mammals in the modern Holarctic Region, live in cold regions at either high altitudes or high latitudes and have a maximum distribution of species diversification confined to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Variations in energy metabolism are remarkable for them living in cold environments.

Experimental warming, not grazing, decreases rangeland quality on the Tibetan Plateau.

We investigated experimental warming and simulated grazing (clipping) effects on rangeland quality, as indicated by vegetation production and nutritive quality, in winter-grazed meadows and summer-grazed shrublands on the Tibetan Plateau, a rangeland system experiencing climatic and pastoral land use changes. Warming decreased total aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) by 40 g x m(-2) x yr(-1) at the meadow habitats and decreased palatable ANPP (total ANPP minus non-palatable forb ANPP) by 10 g x m(-2) x yr(-1) at both habitats. The decreased production of the medicinal forb Gentiana straminea and the increased production of the non-palatable forb Stellera chamaejasme with warming also reduced rangeland quality.