Search Results (24)

Quantifying sex-specific dietary differences in small mammals reveals the internal resource allocation mechanisms within a species and provides new insights for ecosystem management and conservation practices. The plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) and plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi) are dominant small mammals that exhibit distinct lifestyles and social structures on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Despite the fact that the diets of both species have been extensively studied, sex-specific dietary differences have rarely been investigated. This study employed DNA metabarcoding combined with a self-constructed plant DNA barcode database to analyze the diet composition and trophic niche of male and female plateau pika and plateau zokor during the growing season. The results showed that male and female plateau pika consumed 39 and 37 plant species, respectively, and male and female plateau zokor consumed 38 and 39 plant species, respectively. With respect to the plateau pika, males showed a significantly higher intake of Phlomoides umbrosa than females (p < 0.05), whereas females consumed a significantly greater proportion of tuberous plants (p < 0.05). Females also exhibited a significantly greater dietary diversity and trophic niche breadth than males. But there was no significant difference in dietary diversity and trophic niche breadth between the sexes in the plateau zokor. In conclusion, our results show that dietary differences between males and females depend on each species’ lifestyle. Social, surface-living pikas show apparent sex-based differences, while solitary, underground-living zokors do not. Full article

Background/Objectives: Seasonal reproduction in mammals is primarily regulated by the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian (HPO) axis, yet its molecular mechanisms in subterranean rodents living in light-restricted environments remain poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the transcriptional regulation of the HPO axis during seasonal estrus in the Manchurian zokor (Myospalax psilurus, M. psilurus), a fossorial rodent exhibiting distinct breeding cycles despite perpetual darkness. Methods: Hypothalamic, pituitary, and ovarian tissues were collected from female zokors during estrus and anestrus (n = 5 per group). RNA sequencing was performed, followed by de novo transcriptome assembly and bioinformatic analyses. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using edgeR, and functional enrichment was assessed via GO and KEGG analyses. Key DEGs were validated by RT-qPCR. Results: A total of 513, 292, and 138 DEGs were identified in the hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovary, respectively. GO analysis highlighted enrichment in G-protein-coupled receptor signaling, oxidation–reduction processes, and calcium ion binding. KEGG pathway analysis revealed significant enrichment of the neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction pathway across all three tissues. Key candidate genes included Trh and Mc3r in the hypothalamus, Pitx2 and NR4A2 in the pituitary, and PTGER2 and Sphk1 in the ovary. Conclusions: This study provides the first comprehensive transcriptomic profile of the HPO axis in Manchurian zokors during seasonal estrus. The neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction pathway appears central to reproductive regulation, and several tissue-specific genes were identified as potential regulators of seasonal breeding. These findings enhance our understanding of reproductive adaptation in subterranean mammals and offer a foundation for further functional studies. Full article

Alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau experience chronic, fine-scale disturbances from the plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi), a subterranean rodent that alters soil and vegetation structure through persistent burrowing and mounding. While classical theory predicts that plant community stability peaks at intermediate disturbance levels, this may not apply under spatially heterogeneous disturbance regimes. We assessed community stability across a five-level zokor disturbance gradient using a multi-indicator framework integrating compositional variability (average variation degree, AVD), co-occurrence-based cohesion, indicator species analysis, and boosted regression tree (BRT) modeling. Stability (1−AVD) peaked under extreme disturbance, alongside reduced indicator species richness and the dominance of disturbance-tolerant taxa. Increased cohesion suggested stronger species associations. Drivers of stability shifted from plant attributes under low disturbance to soil constraints (bulk density and moisture) under high disturbance. These results challenge the intermediate disturbance–stability paradigm and suggest that abiotic filtering can promote compositional convergence and structural stability. Our findings highlight the importance of spatial disturbance patterns in shaping community resilience and provide early warning indicators and targeted guidance for managing alpine grasslands under subterranean disturbance. Full article

The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau’s alpine grasslands are ecologically vulnerable. Plateau zokors build mounds that modify soil and vegetation, influencing soil biota. This study examined how different vegetation on zokor mounds affects soil nematodes and ecosystem function. We compared undisturbed grassland (CK), Potentilla anserina (PM) and Leontopodium (LM) mounds, and new bare mounds (NM). Soil nematode communities were analyzed to assess functional indices and metabolic footprints. Compared with CK, PM increased total nematode abundance by 37.74%, r-strategists by 36.54%, and K-strategists by 39.37%. NM increased dominance (λ) by 22.20%, channel ratio (NCR) by 8.89%, and the Wasilewska index (WI) by 1.24 times, but reduced Shannon diversity by 8.49%, trophic diversity (TD) by 22.84%, and species richness (SR) by 29.40%. LM decreased the maturity index (MI) of free-living nematodes by 7.19% and increased the plant parasite index (PPI) by 10.01%. PM exhibited the highest metabolic footprints for bacterivores, fungivores, omnivores/predators, and total nematodes. Soil carbon (EF-C), nitrogen (EF-N), phosphorus (EF-P) cycling functions, and overall ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) were highest in CK and lowest in LM. Soil moisture had positive effects on EF-N, EF-P, and EMF, whereas pH had a negative effect on EF-C. These findings demonstrate that vegetation-covered zokor mounds influence nutrient cycling and ecosystem multifunctionality through changes in nematode community characteristics, providing new insights into soil biodiversity–function relationships and informing grassland restoration strategies in high-altitude ecosystems. Full article

To improve the soil loosening effects of degraded grasslands, this study investigates the performance of a bionic loosening shovel designed based on the claws of prairie zokor. A single-factor simulation test of the bionic loosening shovel was conducted using EDEM software to analyze the effects of loosening depth (H) and operating speed (V) on key parameters, including the ridge disturbance area (A_s), furrow disturbance area (A_f), loosening resistance (F_r), and trench specific resistance (F_c). Additionally, field tests were performed to validate the simulation results of the bionic loosening shovel. The findings indicate that the difference ratio (D_a1) between the simulated and test values for the bionic loosening shovel remained consistently low, confirming the reliability of the simulation model in predicting variations in response parameters. Furthermore, comparative field tests were conducted to evaluate the loosening performance of the bionic loosening shovel against standard loosening shovels (the diamond-shaped loosening shovel and the arrow-shaped loosening shovel). The results show that the bionic loosening shovel achieved the lowest values for A_s, A_f, and F_r under the same operating parameters. However, its effect on improving A_f was limited. These findings provide valuable technical support for the enhancement and optimization of loosening shovels for degraded grasslands. Full article

The plateau zokor, Eospalax baileyi Thomas, is a destructive mammal pest affecting the cultivation of the medicinal plant Fritillaria unibracteata Hsiao et K.C. Hsia. Identifying regions exclusively suitable for the plant is an effective way to mitigate zokor-induced damage. In this study, the optimal MaxEnt model and ArcGIS were employed to predict suitable habitats for both species and identify pest-free regions for plant cultivation. Our results indicate that elevation and annual mean temperature are the critical factors influencing the plant distribution, while the pest distribution is determined by the elevation and precipitation of t warmest quarter. Under current and future climates, suitable habitats for the plant and the pest are concentrated in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, reaching their maximum under SSP245 and SSP126 in the 2090s, respectively. Current regions exclusively suitable for the plant without the pest are primarily found in eastern and central Tibet, reaching a maximum under SSP245 in the 2090s. Under climate change, the plant’s suitable habitats, free from the pest damage, are predicted to be concentrated in eastern Tibet and northwestern Yunnan. Our findings provide practical guidance for F. unibracteata cultivation, as well as the monitoring and prevention of E. baileyi. Full article

Zokor is a group of subterranean rodents that are adapted to underground life and feed on plant roots. Here, we investigated the intestinal microbes of five zokor species (Eospalax cansus, Eospalax rothschildi, Eospalax smithi, Myospalax aspalax, and Myospalax psilurus) using 16S amplicon technology combined with bioinformatics. Microbial composition analysis showed similar intestinal microbes but different proportions among five zokor species, and their dominant bacteria corresponded to those of herbivores. To visualize the relationships among samples, PCoA and PERMANOVA tests showed that the intestinal microbes of zokors are largely clustered by host species, but less so by genetics and geographical location. To find microbes that differ among species, LefSe analysis identified Lactobacillus, Muribaculaceae, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, unclassified_f_Christensenellaceae, and Desulfovibrio as biomarkers for E. cansus, E. rothschildi, E. smithi, M. aspalax, and M. psilurus, respectively. PICRUSt metagenome predictions revealed enriched microbial genes for carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism in E. cansus and E. smithi, and for cofactor and vitamin metabolism as well as glycan biosynthesis and metabolism in E. rothschildi, M. aspalax, and M. psilurus. Our results demonstrated differences in the microbial composition and functions among five zokor species, potentially related to host genetics, and host ecology including dietary habits and habitat environment. These works would provide new insight into understanding how subterranean zokors adapt to their habitats by regulating intestinal microbes. Full article

Background: Rodents severely damage the ecological environment of grasslands, and rodent mounds of different ages require distinct management strategies. Understanding the age of these mounds aids in formulating targeted restoration measures, which can enhance grassland productivity and biodiversity. Current surveys of rodent mounds rely on ground exposure and mound height to determine their age, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Remote sensing methods can quickly and easily identify the distribution of rodent mounds. Existing remote sensing images use ground exposure and mound height for identification but do not distinguish between mounds of different ages, such as one-year-old and two-year-old mounds. According to the existing literature, rodent mounds of different ages exhibit significant differences in vegetation structure, soil background, and plant diversity. Utilizing a combination of vegetation indices and hyperspectral data to determine the age of rodent mounds aims to provide a better method for extracting rodent hazard information. This experiment investigates and analyzes the age, distribution, and vegetation characteristics of rodent mounds, including total coverage, height, biomass, and diversity indices such as Patrick, Shannon–Wiener, and Pielou. Spectral data of rodent mounds of different ages were collected using an Analytical Spectral Devices field spectrometer. Correlation analysis was conducted between vegetation characteristics and spectral vegetation indices to select key indices, including NDVI₆₇₀, NDVI₇₀₅, EVI, TCARI, Ant, and SR. Multiple stepwise regression and Random Forest (RF) inversion models were established using vegetation indices, and the most suitable model was selected through comparison. Random Forest modeling was conducted to classify plateau zokor rat mounds of different ages, using both vegetation characteristic indicators and vegetation indices for comparison. The rodent mound classification models established using vegetation characteristic indicators and vegetation indices through Random Forest could distinguish rodent mounds of different ages, with out-of-bag error rates of 36.96% and 21.74%, respectively. The model using vegetation indices performed better. Conclusions: (1) Rodent mounds play a crucial ecological role in alpine meadow ecosystems by enhancing plant diversity, biomass, and the stability and vitality of the ecosystem. (2) The vegetation indices SR and TCARI are the most influential in classifying rodent mounds. (3) Incorporating vegetation indices into Random Forest modeling facilitates a precise and robust remote sensing interpretation of rodent mound ages, which is instrumental for devising targeted restoration strategies. Full article

Chinese pine has been extensively planted in the Loess Plateau, but it faces significant threats from Gansu zokor. Traditional methods for monitoring rodent damage rely on manual surveys to assess damage rates but are time-consuming and often underestimate the actual degree of damage, particularly in mildly affected pines. This study proposes a remote sensing monitoring method that integrates hyperspectral analysis with physiological and biochemical parameter models to enhance the accuracy of rodent damage detection. Using ASD Field Spec 4, we analyzed spectral data from 125 Chinese pine needles, measuring chlorophyll (CHC), carotenoid (CAC), and water content (WAC). Through correlation analysis, we identified sensitive vegetation indices (VIs) and red-edge parameters (REPs) linked to different levels of damage. We report several key results. The 680 nm spectral band is instrumental in monitoring damage, with significant decreases in CHC, CAC, and WAC corresponding to increased damage severity. We identified six VIs and five REPs, which were later predicted using stepwise regression (SR), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF) models. Among all models, the vegetation index-based RF model exhibited the best predictive performance, achieving coefficient of determination (R²) values of 0.988, 0.949, and 0.999 for CHC, CAC, and WAC, with root mean square errors (RMSEs) of 0.115 mg/g, 0.042 mg/g, and 0.007 mg/g, and mean relative errors (MREs) of 8.413%, 9.169%, and 1.678%. This study demonstrates the potential of hyperspectral remote sensing technology for monitoring rodent infestations in Chinese pines, providing a reliable basis for large-scale assessments and effective management strategies for pest control. Full article

Intestinal bacteria are considered the “second genome” of the host, playing a crucial physiological role in assisting the host in degrading plant secondary compounds, nutrient absorption, immune regulation, and other aspects. To explore the effects of Stellera chamaejasme on the bacterial community of the gastrointestinal tract of plateau zokor, this study uses the 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing technology, and the biodiversity and the community structure of gut bacteria in different gastrointestinal tract segments (the stomach and cecum) of plateau zokors. The results showed that at the phylum level, the dominant flora in the stomach and cecum of plateau zokors before and after ingesting Stellera chamaejasme were Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. In plateau zokors that ingested Stellera chamaejasme, the relative abundance of Firmicutes in the stomach and cecum decreased, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes increased, and the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes decreased. After plateau zokors ingested Stellera chamaejasme, the ACE index demonstrated a significant reduction in the richness of the stomach bacterial community, while cecal bacterial community richness showed no significant change. Stellera chamaejasme exhibits significantly different effects on the bacterial communities in different segments of the gastrointestinal tract. Beta diversity analysis revealed that, after plateau zokors ingested Stellera chamaejasme, there were notable distinctions in the bacterial communities within both the stomach and cecum, alongside a marked reduction in the variability of the intestinal bacterial profiles across individuals. The results show that ingesting Stellera chamaejasme has a significant impact on the composition and structure of the gastrointestinal tract bacterial community in plateau zokors. Full article

Seasonal reproduction is a mammalian behavior that has developed over an extended evolutionary period and requires animals to respond to external environmental changes to facilitate reproduction. In this study, we investigated the role of PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) in the seasonal reproduction of plateau zokors (Eospalax baileyi). piRNA expression profiles in plateau zokor testes during both breeding and non-breeding seasons were examined. The piRNAs had a distinctive ping-pong signature and ranged from 27 to 32 nt with a peak at 30 nt. Testicular piRNAs predominantly aligned to specific genomic regions, including repeat and gene regions. Analysis of the piRNA–mRNA interaction network and functional enrichment of differentially expressed piRNAs targeting mRNAs revealed their association with testicular development and spermatogenesis. Significantly, PIWIL4 is an mRNA gene that interacts with piRNA and exhibits high expression levels within the testes during the non-breeding phase. This study provides a foundation to improve our understanding of piRNA regulatory mechanisms during testicular development and spermatogenesis in seasonally reproducing animals and, specifically, in the plateau zokor. Full article

As the most abundant group of mammals, rodents possess a very rich ecotype, which makes them ideal for studying the relationship between diet and host gut microecology. Zokors are specialized herbivorous rodents adapted to living underground. Unlike more generalized herbivorous rodents, they feed on the underground parts of grassland plants. There are two species of the genus Myospalax in the Eurasian steppes in China: one is Myospalax psilurus, which inhabits meadow grasslands and forest edge areas, and the other is M. aspalax, which inhabits typical grassland areas. How are the dietary choices of the two species adapted to long-term subterranean life, and what is the relationship of this diet with gut microbes? Are there unique indicator genera for their gut microbial communities? Relevant factors, such as the ability of both species to degrade cellulose, are not yet clear. In this study, we analyzed the gut bacterial communities and diet compositions of two species of zokors using 16S amplicon technology combined with macro-barcoding technology. We found that the diversity of gut microbial bacterial communities in M. psilurus was significantly higher than that in M. aspalax, and that the two species of zokors possessed different gut bacterial indicator genera. Differences in the feeding habits of the two species of zokors stem from food composition rather than diversity. Based on the results of Mantel analyses, the gut bacterial community of M. aspalax showed a significant positive correlation with the creeping-rooted type food, and there was a complementary relationship between the axis root-type-food- and the rhizome-type-food-dominated (containing bulb types and tuberous root types) food groups. Functional prediction based on KEGG found that M. psilurus possessed a stronger degradation ability in the same cellulose degradation pathway. Neutral modeling results show that the gut flora of the M. psilurus has a wider ecological niche compared to that of the M. aspalax. This provides a new perspective for understanding how rodents living underground in grassland areas respond to changes in food conditions. Full article

The gut microbiota in animals is a dynamic ecosystem influenced by both the host itself and the environment it inhabits. It is known that short-term captivity can significantly impact the gut microbiota of plateau zokors, leading to substantial inter-individual variation. However, the specific changes in the assembly process of the gut microbiota in plateau zokors during captivity remain unclear. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis on the assembly process of the gut microbiota in 22 male plateau zokors from the same location in Qinglin Township, Datong County, Qinghai Province, before (W) and after (L) laboratory rearing. We performed a single-factor correlation network analysis on the top 50 genera with relative abundance in each group. The results revealed that captivity increased the complexity of the gut microbiota in plateau zokors, indicating a higher number of interactions between different microbial species. However, this increase in complexity was accompanied by a decrease in stability, suggesting a higher degree of variability and potential disruption in the microbial community. According to the results of the neutral community model, the gut microbiota of plateau zokors in the W had a higher Nm value (Nm = 48,135) compared to the L (Nm = 39,671), indicating that species dispersal of the gut microbiota was greater in the wild than in captivity. In the wild, the modified stochasticity ratio (MST) was less than 0.5, suggesting that deterministic processes dominated. However, after 15 days of laboratory rearing, the MST became greater than 0.5, indicating a shift toward stochastic processes, and this difference was highly significant (p < 0.001). This differs from research related to aboveground animals. This study provides theoretical support for the application of gut microbiota in subterranean endangered species. Full article

The soil temperature is a key factor affecting the fragile terrestrial ecosystems on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, and has been remarkably altered by the soil mammal’s disturbance. This study first analyzed the soil temperature variation in grassland, mound, and bald patch under the disturbance of plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi) from October 2018 to July 2020 in the Qinghai Lake watershed. Then, the SHAW (simultaneous heat and water) model was used to simulate the soil temperature change of three land surface types, and the sensitivity of soil temperature to environmental parameters before and after the disturbance was explored. The results showed the following: (1) The daily range of soil temperature was mound > bald patch > grassland, which became smaller as the depth increased, due to the co-influence of vegetation coverage and soil bulk density. There was an obvious hysteresis of soil heat transfer for grassland, as compared with mound and bald patch, especially at 5 and 15 cm depths. (2) The SHAW model was applicable for the simulation of soil temperature under the plateau zokor’s disturbance, especially during the growing season, and had better simulation accuracy for deep soil. (3) Air-entry potential and pore-size distribution index obviously affected soil temperature change, because of the change in root system and soil pores under the plateau zokor’s disturbance. With the evolution of disturbance process, the response of soil temperature to the leaf area index weakened gradually, owing to the different duration of disturbance and restoration. In general, the plateau zokor’s disturbance alters the soil properties and vegetation characteristics, and further, distinctly affects heat transfer and soil temperature. Full article

Degraded bald patches have been active influencing factors in recent years, leading to meadow degradation and soil erosion in the Yellow River source area. In this study, we aimed to quantify the soil water erosion patterns and the hydrodynamic characteristics of degraded bald patches under different vegetation coverage (10%, 30%, 50%, 70% and 90%) and slope (10°, 20° and 30°) combination treatments through simulated rainfall experiments, and to investigate the influence of rodent activities on meadow degradation and soil erosion using zokor mound bare ground as a control. The results show that rodent activity exacerbates erosion problems and that soil erosion rates are negatively correlated with the degree of meadow degradation as an exponential function (p < 0.01). All slope flows are laminar; Reynolds and Froude numbers decrease as a function of vegetation coverage exponentially and linearly (p < 0.01), respectively, and are positively correlated with slope. Flow resistance increases with increasing vegetation coverage and decreasing slope, and vegetation coverage and slope are significant factors affecting flow resistance (p < 0.05). Runoff shear stress was found to range from 1.71 to 5.27 N m⁻² in the study area and is positively correlated with vegetation coverage and slope, with a much greater influence of slope than vegetation coverage (p < 0.05). Based on the Pearson correlation and grey correlation method analysis, we concluded that runoff rate, flow velocity, Reynolds number and the Froude number can all describe the hydraulic erosion state under the action of soil erosion on slopes. The Reynolds number was tentatively judged to be the best hydrodynamic parameter to describe the soil erosion process. We conclude that developing degraded bald patches reduces flow resistance and increases surface runoff capacity and soil erodibility by reducing vegetation coverage. The reasonable control of rodent activity can effectively combat erosion on degraded bald patches. Full article