南岭山脉对鸟类物种多样性和遗传多样性的影响及分子机制

Mountains harbor large numbers of species, and usually are biodiversity hotspots due to a combination of evolutionary and ecological forces. The Nanling mountians are the largest mountains in South China, and forming a natural geographical boundary, but are relatively poorly known in terms of avian diversity compared to the Hengduan and Himalayan mountains. It is impossible to fully understand the distribution pattern and formation mechanism of Oriental birds in absence of a study of avian diversity and molecular mechanism in the Nanling mountains. Firstly, our project will compare compositions and constructs of forest bird communities at totally six sites in the Nanling mountains, three on the southern side (Guangdong Chebaling National Nature Reserve, Guangdong Nanling National Nature Reserve, Guangxi Xilingshan Provincial Nature Reserve), and three on the northern side of the mountains (Jiangxi Qiyunshan National Nature Reserve, Hunan Shunhuangshan National Nature Reserve, and Guangxi Mao’ershan National Nature Reserve). We will study the impact of climatic factors (such as temperature and precipitation etc.) and plant production on bird species richness patterns in the Nanling mountains by collecting climatic data and vegetation samplings. Second, we will study the impact of geographical event on molecular phylogeny patterns by comparing population genetic constructs between the northern and southern side of the mountains for 5 bird species, namely Mountain Bulbul (Hypsipetes mcclelllandii), Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush (Garrulax pectoralis), Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea), Grey-cheeked Fulvetta (Alcippe morrisonia) and Striated Yuhina (Yuhina castaniceps). Finally, we will make a conclusion on the impact of the Nanling mountains on avian diversity by combining knowledge of bird community and population genetic. We will be able to draw a theoretical framework on avian diversity formation mechanism of the Oriental realm in South China by comparing data of the Nanling, Hengduan, and Himalayan mountains. The study also will benefit avian diversity conservation in the Nanling mountains.

山地生物物种丰富。南岭是中国南部最大的山脉和重要自然地理界线，南岭山脉东西走向、对我国动物区系有着重要影响；然而，相对于横断山脉、喜马拉雅山脉，南岭山脉的鸟类多样性研究非常少；但如果不研究南岭地区的鸟类多样性及形成机制，就无法完整了解我国东洋界鸟类分布格局和形成机制。本项目通过比较南岭山脉南北两侧六个地点的鸟类群落组成与结构，研究温度、降雨量、植被等因素对鸟类多样性格局的影响；通过研究五种鸟在南岭山脉南北两侧不同地理种群遗传结构和谱系地理格局，从历史地理、地质事件的深度揭示南岭山脉对该区域鸟类多样性格局的影响；通过结合鸟类群落、鸟类种群遗传、环境变量等数据，综合分析南岭山脉对该地区鸟类多样性形成的影响，揭示该影响的分子机制。同时，比较南岭山脉与其它中国南部山脉，尤其是横断山脉对鸟类多样性影响的差异，完善中国南方山脉影响东洋界鸟类多样性形成机制的理论。

在南岭山脉南侧的4个、北侧2个国家级自然保护区进行鸟类调查。发现：南侧与北侧保护区间的鸟类物种相似性Sørensen值为0.700.02；南侧保护区间和北侧保护区间物种相似性值为0.680.03，差异不显著（t=0330，df=13，p=0.747）。表明南岭山脉对鸟类的物种多样性分隔不明显。.对绿翅短脚鹎（I. mcclellandii）、黑领噪鹛（P. pectoralis）、红嘴相思鸟（L. lutea）、灰眶雀鹛（A. hueti）和栗耳凤鹛（S. castaniceps）五种鸟类、36个采集点、337个个体的南岭山脉南侧和北侧种群遗传研究。发现：五种鸟类的种群遗传结构各有差异。四个种经历了重要的瓶颈事件，其中，红嘴相思鸟（L. lutea）最为显著，该事件估计时间大约0.04MYA。地理距离和遗传差异在灰眶雀鹛（A. hueti）和绿翅短脚鹎（ I. mcclellandii ）显着相关，在单倍型上显现出沿南岭山脉由西向东组成逐渐变化，多样性逐渐降低；而在其它三个物种中相关性较弱。黑领噪鹛（P. pectoralis ）和红嘴相思鸟中，群体扩张明显，群体遗传成分呈均质化分布；在栗耳凤鹛（S. torqueola）中，则没有这些特征。但总的来说，这些山地鸟类不存在以南岭为界的南北分化。.总之，1）南岭山脉南部与北部鸟类物种多样性和遗传多样性差异不显著，通过物种多样性和遗传多样性证明南岭山脉对鸟类种群的阻隔作用小，与南岭山脉形成的历史较长有关，也与南岭山脉的地形有较多破碎的结构有关，证明了南岭山脉对鸟类种群的阻隔作用弱；2）从动物地理的角度看，本项目的研究证实了南岭山脉是东洋界华中区与华南区的分界线；3）共发表17篇论文，其中SCI论文16篇、中文核心期刊论文1篇，申请者为通讯作者的文章9篇，申请发明专利2件，取得好的科研成绩，超过预定指标；4）培养硕士研究生10名、博士研究生1名，指导博士后4名。全职引进瑞典籍Daniel R. Gustafsson博士和韩国籍Myung-Bok Lee博士，其中Daniel R. Gustafsson博士入选2019年“珠江人才计划（青年拔尖人才）”；5）成功申请到举办第七届世界虱毛目大会于2022年在广州举行。