Compartment-specific archaeal responses to alpine wetland grasslandification reveal distinct taxonomic, functional, and network reorganization across soil-root interfacial continua.

Introduction: Alpine wetland ecosystems on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau are critical carbon sinks experiencing grasslandification due to anthropogenic activities and climate change. While microbial dynamics underpin ecosystem processes, archaeal community dynamics across soil-root compartments remain poorly understood.

Objectives: This study aimed to elucidate how archaeal diversity, community structure, assembly mechanisms, and functional potential respond to grasslandification across soil depths (0-10 cm and 10-20 cm) and root compartments associated with three dominant plant species along a gradient from alpine wetland meadow to degraded meadow on the QTP.

Distribution Range and Richness of Plant Species Are Predicted to Increase by 2100 due to a Warmer and Wetter Climate in Northern China.

The warming global climate is threatening terrestrial ecosystem stability, including plant community structure and diversity. However, it remains unclear how distribution, richness, and turnover of plant species are impacted by warming and wetting in northern China. In the present study, species distribution models were applied to predict the spatial distribution of 5111 plant species based on 111,071 occurrence records in northern China.

Distribution, species richness, and relative importance of different plant life forms across drylands in China.

Studies on plant diversity are usually based on the total number of species in a community. However, few studies have examined species richness (SR) of different plant life forms in a community along large-scale environmental gradients. Particularly, the relative importance (RIV) of different plant life forms in a community and how they vary with environmental variables are still unclear.

The water extract of Rheum palmatum has antioxidative properties and inhibits ROS production in mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Rheum palmatum (RP) is a widely used traditional herb, which possesses antioxidant properties, inhibits ROS production and reduces fever.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of this study was to examine the antioxidative properties of the water extract of RP on oxidative-stressed mice.

Materials & Methods: Forty mice were administered with DL-homocysteine (DL-Hcy) to induce oxidative stress and were divided into four groups: 1) CK: NaCl and water; 2) DL-Hcy: DL-Hcy and water; 3) DL-Hcy+50RP: DL-Hcy with 50 mg kg body weight (BW) d RP; and 4) DL-Hcy+150RP: DL-Hcy with 150 mg kg BW d RP.

Livestock turnover and dynamic livestock carrying capacity are crucial factors for alpine grassland management: The Qinghai-Tibetan plateau as a case study.

Alpine grasslands are distributed widely on high-elevated ranges and plateaus from the wet tropics to polar regions, accounting for approximately 3% of the world's land area. The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) is the highest and largest plateau in the world, and approximately 60% of the plateau consists of alpine grassland, which is used mainly for grazing animals. Livestock structure was determined in Guinan (GN), Yushu (YS) and Maqu counties (MQ) on the QTP by interviewing 235 local pastoralists.

Patterns of bacterial communities in the rhizosphere and rhizoplane of alpine wet meadows.

Wet meadows, a type of wetland, are vulnerable to climate change and human activity, impacting soil properties and microorganisms that are crucial to the ecosystem processes of wet meadows. To decipher the ecological mechanisms and processes involved in wet meadows, it is necessary to examine the bacterial communities associated with plant roots. To gain valuable insight into the microbial dynamics of alpine wet meadows, we used Illumina MiSeq sequencing to investigate how environmental factors shape the bacterial communities thriving in the rhizosphere and rhizoplane of three plant species: Cremanthodium ellisii, Caltha scaposa, and Cremanthodium lineare.

Effect of grape pomace supplement on growth performance, gastrointestinal microbiota, and methane production in Tan lambs.

Grape pomace (GP), a by-product in wine production, is nutritious and can be used as a feed ingredient for ruminants; however, its role in shaping sheep gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiota is unclear. We conducted a controlled trial using a randomized block design with 10 Tan lambs fed a control diet (CD) and 10 Tan lambs fed a pelleted diet containing 8% GP (dry matter basis) for 46 days. Rumen, jejunum, cecum, and colon bacterial and archaeal composition were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Ensiling hybrid with lactic acid bacteria or organic acids improved the fermentation quality and bacterial community.

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of different additives on nutritional quality, fermentation variables and microbial diversity of hybrid silages. A control (CK - no additives) and seven treatments were tested, namely, (LP), (LB), propionic acid (PA), calcium propionate (CAP), LP + LB; LP + PA and LP + CAP. In comparison with CK, all treatments increased the contents of crude protein and lactic acid, decreased the content of butyric acid, and altered the bacterial communities of the silage.

Plant trait networks reveal adaptation strategies in the drylands of China.

Background: Plants accomplish multiple functions by the interrelationships between functional traits. Clarifying the complex relationships between plant traits would enable us to better understand how plants employ different strategies to adapt to the environment. Although increasing attention is being paid to plant traits, few studies focused on the adaptation to aridity through the relationship among multiple traits.

Effect of dietary Agriophyllum squarrosum on average daily gain, meat quality and muscle fatty acids in growing Tan lambs.

The herb A. squarrosum is reputed to possess medicinal properties for humans, and has the potential to be a feed resource for livestock. We hypothesized that this herb would improve the meat quality of lambs.

Concentrations and bioconcentration factors of leaf microelements in response to environmental gradients in drylands of China.

Determining response patterns of plant leaf elements to environmental variables would be beneficial in understanding plant adaptive strategies and in predicting ecosystem biogeochemistry processes. Despite the vital role of microelements in life chemistry and ecosystem functioning, little is known about how plant microelement concentrations, especially their bioconcentration factors (BCFs, the ratio of plant to soil concentration of elements), respond to large-scale environmental gradients, such as aridity, soil properties and anthropogenic activities, in drylands. The aim of the present study was to fill this important gap.

Testing the morphological constraint hypothesis of tail length in the sexually dimorphic Cerastes vipera and new perspectives.

The morphological constraint hypothesis (MCH) states that, in snakes, males typically have relatively longer tails than females to accommodate the hemipenes and retractor muscles. To date, most studies testing the MCH have been interspecific and results have been equivocal. We tested the MCH intraspecifically on Cerastes vipera, a species with a relatively short tail and suitable for testing the MCH.

Supplementing Diets with Reduced Blood Lipids, Enhanced Immunity and Anti-Inflammatory Capacities, and Mediated Lipid Metabolism in Tan Lambs.

Agriophyllum squarrosum (sand rice), a widespread desert plant, possesses anti-hyperglycemic and anti-inflammatory properties, and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for many years. However, its effects on ruminants are unknown. To fill this gap, we examined the effects of A.

Transcriptome analysis revealed potential genes involved in thermogenesis in muscle tissue in cold-exposed lambs.

Cold tolerance is an important trait for sheep raised at high altitudes. Muscle tissue, comprising 30-40% of the total body mass, produces heat during cold exposure. However, little is known about the genetic mechanisms of this tissue and its role in thermogenesis in lambs.

Addition of Organic Acids and to the Leguminous Forage Improved the Quality and Decreased Harmful Bacteria of the Silage.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of citric acid, malic acid, and Lactobacillus acidophilus (L) on fermentation parameters and the microbial community of leguminous Chamaecrista rotundifolia silage. Fresh C. rotundifolia was treated without any additive (CK), or with L (106 CFU/g fresh weight), different levels (0.

Effect of Chinese Herbs on Serum Biochemical Parameters, Immunity Indices, Antioxidant Capacity and Metabolomics in Early Weaned Yak Calves.

Chinese traditional herbs are used widely as feed supplements to improve the immune response and antioxidant capacity of livestock. Twenty early-weaned 4-month-old yak calves (72.3 ± 3.

Replacement of fangs in a free-ranging desert viperid, Cerastes vipera.

Venomous viperid snakes possess relatively large and fragile hollow fangs that are an integral part of the envenomation apparatus for predation. We hypothesized that fangs serve like disposable needles and predicted a high loss rate and, hence, high replacement rate in free-ranging snakes. Snakes also possess smaller rear teeth that aid in gripping and swallowing the prey.

The microbiota-gut-kidney axis mediates host osmoregulation in a small desert mammal.

Regulating sodium and water balances is crucial for survival of small, desert mammals. Studies demonstrate that the gut microbiota and their metabolites are involved in host energy homeostasis, but little is known on the interactions among salt loading, gut microbiota, and osmoregulation. The aim of this study was to fill this gap.

Effects of Management, Dietary Intake, and Genotype on Rumen Morphology, Fermentation, and Microbiota, and on Meat Quality in Yaks and Cattle.

Traditionally, yaks graze only natural grassland, even in harsh winters. Meat from grazing yaks is considered very healthy; however, feedlot fattening, which includes concentrate, has been introduced. We questioned whether this change in management and diet would have an impact on the rumen and meat quality of yaks.

Alters Rumen Bacteria to Enhance Fiber Digestion, Improves Antioxidant Capacity and Immunity Indices of Small Intestinal Mucosa, and Enhances Liver Metabolites for Energy Synthesis in Tibetan Sheep.

Natural, non-toxic feed additives can potentially replace chemical medications and antibiotics that are offered sheep to improve performance. In the present study, Tibetan sheep were supplemented with the root of (AMT), a traditional herb used widely in China. Twenty-four male Tibetan sheep (31 ± 1.

Photosynthesis, fluorescence, and nutrition of Zhonglan No. 2, a new alfalfa cultivar.

Background: The years after planting play an important role in the above-ground biomass and nutritive value of alfalfa. Zhonglan No. 2 (Medicago sativa L.

Astragalus root extract improved average daily gain, immunity, antioxidant status and ruminal microbiota of early weaned yak calves.

Background: Early weaning in yak calves is being attempted to improve yak reproduction rate. However, this has to be done with caution because of the high mortality rate of calves due to the lack of nutrients and the harsh environmental conditions. Twenty-four weaned male yak calves were used in a 60 day feeding trial in which astragalus root extract (ARE) was supplemented.

Relative tail length correlates with body condition in male but not in female crowned leafnose snakes (Lytorhynchus diadema).

Reproductive success is the ultimate measure of individual quality; however, it is difficult to determine in free-living animals. Therefore, indirect measures that are related to reproduction are generally employed. In snakes, males typically possess longer tails than females and this sexual size dimorphism in tail length (TL) has generally been attributed to the importance of the tail in mating and reproduction.