藏雪鸡地理种群羽色表型变异与适应进化的生态遗传学研究

Gloger's rule is ubiquitous in nature. Avian always show predictable geogrophical variance patterns which reflect birds adaptation to local environments and inheritable characters. The distribution of Tetragallus tibetanus is the highest altitude galliformes. Dark pigment variation of Tetragallus tibetanus is gradually changed into pale along with altitude ladder.Tetragallus tibetanus is an idea model to test Glogers' rule. Morphology, ecology, microbiology and genetics are involved in this project. We use spectrum and GIS technology, metagenome, transcriptome. We investigate the molecular foundation and genetic mechanism of the relationship between Tetragallus tibetanus phenotype variations and habitat heterogeneity. We will explore whether environment changes aroused genetic variations, or reflect environment changes during Tetragallus evolution under natural selection. We will elucidate the balance and mechanism between natural selection and adaptation evolution under macroevolution and microevolution, which lead to Tetragallus tibetanus current phenotype variations and distributions. The result will support further research and protection of Tetragallus tibetanus.

葛洛格定律在自然界普遍存在，如鸟类常常表现出在形态上可预测的地理变异模式，既反应鸟类对生态环境的适应，也表现出可遗传的稳定性。藏雪鸡是鸡形目中分布海拔最高的鸡类，由于其分布海拔呈梯度，体色由西南向西北逐渐变淡，是研究葛洛格定律的理想材料。项目采用形态学、生态学、微生物学、遗传学等多学科交叉研究方法，应用光谱学技术、GIS技术、宏基因组、转录组、基因组技术，以藏雪鸡羽色表型变异的生态适应和遗传调控为研究主线，探讨藏雪鸡表型差异与栖息地空间异质性之间的关系以及表型差异的分子基础和遗传机制；揭示藏雪鸡表型差异在长期进化和自然选择过程中，是由于环境压力激发遗传物质发生变异，还是遗传变异引起对环境适应，阐明在宏观进化和微观进化尺度下，自然选择和适应进化的权衡和互作机理，从而导致藏雪鸡向高原特化形成现今形态差异和分布格局,为藏雪鸡深入研究和保护提供理论依据和科学支持。