Environmental changes and uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau drive genetic diversification and speciation of the birds.

Abstract

Being the most magnificent plateau in elevation and size on Earth, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has a profound impact on biodiversity due to the unique geographic and climatic conditions. Here we review the speciation patterns and genetic diversity of the birds from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in relation to the geological history and climatic changes. First, the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau forms a geographic barrier and promotes interspecific and intraspecific genetic differentiation. Second, the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has provided new ecological niches for many endemic birds and facilitated their speciation. Third, the emigration and immigration of bird species between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and adjacent zoological regions have promoted species divergence, colonization and dispersal. Furthermore, Pleistocene glaciations and associated climate change drive postglacial colonization and lead to secondary contact, which influenced the genetic divergence of the conspecific populations and sister species. The multi-omics approach has increasingly been used in the studies on the ecological adaptive evolution of birds in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Future studies should focus on the role of geological and climatic factors in species differentiation, develop integrative approach with multi-omics methods, and explore the ecological mechanisms of high-elevation adaptation of plateau species. As an important region for biodiversity conservation, more efforts should be implemented to maintain the stability and sustainability of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its ecosystem in light of global change.