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- Title
The past population dynamics of Ochotona curzoniae and the response to the climate change.
- Authors
He YUJIAO; Lin GONGHUA; Ci HAIXIN; Liu CUIXIA; Zhang TONGZUO; Su JIANPING
- Abstract
Plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) are widespread on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. To study the past population dynamics of this species, we used a method based on the Bayesian coalescent theory to analyze the mitochondrial DNA of pikas sampled from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The Skygrid model was selected as optimal model for estimating population demography. The simulation results under the optimal model showed two distinct changes in effective population size since 1 million years ago. The first population expansion coincided with the Paleo-Lakes period. Subsequent population decline was related to the shrinking of the lakes and the last glacial maximum. Changes in climate, due to the appearance of the paleo-lakes and the glaciers, created more or less suitable habitats for the pika, which corresponded with changes in effective population sizes over time. The second population increase was related to the Kunlun-Yellow River Movement: the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau resulted in a wet and cold climate, and subsequent vegetation changes provided more habitats for the pika.
- Subjects
OCHOTONA curzoniae; CLIMATE change; PLATEAU pika
- Publication
North-Western Journal of Zoology, 2018, Vol 14, Issue 2, p220
- ISSN
1584-9074
- Publication type
Article