{"title":"Frontiers | A HOLOCENE FIRE HISTORY FROM TERRA NOVA NATIONAL PARK, NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA: Vegetation and Climate Change Both Influenced the Fire Regime","authors":"Nickolas F. Lake, Andre Arsenault, Les Cwynar","doi":"10.3389/fevo.2024.1419121","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2024.1419121","url":null,"abstract":"Fire is the largest natural disturbance factor in the boreal forest and plays a critical role in the composition, structure, and succession of stands and landscapes. The island of Newfoundland, located in eastern Canada, is subjected to a greater maritime influence, which may result in longer fire return intervals. The limited data on the fire regime does not account for interactions between fire, vegetation, and climate throughout the Holocene. We used sediment cores from Arnold’s Pond, Terra Nova National Park, which covered the last ~11,800 cal. yr BP, to investigate these interactions. We recognize 4 pollen zones and macroscopic charcoal analysis detected 45 local fire events. The 250-year mean fire return interval associated with the current vegetation is longer than a previous estimate for the park, but significantly shorter than other estimates for the island. Our mean fire return interval is within the range of fire estimates from Québec with similar vegetation. Our results suggest that the fire regime was primarily influenced by vegetation and climate. The transition to an open forest from a shrub tundra resulted in increased fire activity and fire frequency, which were likely driven by additional fuel on the landscape, but could have also been influenced by unknown climatic factors. We identified several examples of changes in the fire frequencies and/or charcoal accumulation that coincided with regional climate shifts, but we also identified a non-synchronous change. The non-synchronous shift to drier conditions resulted in a ~500-year time lag between peak Pinus strobus abundance and maximum fire frequency. Synchronous shifts in fire activity and/or fire frequency coincided with the 8200 event, Medieval Climate Anomaly and Little Ice Age. We also noted a decrease in fire frequency between 2600–1500 cal. yr BP that coincided with similar changes in the fire frequency from ~3000–1000 cal. yr BP in Québec. Our study highlights the complex interactions influencing the fire regime in our study area during the Holocene.","PeriodicalId":12367,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142268688","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sai Wang, Yu-Jia Gao, Dong-Hai Wu, De-Lin Xu, Tuan-Tuan Wang, Shi-Di Fan, En-Ni Wu, Yong-Duo Song, Hong-Jin Zhang, Guo-Ping Fu, Zhong-Bing Chen, Ling Mo, Yang Zhang, Zhuo-Luo Ma
{"title":"Using a new fish indicator-based index with scoring and evaluation criteria to assess the ecological status in a disturbed subtropical river of China","authors":"Sai Wang, Yu-Jia Gao, Dong-Hai Wu, De-Lin Xu, Tuan-Tuan Wang, Shi-Di Fan, En-Ni Wu, Yong-Duo Song, Hong-Jin Zhang, Guo-Ping Fu, Zhong-Bing Chen, Ling Mo, Yang Zhang, Zhuo-Luo Ma","doi":"10.3389/fevo.2024.1377508","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2024.1377508","url":null,"abstract":"Rivers are constantly disturbed by anthropogenic stressors. Developing robust biotic indicators to assess river environments across large spatial scales is important. In the subtropical Liuxi River of China, 34 native fish indicators, including 4 genera and 30 species, were selected from 108 fish species by linear discriminant analysis. These indicators were grouped into 19 ecological items and assigned evaluation scores according to the roles they played in the food web (e.g., keystoneness and trophic level) and their positive feedback on the environment (e.g., requirements for feeding, spawning/nursing, and migrating). Three formulae for calculating the index of fish indicators (<jats:italic>IFI</jats:italic>) were developed based on the scoring of each indicator and weighted by relative abundance (individual number, i.e., <jats:italic>IFI<jats:sub>N</jats:sub></jats:italic>) and relative biomass (wet weight, i.e., <jats:italic>IFI<jats:sub>B</jats:sub></jats:italic>). Spearman correlation analysis showed that <jats:italic>IFI<jats:sub>B</jats:sub></jats:italic>, which had positive (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic>&lt; 0.05) correlations with elevation (m), dissolved oxygen (mg/L), flow velocity (cm/s), Shannon-Wiener diversity, benthic index of biotic integrity, exhibited a more powerful explanation of biodiversity and environmental factors than <jats:italic>IFI<jats:sub>N</jats:sub></jats:italic> and unweighted <jats:italic>IFI</jats:italic>. Therefore, <jats:italic>IFI<jats:sub>B</jats:sub></jats:italic> was most suitable for constructing a scoring system to evaluate ecological status (e.g., water and habitat quality). These results suggested that fish indicator-based scoring and evaluation system was effectively in not only assessing the site- or region-specific ecological status bot also reflecting the fluvial biodiversity and food web integrity. Further application and promotion of this indicator-based evaluation method may improve field investigation efficiency and contribute greatly to the conservation and management of river ecosystems.","PeriodicalId":12367,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141934145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ernesto Guzman-Novoa, Miguel Corona, Mohamed Alburaki, Francisco José Reynaldi, Ciro Invernizzi, Gregorio Fernández de Landa, Matías Maggi
{"title":"Honey bee populations surviving Varroa destructor parasitism in Latin America and their mechanisms of resistance","authors":"Ernesto Guzman-Novoa, Miguel Corona, Mohamed Alburaki, Francisco José Reynaldi, Ciro Invernizzi, Gregorio Fernández de Landa, Matías Maggi","doi":"10.3389/fevo.2024.1434490","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2024.1434490","url":null,"abstract":"The honey bee (<jats:italic>Apis mellifera</jats:italic>) parasitic mite, <jats:italic>Varroa destructor</jats:italic>, is considered one of the main causes of colony losses in European honey bee (EHB) populations around the world. However, some EHB and Africanized honey bee (AHB) populations (derived from the African subspecies <jats:italic>A. m. scutellata</jats:italic>) that inhabit tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, have survived varroa mite infestations in the absence of acaricide treatments. It is conceivable to expect that these honey bee populations, which have been subjected to natural selection over decades, would have developed resistance against <jats:italic>V. destructor</jats:italic> or possess pre-existing adaptations that allow them to survive mite parasitism. Here, we present a comprehensive literature review describing the spread of <jats:italic>V. destructor</jats:italic> and the honey bee populations occurring in Latin America (LA), and summarize the evidence of resistance of those populations to <jats:italic>V. destructor</jats:italic>. We also analyze reports describing the potential mechanisms of mite resistance and how they operate in those honey bee populations. Studies of a few EHB, as well as of numerous AHB populations exhibiting resistance to <jats:italic>V. destructor</jats:italic> in LA, unveil the existence of evolutionary adaptations that restrain <jats:italic>V. destructor</jats:italic> population growth and provide insight into the current host-parasite relationship. This review supports the notion that selective breeding of local honey bee populations from LA could be a viable strategy to manage varroa mite infestations in colonies.","PeriodicalId":12367,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141934144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Where are the provincial-level new records in China from the past 20 years, and which traits determine their shift directions?","authors":"Xiaoying Xing, Xiaochen Wang, Xiang Li, Fangyuan Lan, Zhangwen Deng, Yanqun Li, Qingyuan Li, Zhifeng Ding","doi":"10.3389/fevo.2024.1415268","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2024.1415268","url":null,"abstract":"Birds are sensitive to environmental changes and can drive range shifts rapidly due to their high mobility. Though previous studies have examined the associations between species traits and range shifts, whether species traits could still explain heterogeneity in shift directions remains poorly explored. Here, we compiled new bird records of China from 2000 to 2019 and analyzed species traits associated with apparent shift directions. We collected 350 provincial-level new records of birds belonging to 67 families of 22 orders. Of these, 32 are threatened, with 3 critically endangered, 11 endangered, and 18 vulnerable. Provinces in western China (i.e., Yunnan and Xizang) had relatively higher species richness of new recorded birds; this pattern was also reflected in the phylogenetic diversity we observed. In addition, provinces in northern China (i.e., Tianjin, Shandong, and Beijing) had relatively higher richness-controlled phylogenetic diversity. Phylogenetic overdispersion of new recorded bird communities was observed in 61.29% of provinces (19 of 31). The main shift directions indicated by new bird records were northward (with nearly 50% of birds moving NW, N and NE). Migration, hand-wing index (HWI), body mass, and range size are the four key factors that most significantly influence the shift directions in bird species, suggesting that bird movement toward newly suitable areas varies with species-specific traits. Together, these results demonstrate the importance of considering species ecological traits when predicting shift directions of birds.","PeriodicalId":12367,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141934143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Native bee habitat restoration: key ecological considerations from recent North American literature","authors":"Helen E. Payne, Susan J. Mazer, Katja C. Seltmann","doi":"10.3389/fevo.2024.1358621","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2024.1358621","url":null,"abstract":"Habitat loss is a primary driver of global biodiversity decline, negatively impacting many species, including native bees. One approach to counteract the consequences of habitat loss is through restoration, which includes the transformation of degraded or damaged habitats to increase biodiversity. In this review, we survey bee habitat restoration literature over the last 14 years to provide insights into how best to promote bee diversity and abundance through the restoration of natural landscapes in North America. We highlight relevant questions and concepts to consider throughout the various stages of habitat restoration projects, categorizing them into pre-, during-, and post-restoration stages. We emphasize the importance of planning species- and site-specific strategies to support bees, including providing floral and non-floral resources and increasing nest site availability. Lastly, we underscore the significance of conducting evaluations and long-term monitoring following restoration efforts. By identifying effective restoration methods, success indicators, and areas for future research, our review presents a comprehensive framework that can guide land managers during this urgent time for bee habitat restoration.","PeriodicalId":12367,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141934231","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Frontiers | Sociality Modulates Nutritional Carrying Capacity of an Endangered Species","authors":"Seth Rankins, Thomas Stephenson, Kevin Monteith","doi":"10.3389/fevo.2024.1417970","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2024.1417970","url":null,"abstract":"Group living has well-known costs and benefits. Large groups may experience greater competition for resources, while simultaneously benefit from reduced risk through predator dilution. When there is a tradeoff between forage acquisition and predation risk, the ability to congregate into large groups may unlock access to previously unavailable habitat with high risk of predation, thereby increasing forage available to the population. We evaluated whether forage availability increased with population size and how it was mediated through changes in group size. There was a tradeoff between forage availability and predation risk. Larger groups used areas with more forage biomass and greater predation risk than smaller groups. Group size also increased with population abundance, meaning bighorn sheep used gentler terrain and areas with more forage biomass at greater population abundance. Group size functionally increased carrying capacity by yielding access to more resources for growing populations of gregarious ungulates.","PeriodicalId":12367,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142182545","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Karen R. Klinger, Aster F. Hasle, Karen S. Oberhauser
{"title":"Characteristics of urban milkweed gardens that influence monarch butterfly egg abundance","authors":"Karen R. Klinger, Aster F. Hasle, Karen S. Oberhauser","doi":"10.3389/fevo.2024.1444460","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2024.1444460","url":null,"abstract":"The eastern population of monarch butterflies (<jats:italic>Danaus plexippus</jats:italic>) has dramatically declined in the last few decades, which is largely attributed to a loss of milkweed habitat in agricultural areas. Residential land in metropolitan areas has the potential to provide a significant source of the milkweed needed to support the monarch population. To examine if and how urban milkweed patches can support monarch butterflies, we worked with community scientists in the Chicago metropolitan area to monitor monarch eggs and caterpillars in yards and community gardens. We hypothesized that the largest numbers of eggs (i.e. gardens that were most attractive to monarchs) would be observed in patches that were older, had a high abundance of milkweed, contained more than one species of milkweed including <jats:italic>Asclepias syriaca</jats:italic> (common milkweed) and/or <jats:italic>A. incarnata</jats:italic> (swamp milkweed), and had a large diversity of nectar plants. All patches were assessed at their peak egg count each year, which ranged from zero to 170 eggs in a given observation. To determine which characteristics were most influential to egg presence, we examined patches where eggs were present or absent during this peak observation. For abundance, we divided these peak observations into whether or not the egg counts were in the top 20% in a given year, excluding patches where eggs were absent, and assessed their patch characteristics. Our results show that patch age and presence of <jats:italic>A. syriaca</jats:italic> affected whether patches contained eggs or not. We also found that patches with the largest number of eggs observed tended to have <jats:italic>A. syriaca</jats:italic>, more milkweed plants, and a higher diversity of blooming plant species. The data we collected from community scientists in the Chicago area has enhanced our understanding of how urban gardeners can create effective breeding habitats for monarch butterflies. By planting <jats:italic>Asclepias syriaca</jats:italic> within its natural range, along with other native milkweed species and a diverse selection of flowering plants, individuals can create gardens that serve as excellent habitats for monarchs and other pollinators.","PeriodicalId":12367,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141868327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Taylor Shaw, Michael Scherer-Lorenzen, Sandra Mueller
{"title":"Frontiers | Forest structural heterogeneity positively affects bird richness and acoustic diversity in a temperate, central European forest","authors":"Taylor Shaw, Michael Scherer-Lorenzen, Sandra Mueller","doi":"10.3389/fevo.2024.1387879","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2024.1387879","url":null,"abstract":"IntroductionForests managed for timber production can also be managed for biodiversity conservation by retaining structures typical of old-growth forests, which provide heterogenous structures for forest-dwelling species, including birds. Ecoacoustic monitoring of forest birds is now a well-studied field, however the extent to which acoustic indices can reflect bird assemblage responses to stands of lower or higher structural heterogeneity is disputed. MethodIn this study, we acoustically surveyed 75 plots over two years in mature, previously managed forests and computed acoustic indices from the recordings. We first identified an acoustic index that significantly correlated with bird richness over more than one spring season. Next, we tested the response of bird richness to individual forest structural elements using linear regressions. We then repeated this analysis but combined the individual structural elements into one structural composition variable using an NMDS and gam smooth overlay, to compare the effect of individual forest structures versus overall forest heterogeneity on bird richness. We then repeated this analysis using our selected acoustic index, the Normalized Difference Soundscape Index (NDSI), to see if it followed the same patterns as bird richness in response to individual and collective forest structural elements.ResultsOur results showed that plots with high bird richness were also associated with high NDSI values, and high values of both variables occurred in plots with high structural heterogeneity (tree species richness, tree size variability, and snag height variability) and low amounts of standing and lying deadwood. DiscussionOur findings suggest that once an acoustic index can be identified as a robust correlate of bird richness, it can serve as a proxy for the response of birds to differences in forest structural heterogeneity within a managed forest context. It is therefore possible for forest managers interested in conserving or increasing bird richness in their production forests to identify a robust acoustic index to track the response of bird richness to management decisions over time.","PeriodicalId":12367,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142182546","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Analysis of changes in ecosystem capacity index and driving factors in the Loess Plateau under ecological engineering orientation","authors":"Li Yuan, Mao Zhong yuan, Xu Bin, Wan Yu xuan","doi":"10.3389/fevo.2024.1404424","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2024.1404424","url":null,"abstract":"BackgroundIn recent decades, the Loess Plateau is one of the regions in China that urgently needs ecological governance due to the severe situation of soil erosion and land desertification. Due to the impact of climate change and human activities, the threat to the ecological space security of the Loess Plateau has intensified. This paper reveals the time lag effect of ecological engineering construction on the changes in the ecosystem service capacity index of the Loess Plateau, providing a scientific basis and decision-making reference for the sustainable development of the study area and improving the quality and management of ecological engineering construction, which is of great significance for building a solid ecological security barrier on the Loess Plateau.MethodsBased on the hierarchical analysis method, quantitative indicator method, spatial correlation analysis method and two-way fixed effect model, this paper analyzes the temporal and spatial changes of the ecosystem service capacity index of the Loess Plateau under the background of ecological engineering implementation.ResultsThe results showed that: 1) the vegetation coverage of the Loess Plateau increased with the increase of the area of ecological engineering construction, and showed a fluctuating growth distribution characteristic from southeast to northwest in space; 2) the water conservation capacity index, wind and sand fixation capacity index, biodiversity capacity index and comprehensive service capacity index of the Loess Plateau from 2000 to 2020 all showed exponential growth, which were highly coupled with the growth and change of vegetation coverage area in time and space; 3) the cold spots and hot spots of the ecosystem service capacity index of the Loess Plateau showed a step-by-step decrease of \"hot in the south and cold in the north\" in spatial distribution; the hot spots and sub-hot spots showed a reciprocating cycle from aggregation to fragmentation in time and space; the cold spots and sub-cold spots were mainly distributed in the northwest region. 4) The changes in the ecosystem service capacity index of the Loess Plateau were mainly affected by factors such as the cumulative project implementation area, urbanization rate and precipitation.ConclusionThe construction of ecological engineering on the Loess Plateau has achieved remarkable results. The growth of vegetation coverage area and ecosystem service capacity index on the Loess Plateau from 2000 to 2020 has promoted the recovery of ecosystem functions. Therefore, we should actively promote the construction of ecological projects to provide scientific decision-making references for solving regional ecological security issues.","PeriodicalId":12367,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141783659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yifan Wang, Lei Xie, Ke Wang, Zixi Jiang, Yuhang Feng, Yao Yu, Xin Chang, Hailiang Meng, Yiran Xu, Yishan Wu, Meisen Shi, Xiaoxia Wang, Shaoqing Wen
{"title":"Genetic origins and migration patterns of Xinjiang Mongolian group revealed through Y-chromosome analysis","authors":"Yifan Wang, Lei Xie, Ke Wang, Zixi Jiang, Yuhang Feng, Yao Yu, Xin Chang, Hailiang Meng, Yiran Xu, Yishan Wu, Meisen Shi, Xiaoxia Wang, Shaoqing Wen","doi":"10.3389/fevo.2024.1349231","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2024.1349231","url":null,"abstract":"IntroductionThe Xinjiang Mongolians, located along the Silk Road, migrated westward from Northeast Asia in the 13th and 14th centuries. Despite its significance, genetic studies on Xinjiang Mongolians have been limited compared to other Mongolian populations.MethodsIn this study, we analyzed the non-recombining region of the Y-chromosome in 165 Xinjiang Mongolian males using 108 biallelic markers and 44 STRs.Results and discussionOur study identified prevalent haplogroups C2a1a3-F1918 (10%), C2a1a2-M48 (8%), N1a1a-M178 (5%), and R1a1a-M17 (10%) in the Xinjiang Mongolians. Additionally, our study suggested a genetic affinity between Xinjiang Mongolians and Inner Mongolia Mongolian populations, as well as other ethnic groups from northwest China, based on the PCA analysis. The Network analysis revealed distinct branching expansion patterns in haplogroups C2a1a3a-F3796, C2a1a2-M48, and N1a1a-M178, with estimated timeframes aligning with Genghis Khan's invasion of Xinjiang in the Yuan Dynasty. Notably, our analysis of the R1a1a-M17 Network highlighted the role of Xinjiang Mongolians in the expansion of Turkic-speaking populations in Xinjiang and surrounding regions. The integration of ancient DNA data suggested that the high frequency haplogroups C2a1a3a-F3796, C2a1a2-M48, and N1a1a-M178 could be traced back to their origin in Northeast Asia. Furthermore, the estimated TMRCA of haplogroup R1a1a-M17 implied cultural and genetic influences from Turkic populations during the Qagatay Khanate period. Overall, our study provided a genetic explanation for the ethnic origin of Xinjiang Mongolians, highlighting their migration from Northeast Asia and subsequent assimilation with the local populations in Xinjiang.","PeriodicalId":12367,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141784027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}