Search Results (992)

The unique tourism resources of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau have created conditions for the development of ecotourism, while the existence of attractions may also have positive and negative impacts on the surrounding environment. This study defines the radiation waves that generate ecological effects as “ecological waves”, quantifies the ecological waves of attractions by buffer zone analysis of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) within 20 km of 38 4A and 5A attractions on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in 2020, and elaborately explores the ecological effects of attractions on the surrounding environment. By combining the principle of ripple effects, it analyzes the impact of urban attractions on urban vegetation environments. The study found that attractions on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau have a positive ecological effect on the surrounding vegetation, the positive ecological effect of suburban attractions has a distance threshold, effectively promoting vegetation greenness within a range of 6–14 km, and the ecological effect disappears beyond 14 km. In addition, applying the ripple effect model to urban attractions and city centers (Xining and Lhasa), the results indicated that among the five urban attractions in Xining, Kumbum Monastery, Qinghai Tibetan Culture Center, and Country Farming Ecological Park (with distance restrictions of 2–20 km) have significant positive ecological effects within the built-up area, while the ecological effects of Qinghai Province Museum and Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Safari Park are not significant. The positive ecological effects of the five urban attractions in Lhasa within the built-up area are not significant, and different attractions have different distance thresholds for ecological effects. Furthermore, this study found that attractions in Qinghai have a better ecological foundation around them than attractions in Tibet, making them more suitable for the development of ecotourism. This study has opened up a new perspective on the ecological effects of attractions and provided scientific references for the development of ecological tourism in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Full article

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are a class of proteins associated with osmotic regulation and plant tolerance to abiotic stress. However, studies on the LEA gene family in the alpine cold-tolerant herb are still limited, and the phylogenetic evolution and biological functions of its family members remain unclear. In this study, we conducted genome-wide identification, phylogenetic evolution, and abiotic stress response analyses of LEA family genes in Notopterygium species, alpine cold-tolerant medicinal herbs in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and adjacent regions. The gene family identification analysis showed that 23, 20, and 20 LEA genes were identified in three Notopterygium species, N. franchetii, N. incisum, and N. forrestii, respectively. All of these genes can be classified into six LEA subfamilies: LEA_1, LEA_2, LEA_5, LEA_6, DHN (Dehydrin), and SMP (seed maturation protein). The LEA proteins in the three Notopterygium species exhibited significant variations in the number of amino acids, physical and chemical properties, subcellular localization, and secondary structure characteristics, primarily demonstrating high hydrophilicity, different stability, and specific subcellular distribution patterns. Meanwhile, we found that the members of the same LEA subfamily shared similar exon–intron structures and conserved motifs. Interestingly, the chromosome distributions of LEA genes in Notopterygium species were scattered. The results of the collinearity analysis indicate that the expansion of the LEA gene family is primarily driven by gene duplication. A Ka/Ks analysis showed that paralogous gene pairs were under negative selection in Notopterygium species. A promoter cis-acting element analysis showed that most LEA genes possessed multiple cis-elements connected to plant growth and development, stress response, and plant hormone signal transduction. An expression pattern analysis demonstrated the species-specific and tissue-specific expression of NinLEAs. Experiments on abiotic stress responses indicated that the NinLEAs play a crucial role in the response to high-temperature and drought stresses in N. franchetii leaves and roots. These results provide novel insights for further understanding the functions of the LEA gene family in the alpine cold-tolerant Notopterygium species and also offer a scientific basis for in-depth research on the abiotic stress response mechanisms and stress-resistant breeding. Full article

Dioecious plants have different needs for natural resources due to sex differences, which can lead to skewed sex ratios. Clonal growth facilitates and optimizes resources of clonal plants. So, dioecious plants show inter-sex differences in clonality. However, it is unclear how the clonality varies between female and male plants when they exhibit skewed sex ratios along an altitudinal gradient. Here, we investigated the sex ratio and clonality of Hippophae tibetana populations growing at three altitudes in the alpine meadow. We founded that (i) H. tibetana growing at different altitudes mainly consisted of II and III age classes, with a significantly male-biased sex ratio observed at a low altitude, a female-biased ratio at a middle altitude, and no significant sex-bias in the population at a high altitude. (ii) The population distribution was generally random at both low and high altitudes, while clustered at middle altitudes with an increasing scale. Meanwhile, the male and female populations at a low altitude showed a negative correlation, while the male and female at a middle altitude only showed a negative correlation at a 0–0.5 m scale, and spatial independence with increasing scales. (iii) Females of H. tibetana had a strong clonal capacity than male plants at a middle altitude, while the opposite was observed at a low altitude. The number of males of H. tibetana growing at a low altitude and with higher clonal diversity were higher than females at mid altitude. Our findings will contribute to the understanding of the sexual dimorphism exhibited by dioecious plants as well as the importance of a clonal adaptation in response to environmental change. Full article

The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, known for its high altitude, geological history of plate collision, crustal uplift, and special ecology factors, provides an ideal environment for studying fungal biodiversity in extreme environmental conditions. Some species within the Conocybe, containing secondary metabolites such as psilocybin, phallotoxins, and amatoxins, have potential medicinal value for treating psychiatric disorders and for use in drug development. This study investigates Conocybe (Bolbitiaceae, Agaricales) on the Plateau, based on specimens collected over the past decade, using morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Seven species were identified, including four new species: C. alticola, C. alticoprophila, C. versicolor, and C. yadongensis. Molecular analyses, utilizing multi-gene sequence data (ITS, nrLSU, and tef-1α), support the taxonomic position of these new species within this genus as new species. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, photographs, line drawings, and comparisons with related species are provided for the new taxa. This study enriches the species diversity of Conocybe on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, further enhancing our understanding of fungal biodiversity in this region. Full article

Alpine meadows are vital ecosystems on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, significantly contributing to water conservation and climate regulation. This study examines the energy flux patterns and their driving factors in the alpine meadows of the Qilian Mountains, focusing on how the meteorological variables of net radiation (R_n), air temperature, vapor pressure deficit (VPD), wind speed (U), and soil water content (SWC) influence sensible heat flux (H) and latent heat flux (LE). Using the Bowen ratio energy balance method, we monitored energy changes during the growing and non-growing seasons from 2022 to 2023. The annual average daily R_n was 85.29 W m⁻², with H, LE, and G accounting for 0.56, 0.71, and −0.32 of R_n, respectively. Results show that R_n is the main driver of both H and LE, highlighting its crucial role in turbulent flux variations. Additionally, a negative correlation was found between air temperature and H, suggesting that high temperatures may suppress H. A significant positive correlation was observed between soil moisture and LE, further indicating that moist soil conditions enhance LE. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the impact of climate change on energy distribution in alpine meadows and calls for further research on the ecosystem’s dynamic responses to changing climate conditions. Full article

The northern permafrost regions are increasingly experiencing frequent and intense extreme events, with a rise in the occurrence of compound extreme events. Many climate-related hazards in these areas are driven by such compound events, significantly affecting the stability and functionality of vegetation ecosystems. However, the cumulative and lagged effects of compound extreme events on vegetation remain unclear, which may lead to an underestimation of their actual impacts. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the spatiotemporal variations in compound extreme events and the vegetation response to these events in the northern permafrost regions from 1982 to 2022. The primary focus of this study is on examining the cumulative and lagged effects of compound extreme climate events on the Kernel Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (kNDVI) during the growing seasons. The results indicate that in high-latitude regions, the frequency of extreme high temperature–precipitation compound events and high temperature–drought compound events have increased in 58.0% and 67.0% of the areas, respectively. Conversely, the frequency of extreme low temperature–drought compound events and extreme low temperature–precipitation compound events has decreased in 70.6% and 57.2% of the areas, with the high temperature–drought compound events showing the fastest increase. The temporal effects of compound extreme events on kNDVI vary with vegetation type; they produce more cumulative and lagged effects compared with single extreme high-temperature events and fewer effects compared with single extreme precipitation events, with compound events significantly affecting forest and grassland ecosystems. Notably, extreme high temperature–precipitation compound events exhibit the strongest cumulative and lagged effects on vegetation, while extreme low temperature–drought compound events influence wetland and shrubland areas within the same month. This study underscores the importance of a multivariable perspective in understanding vegetation dynamics in permafrost regions. Full article

Soil hydrological response is crucial for controlling water flow and biogeochemical processes on hillslopes. Understanding soil water dynamics in response to rainfall is essential for accurate hydrological modeling but remains challenging in humid mountainous regions characterized by high antecedent moisture and substantial heterogeneity. We sought to elucidate soil water response patterns to rainfall by estimating lag time, wetting front velocity, rainfall threshold, and preferential flow (PF) frequency in 166 rainfall events across 36 sites on two hillslopes within the Hailuogou catchment, located on the eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Results indicated that over 90% of the events triggered rapid soil water potential (SWP) responses to depths of 100 cm, with faster responses observed at steeper upslope positions with thinner O horizons. Even light rainfall (2–3 mm) was sufficient to trigger SWP responses. PF was prevalent across the hillslopes, with higher occurrence frequencies at upslope and downslope positions due to steep terrain and consistently moist conditions, respectively. Using the Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS) model, we found that site factors (e.g., soil properties and topography) had a greater influence on SWP responses than rainfall characteristics or antecedent soil wetness conditions. These findings highlighted the value of SWP in capturing soil water dynamics and enhancing the understanding and modeling of complex hillslope hydrological processes. Full article

The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) serves as the origin for several major rivers in Asia and acts as a crucial ecological barrier in China, characterized by its regional conservation significance. Production activities in the industrial park in this special geographical environment may exacerbate its environmental vulnerability. We examined the spatial and temporal patterns of water quality parameters, identified the factors influencing water quality, and evaluated the associated risks using various analytical methods, including the Boruta algorithm and interval fuzzy number-based set-pair analysis (IFN-SPA). The results showed that the average concentrations in the flood season and dry season were significantly different. The average value of Cd in the flood season belonged to the water quality standard of Class II. Different heavy metals show different spatial distribution characteristics, and the reason for the difference comes from livestock farms and industrial enterprises. The results for the flood season and dry season were different, which further proves that meteorological factors can influence water quality. The risk of heavy metals in different rivers presents different spatial distribution characteristics; for example, the risk of heavy metals in the Sigou River is higher. The water quality assessment results indicate the need to develop a well-structured evaluation framework for managing and controlling river water pollution in the future. Full article

Yaks are a rare and unique animal species inhabiting the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau; they are renowned for their remarkable ability to thrive in harsh environments. Milk-derived exosomes, tiny vesicles containing various biological molecules, play crucial roles in numerous pathological and physiological processes, including cell growth, development, and immune regulation. This study delved into the microRNA expression profiles of yak milk-derived exosomes collected from both high- and low-altitude populations using small RNA sequencing. These miRNAs were found to be implicated in pathways associated with mammary gland inflammation, virus infection regulation, and heat stress response. Functional enrichment analyses, utilizing GO and KEGG databases, revealed that the target genes of these differentially expressed miRNAs are enriched in signaling pathways crucial for Th17 cell differentiation and the Ras-MAPK signaling pathway. In conclusion, this research illuminates the adaptive mechanisms of yaks through the differential expression of miRNAs in their milk-derived exosomes across varying environmental conditions. These findings provide a valuable foundation for future investigations into yak resilience and the potential of milk-derived exosomes as tools for disease management and immune modulation. Full article

The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, famously known as the “Roof of the World”, has witnessed a surge in individuals traveling or working there. However, a considerable percentage of these individuals may suffer from acute mountain sickness (AMS), with high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) being a severe and potentially life-threatening manifestation. HAPE disrupts the balance of intrapulmonary tissue fluid, resulting in severe lung function impairment. Current therapeutic interventions for HAPE have limitations and are accompanied by significant side effects. Aldose reductase (AR), a crucial enzyme in the polyol metabolic pathway, has been implicated in various diseases. In this study, we sought to explore the role of AR in HAPE. Utilizing both in vivo and in vitro models, we investigated the impact of AR on hypoxia-induced pulmonary edema, vascular pressure, inflammatory factors, and oxidative stress. Our findings revealed that AR knockdown mitigated hypoxia-induced pulmonary edema, decreased the expression of vascular pressure and inflammatory factors, and enhanced the expression related to oxidative stress. These results indicate that AR may serve as a potential therapeutic target for HAPE, offering a plausible pathological basis and novel drug targets for the prevention and treatment of this condition. Full article

Soil erosion is a significant global environmental issue, especially in important agricultural areas. This study focuses on the Huangshui River Basin in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau from 2000 to 2022. The soil erosion intensity, spatiotemporal changes in soil erosion rate, and its socio-economic influencing factors at three spatial scales (basin, city, county) were analyzed. The results show that slight erosion is predominant across all scales, yet there are some localized areas with more severe erosion, like Guide County and Hualong County. At the three spatial scales, the change trend in the soil erosion rate has many peaks and valleys, and peaks and valleys occur in the same year. Influencing factors vary by scale. At the basin scale, there is no significant correlation with socio-economic factors; however, at the city and county scales, multiple factors show significant correlations, like population and GDP. Based on these findings, targeted soil erosion control measures are proposed considering socio-economic perspectives. This paper can provide a scientific basis for soil erosion and ecological environment control in Huangshui River Basin. Full article

In permafrost regions, vegetation growth is influenced by both climate conditions and the effects of permafrost degradation. Climate factors affect multiple aspects of the environment, while permafrost degradation has a significant impact on soil moisture and nutrient availability, both of which are crucial for ecosystem health and vegetation growth. However, the quantitative analysis of climate and permafrost remains largely unknown, hindering our ability to predict future vegetation changes in permafrost regions. Here, we used statistical methods to analyze the NDVI change in the permafrost region from 1982 to 2022. We employed correlation analysis, multiple regression residual analysis and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) methods to examine the impacts of different environmental factors on NDVI changes. The results show that the average NDVI in the study area from 1982 to 2022 is 0.39, with NDVI values in 80% of the area remaining stable or exhibiting an increasing trend. NDVI had the highest correlation with air temperature, averaging 0.32, with active layer thickness coming in second at 0.25. Climate change plays a dominant role in NDVI variations, with a relative contribution rate of 89.6%. The changes in NDVI are positively influenced by air temperature, with correlation coefficients of 0.92. Although the active layer thickness accounted for only 7% of the NDVI changes, its influence demonstrated an increasing trend from 1982 to 2022. Overall, our results suggest that temperature is the primary factor influencing NDVI variations in this region. Full article

The determinate inflorescence trait of Brassica napus L. is associated with various desirable agricultural characteristics. BnTFL1s (BnaA10.TFL1 and BnaC09.TFL1), which encode the transcription factor TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1), have previously been identified as candidate genes controlling this trait through map-based cloning. However, the mechanism underlying the effects of the BnTFL1 proteins remains unclear. Further, proteins generally interact with each other to fulfill their biological functions. The objective of this study was to construct a cDNA library of the shoot apical meristem (SAM) of B. napus and screen for proteins that interact with BnTFL1s, to better understand its mechanism of action. The recombination efficiency of the yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) library that we constructed was 100%, with insertion fragment lengths ranging from 750 to 2000 bp and a capacity of approximately 1.44 × 10⁷ CFUs (colony-forming units), sufficient for screening protein interactions. Additionally, the bait vector pGBKT7-BnTFL1s was transformed into yeast cells alongside positive and negative controls, demonstrating no toxicity to the yeast cells and no self-activation. This bait was used to screen the SAM cDNA library of B. napus, ultimately identifying two BnTFL1s-interacting proteins: 14-3-3-like protein GF14 omega GRF2. These interactions were verified through one-to-one interaction experiments. This study provides a foundation for further research on the biological functions of the BnTFL1s genes and their regulatory role in inflorescence formation in B. napus, while providing a reference for studying similar mechanisms in other plants. Full article

Background: The BBR-BPC gene family is a relatively conservative group of transcription factors, playing a key role in plant morphogenesis, organ development, and responses to abiotic stress. Brassica napus L. (B. napus), commonly known as oilseed rape, is an allopolyploid plant formed by the hybridization and polyploidization of Brassica rapa L. (B. rapa) and Brassica oleracea L. (B. oleracea), and is one of the most important oil crops. However, little is known about the characteristics, conservation, and expression patterns of this gene family in B. napus, especially under abiotic stress. Methods: To explore the characteristics and potential biological roles of the BBR-BPC gene family members in B. napus, we conducted identification based on bioinformatics and comparative genomics methods. We further analyzed the expression patterns through RNA-seq and qRT-PCR. Results: We identified 25 BBR-BPC members, which were classified into three subfamilies based on phylogenetic analysis, and found them to be highly conserved in both monocots and dicots. The conserved motifs revealed that most members contained Motif 1, Motif 2, Motif 4, and Motif 8. After whole-genome duplication (WGD), collinearity analysis showed that BBR-BPC genes underwent significant purifying selection. The promoters of most BBR-BPC genes contained cis-acting elements related to light response, hormone induction, and stress response. RNA-seq and qRT-PCR further indicated that BnBBR-BPC7, BnBBR-BPC15, BnBBR-BPC20, and BnBBR-BPC25 might be key members of this family. Conclusions: This study provides a theoretical foundation for understanding the potential biological functions and roles of the BBR-BPC gene family, laying the groundwork for resistance breeding in B. napus. Full article

The genus of Nitraria L. are Tertiary-relict desert sand-fixing plants, which are an important forage and agricultural product, as well as an important source of medicinal and woody vegetable oil. In order to provide a theoretical basis for better protection and utilization of species in the Nitraria L., this study collected global distribution information within the Nitraria L., along with data on 29 environmental and climatic factors. The Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model was used to simulate the globally suitable distribution areas for Nitraria L. The results showed that the mean AUC value was 0.897, the TSS average value was 0.913, and the model prediction results were excellent. UV-B seasonality (UVB-2), UV-B of the lowest month (UVB-4), precipitation of the warmest quarter (bio18), the DEM (Digital Elevation Model), and annual precipitation (bio12) were the key variables affecting the distribution area of Nitraria L, with contributions of 54.4%, 11.1%, 8.3%, 7.4%, and 4.1%, respectively. The Nitraria L. plants are currently found mainly in Central Asia, North Africa, the neighboring Middle East, and parts of southern Australia and Siberia. In future scenarios, except for a small expansion of the 2030s scenario model Nitraria L., the potential suitable distribution areas showed a decreasing trend. The contraction area is mainly concentrated in South Asia, such as Afghanistan and Pakistan, North Africa, Libya, as well as in areas of low suitability in northern Australia, where there was also significant shrinkage. The areas of expansion are mainly concentrated in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau to the Iranian plateau, and the Sahara Desert is also partly expanded. With rising Greenhouse gas concentrations, habitat fragmentation is becoming more severe. Center-of-mass migration results also suggest that the potential suitable area of Nitraria L. will shift northwestward in the future. This study can provide a theoretical basis for determining the scope of Nitraria L. habitat protection, population restoration, resource management and industrial development in local areas. Full article