In this study, we intended to construct an ethogram of the toad-headed lizard Phrynocephalus vlangalii by classifying and describing its behaviors using the Posture-act-environment （PAE） method. Through direct field...In this study, we intended to construct an ethogram of the toad-headed lizard Phrynocephalus vlangalii by classifying and describing its behaviors using the Posture-act-environment （PAE） method. Through direct field observation and video recording, we obtained eight postures, sixty-two acts and ten environments, and thus we formed an ethogram consisting of eighty-three behaviors encoded with PAE. A complete ethogram for a species could provide systematic behavioral information which helps to understand the connections among related behaviors and provides background information for specific behavioral study, hence the present ethogram will be greatly useful for future behavioral studies on P. vlangalii as well as other Phrynocephalus species.展开更多
Using data from nine microsatellite DNA loci and a population genetic approach,we evaluate the barrier effect of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway on toad-headed lizard,Phrynocephalus vlangalii. The study area is along a 20 k...Using data from nine microsatellite DNA loci and a population genetic approach,we evaluate the barrier effect of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway on toad-headed lizard,Phrynocephalus vlangalii. The study area is along a 20 km stretch of the railway on northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,and this section of the railway was constructed between 1958–1979. Both assignment tests and analysis of molecular variance(AMOVA) were used for data analysis. We found significant genetic differentiation between the populations from the study area and those from a further southeastern area,which are separated by a 20 km gap. This suggests the existence of population substructure at a fine-scale. However,we did not detect any difference between samples from the western and eastern sides of the railway within the study area,and concluded that the railway may not impose a significant barrier effect on these lizard populations at the present time. Available suitable habitat alongside the railway and bridge underpasses may have facilitated the gene exchange between the sides. The relatively short time since the completion of the railway may not allow the differentiation to accumulate to a detectable level. Since the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau maintains a unique and fragile ecosystem,long-term monitoring of such man-made landscape features is imperative for protecting this ecosystem.展开更多
The environmental characteristics of hypothermia and hypoxia exert great selective pressure on the energy metabolism of high-altitude animals,especially the ectotherms.Current research on energy-limited adaptation of ...The environmental characteristics of hypothermia and hypoxia exert great selective pressure on the energy metabolism of high-altitude animals,especially the ectotherms.Current research on energy-limited adaptation of high-altitude ectotherms has focused on energy expenditures.However,the mechanisms of increasing energy intake in high-altitude ectotherms have been studied rarely.In order to investigate the adaptation mechanism of the small intestine,the key part of energy acquisition for animals,to energy limitation at high altitude in ectotherms,the gut proteins of Phrynocephalus vlangalii from high-and low-altitude populations were compared using label free proteomics.GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis showed that proteins associated with energy intake,such as those involved in oxidation-reduction processes,glutathione metabolism,oxidoreductase activity,cofactor binding,catalytic activity and metabolic pathways,were significantly up-regulated in high-altitude populations;while proteins associated with energy expenditure,such as immune responses and processes,membrane attack complexes,natural killer pathway and other immune-related processes,were significantly down-regulated in expression.展开更多
The survival of ectotherms worldwide is threatened by climate change.Whether increasing temperatures increase the vulnerability of ectotherms inhabiting temperate plateau areas remains unclear.To understand altitudina...The survival of ectotherms worldwide is threatened by climate change.Whether increasing temperatures increase the vulnerability of ectotherms inhabiting temperate plateau areas remains unclear.To understand altitudinal variation in the vulnerability of plateau ectotherms to climate warming,Qinghai toad-headed lizards(Phrynocephalus vlangalii)were subjected to semi-natural enclosure experiments with simulated warming at high(2,600 m)and superhigh(3,600 m)elevations of the Dangjin Mountain,China.Our results revealed that the thermoregulatory effectiveness and warming tolerance(WT)of the toad-headed lizards were significantly affected by climate warming at both elevations,but their thermal sensitivity remained unchanged.After warming,the thermoregulatory effectiveness of lizards at superhigh elevations decreased because of the improved environmental thermal quality,whereas that of lizards at high-elevation conditions increased.Although the body temperature selected by high-elevation lizards was also significantly increased,the proportion of their active body temperature falling within the set-point temperature range decreased.This indicates that it is difficult for high-elevation lizards to adjust their body temperatures within a comfortable range under climate warming.Variations in the WT and thermal safety margin(TSM)under climate warming revealed that lizards at the superhigh elevation benefited from improved environmental thermal quality,whereas those at the high elevation originally on the edge of the TSM faced more severe threats and became more vulnerable.Our study highlights the importance of thermal biological traits in evaluating the vulnerability of ectotherms in temperate plateau regions.展开更多
Animal adaptation to environmental challenges is a complex process involving intricate interactions between the host genotype and gut microbiome composition.The gut microbiome,highly responsive to external environment...Animal adaptation to environmental challenges is a complex process involving intricate interactions between the host genotype and gut microbiome composition.The gut microbiome,highly responsive to external environmental factors,plays a crucial role in host adaptability and may facilitate local adaptation within species.Concurrently,the genetic background of host populations influences gut microbiome composition,highlighting the bidirectional relationship between host and microbiome.Despite this,our understanding of gut microbiome plasticity and its role in host adaptability remains limited,particularly in reptiles.To clarify this issue,we conducted a reciprocal translocation experiment with gravid females of the Qinghai toad-headed lizards(Phrynocephalus vlangalii)between high-altitude(2?600 m a.s.l.)and superhigh-altitude(3?600 m a.s.l.)environments on Dangjin Mountain of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,China.One year later,we assessed the phenotypes and gut microbiomes of their offspring.Results revealed significant plasticity in gut microbiome diversity and structure in response to contrasting elevations.Highaltitude conditions increased diversity,and maternal effects appeared to enable high-altitude lizards to maintain elevated diversity when exposed to superhigh-altitude environments.Additionally,superhigh-altitude lizards displayed distinct gut microbiome structures with notable host specificity,potentially linked to their lower growth rates.Overall,these findings underscore the importance of the gut microbiome in facilitating reptilian adaptation to rapid environmental changes across altitudinal gradients.Furthermore,this study provides critical insights into microbial mechanisms underpinning local adaptation and adaptative plasticity,offering a foundation for future research on host-microbiome interactions in evolutionary and ecological contexts.展开更多
Endoctinological action is generally thought to be a way for animals to respond to stress at low temperatures. To learn the role of hormones in ectotherms inhabiting alpine environments, we studied the effects of acut...Endoctinological action is generally thought to be a way for animals to respond to stress at low temperatures. To learn the role of hormones in ectotherms inhabiting alpine environments, we studied the effects of acute low temperature exposure on tile endocrinological reactions of Qinghai toad-headed lizards in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. We monitored plasma corticos- terone and insulin concentration of the lizards under five low temperature treatments. We found no significant difference in plasma corticosterone or insulin in lizards among our five different treatments. For males and females the correlation between plasma corticosterone and insulin concentrations was not significant. In contrast to other studies on reptiles at low altitude, we suggest that due to the alpine environment （low temperature and low oxygen concentration） they inhabit, Qinghai toad-headed lizards respond to experimental cold stress slightly to mobilize energy and live their vivid life. In addition, corticosterone and insulin of Qinghai toad-headed lizards are secreted independently along with low temperature treatments展开更多
基金supported by agrant of the National Natural Science Foundation of China to Yuezhao WANG(No.31071892)
文摘In this study, we intended to construct an ethogram of the toad-headed lizard Phrynocephalus vlangalii by classifying and describing its behaviors using the Posture-act-environment （PAE） method. Through direct field observation and video recording, we obtained eight postures, sixty-two acts and ten environments, and thus we formed an ethogram consisting of eighty-three behaviors encoded with PAE. A complete ethogram for a species could provide systematic behavioral information which helps to understand the connections among related behaviors and provides background information for specific behavioral study, hence the present ethogram will be greatly useful for future behavioral studies on P. vlangalii as well as other Phrynocephalus species.
基金supported by the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Y1C2021203, Y0S3011)the Talent Reward Grant (Y1D3011) from Sichuan Provincial Government, China the NSERC (Canada) discovery grant to Jinzhong FU
文摘Using data from nine microsatellite DNA loci and a population genetic approach,we evaluate the barrier effect of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway on toad-headed lizard,Phrynocephalus vlangalii. The study area is along a 20 km stretch of the railway on northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,and this section of the railway was constructed between 1958–1979. Both assignment tests and analysis of molecular variance(AMOVA) were used for data analysis. We found significant genetic differentiation between the populations from the study area and those from a further southeastern area,which are separated by a 20 km gap. This suggests the existence of population substructure at a fine-scale. However,we did not detect any difference between samples from the western and eastern sides of the railway within the study area,and concluded that the railway may not impose a significant barrier effect on these lizard populations at the present time. Available suitable habitat alongside the railway and bridge underpasses may have facilitated the gene exchange between the sides. The relatively short time since the completion of the railway may not allow the differentiation to accumulate to a detectable level. Since the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau maintains a unique and fragile ecosystem,long-term monitoring of such man-made landscape features is imperative for protecting this ecosystem.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.31471988 and 31200287)。
文摘The environmental characteristics of hypothermia and hypoxia exert great selective pressure on the energy metabolism of high-altitude animals,especially the ectotherms.Current research on energy-limited adaptation of high-altitude ectotherms has focused on energy expenditures.However,the mechanisms of increasing energy intake in high-altitude ectotherms have been studied rarely.In order to investigate the adaptation mechanism of the small intestine,the key part of energy acquisition for animals,to energy limitation at high altitude in ectotherms,the gut proteins of Phrynocephalus vlangalii from high-and low-altitude populations were compared using label free proteomics.GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis showed that proteins associated with energy intake,such as those involved in oxidation-reduction processes,glutathione metabolism,oxidoreductase activity,cofactor binding,catalytic activity and metabolic pathways,were significantly up-regulated in high-altitude populations;while proteins associated with energy expenditure,such as immune responses and processes,membrane attack complexes,natural killer pathway and other immune-related processes,were significantly down-regulated in expression.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31861143023 and 31872252)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2572019AA09)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA20050201).
文摘The survival of ectotherms worldwide is threatened by climate change.Whether increasing temperatures increase the vulnerability of ectotherms inhabiting temperate plateau areas remains unclear.To understand altitudinal variation in the vulnerability of plateau ectotherms to climate warming,Qinghai toad-headed lizards(Phrynocephalus vlangalii)were subjected to semi-natural enclosure experiments with simulated warming at high(2,600 m)and superhigh(3,600 m)elevations of the Dangjin Mountain,China.Our results revealed that the thermoregulatory effectiveness and warming tolerance(WT)of the toad-headed lizards were significantly affected by climate warming at both elevations,but their thermal sensitivity remained unchanged.After warming,the thermoregulatory effectiveness of lizards at superhigh elevations decreased because of the improved environmental thermal quality,whereas that of lizards at high-elevation conditions increased.Although the body temperature selected by high-elevation lizards was also significantly increased,the proportion of their active body temperature falling within the set-point temperature range decreased.This indicates that it is difficult for high-elevation lizards to adjust their body temperatures within a comfortable range under climate warming.Variations in the WT and thermal safety margin(TSM)under climate warming revealed that lizards at the superhigh elevation benefited from improved environmental thermal quality,whereas those at the high elevation originally on the edge of the TSM faced more severe threats and became more vulnerable.Our study highlights the importance of thermal biological traits in evaluating the vulnerability of ectotherms in temperate plateau regions.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31861143023,31872252)Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA20050201)。
文摘Animal adaptation to environmental challenges is a complex process involving intricate interactions between the host genotype and gut microbiome composition.The gut microbiome,highly responsive to external environmental factors,plays a crucial role in host adaptability and may facilitate local adaptation within species.Concurrently,the genetic background of host populations influences gut microbiome composition,highlighting the bidirectional relationship between host and microbiome.Despite this,our understanding of gut microbiome plasticity and its role in host adaptability remains limited,particularly in reptiles.To clarify this issue,we conducted a reciprocal translocation experiment with gravid females of the Qinghai toad-headed lizards(Phrynocephalus vlangalii)between high-altitude(2?600 m a.s.l.)and superhigh-altitude(3?600 m a.s.l.)environments on Dangjin Mountain of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,China.One year later,we assessed the phenotypes and gut microbiomes of their offspring.Results revealed significant plasticity in gut microbiome diversity and structure in response to contrasting elevations.Highaltitude conditions increased diversity,and maternal effects appeared to enable high-altitude lizards to maintain elevated diversity when exposed to superhigh-altitude environments.Additionally,superhigh-altitude lizards displayed distinct gut microbiome structures with notable host specificity,potentially linked to their lower growth rates.Overall,these findings underscore the importance of the gut microbiome in facilitating reptilian adaptation to rapid environmental changes across altitudinal gradients.Furthermore,this study provides critical insights into microbial mechanisms underpinning local adaptation and adaptative plasticity,offering a foundation for future research on host-microbiome interactions in evolutionary and ecological contexts.
文摘Endoctinological action is generally thought to be a way for animals to respond to stress at low temperatures. To learn the role of hormones in ectotherms inhabiting alpine environments, we studied the effects of acute low temperature exposure on tile endocrinological reactions of Qinghai toad-headed lizards in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. We monitored plasma corticos- terone and insulin concentration of the lizards under five low temperature treatments. We found no significant difference in plasma corticosterone or insulin in lizards among our five different treatments. For males and females the correlation between plasma corticosterone and insulin concentrations was not significant. In contrast to other studies on reptiles at low altitude, we suggest that due to the alpine environment （low temperature and low oxygen concentration） they inhabit, Qinghai toad-headed lizards respond to experimental cold stress slightly to mobilize energy and live their vivid life. In addition, corticosterone and insulin of Qinghai toad-headed lizards are secreted independently along with low temperature treatments
