Altai Mountains Research Articles

Assessment and mapping of priority areas for transboundary ecological conservation: Suggestions for the protection of the Altai Mountains in Central Asia

Political boundaries often do not coincide with ecological boundaries, and it is common for the same physical geographical unit to span multiple countries. Exploring establishing transboundary protected areas and ecological networks can effectively protect the integrity of natural ecosystems separated by political boundaries. Based on the integrated evaluation of ecosystem services function, ecological vulnerability, and ecosystem integrity, this study explored a methodological system for evaluating ecological protection priority areas in transboundary areas and selected the Altai Mountains, which span four countries, contain China, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia, as a typical case to conduct empirical research. The study found that the extremely important areas of ecosystem services function, ecological vulnerability, and ecosystem integrity showed transboundary contiguous characteristics. Furthermore, weighted overlay analysis identified the spatial distribution pattern of ecological protection priority areas in the Altai Mountains. We suggested establishing transboundary protected areas in the four countries’ transboundary areas, building the identified ecological protection priority areas and existing protected areas into a transboundary protected area network, and deepening a multi-party transboundary protection cooperation mechanism. This study can provide a theoretical and practical reference to achieve the 2030 biodiversity conservation goals.

High altitude horse use and early horse transport in eastern Eurasia: New evidence from melting ice

While few places on earth have been as deeply impacted by the human-horse relationship as the steppes of Mongolia and eastern Eurasia, gaps in the archaeological record have made it strikingly difficult to trace when and how the first domestic horses were integrated into ancient societies in this key region of the world. Recently, organic materials preserved in melting mountain ice have emerged as a key source of archaeological insight into the region’s deep past. Newly-identified artefacts recovered from melting snow and ice in the Altai Mountain range of western Mongolia (including metal artefacts, skeletal remains, and hoof fragments) provide archaeological evidence for the use of horses at high altitudes from the Bronze Age through the 20th century. Direct radiocarbon dating and genomic sequencing demonstrate the presence of Przewalski’s horse in the region during the early second millennium BCE, suggesting that this taxon may have once foraged at high altitudes frequented by human hunters. Importantly, directly-dated remains of horse hoof trimmings provide some of the oldest direct evidence of horse transport in the Eastern Steppe as early as the 14th century BCE, and suggest a role for high-mountain hunting in the innovation of reliable mounted riding.

Temporal heterogeneity in climatic responses of four tree species in the Altai Mountains, northwest China

Temporal heterogeneity in climatic responses of four tree species in the Altai Mountains, northwest China

A system-integrated approach for the design of tourist areas at the local level under changing conditions: A case study in the Altay Mountains

The existing approaches for the design of tourist areas often lead to limited flexibility in project implementation. To realize a more flexible approach, in this study, we formulated a model for planning and designing tourist areas at the local level. Moreover, specific tools for analyzing tourist areas and ensuring sustainable development under changing conditions were developed. This study was conducted in two tourist regions, Biryuzovaya Katun tourist complex and Belokurikha destination (including Belokurikha City with Belokurikha 2 Gornaya tourist complex and surrounding areas), in the Altay Mountains. We employed the recreation opportunity spectrum and proposed a system-integrated programming approach for the design of tourist areas at the destination and site levels. The key of this approach was the collection and analysis of current spatial data, including the spatial distribution of attractions and visitor flows. We constructed heat maps using video recording and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) observation data. Moreover, we analyzed the video stream using an image-analyzing framework You Only Look Once (YOLO) v5 software. The heat map of visitor flows based on video recording data in the Andreevskaya Sloboda museum of Belokurikha 2 Gornaya tourist complex allowed us to highlight the most attractive sites in this area and classify them into one of three types: points of functional concentration, points of transitional concentration, and points of attractions. The heat maps in Biryuzovaya Katun tourist complex, created using UAV observation data, allowed us to determine the spatiotemporal patterns of visitor flows and tourists’ preferences throughout the day within four time intervals: 09:00–12:00, 13:00–14:00, 14:00–15:00, and 16:00–18:00 (LST). The maximum visitor flow density occurred from 16:00 to 18:00 in the beach area of the artificial lake. A comparison between the visitor-concentrated sites and the current facilities provided insights into the demand for attractions and facilities and the lacking areas. Heat maps are useful in analyzing the land use at the site level, while zoning based on the recreation opportunity spectrum can be used to design tourist areas at the destination level. The proposed methods for analyzing the use of tourist areas contribute to the development of adaptive tourism design.

Dynamic of the B Chromosome System in the Population of the Korean Field Mouse Apodemus peninsulae (Mammalia, Rodentia) in the Northern Region of the Pritelets Taiga of the Altai Mountains over a 36-Year Period

Dynamic of the B Chromosome System in the Population of the Korean Field Mouse Apodemus peninsulae (Mammalia, Rodentia) in the Northern Region of the Pritelets Taiga of the Altai Mountains over a 36-Year Period

Burial of the final stage of culture of the early Scythian period in Northern Altai

The article deals with materials excavated from kurgan No.35 of burial & memorial Choburak-I, their introduction into the scholarly discourse and cultural & chronological interpretation. This monument includes sites of various chronological periods and lays on the right bank of the Katun River. It lays south from landa Village, Chemalsky District, the Altai Republic. The monument was researched by the archaeological expedition of the Altai State University. The above-ground structure of kurgan No. 35 is a quite large mound fringed by a crepidoma. The grave is relatively shallow and found with an intact buried body. The body lays straight on the back in the burial chamber tiled with rocks. The body heads North-West. There are few accompanying tools discovered by excavations, namely a whetstone, a bronze knife and bone arrowheads. The burial ritual is explored and analyzed. The analysis shows that the site in the focus of the research is foreign to the mountainous Altai monuments of the Early Scythian due to the range of features. Morphological features of the tools and their available equivalents indicate that kurgan No. 35 was established in the late 7th through 6th century BC. Two samples are exposed to radiocarbon analysis in different laboratories. The findings support this chronology. Based on the determined dating and layout of the site researched it can be dated back to the late Biykenskaya culture. When it comes to the cultural attribution of the site, it is necessary to refer to the debatable issues of reconstructing the history of Altai population at the turn of the early Scythian and Pazyryk periods. The existing materials analyzed allow to assume that kurgan No. 35, as well as a range of other similar burials, is associated with the new groups of people arriving from neighboring areas in the 7th century BC. The study implies the features of a few more burials of Choburak-I necropolis established in the same time. Therefore, the research assumes that the Biykenskaya culture nomads used to come in contact with the Mayemirskaya culture tribes for the Altai North-West foothills

Elite of «Loufan» tribe lived on the Ordos plateau and its connections with Zhao and Qin states

In the late 20 century, archaeologists discovered some burial sites of the barbarian elite in the Ordos Plateau dated to 3rd century BC (late Warring States period). Among them Aluchaideng, Sigoupan M2 and Nalingaotu tombs contained burial goods made of precious metals in the style of Pazyryk and Sagly cultures in Altai-Sayan mountain region. There were finials with figures of an upstanding eagle and a hoofed eagle-headed deer-horned phantastic animal with bird heads at the tips of its horns (“hoofed griffin”), a torc with lying animals facing each other. Other items with ‘hoofed griffin’ images and images of a griffin with deer horns and feline body were collected here. There were also ornaments with images of a ram with the twisted body wrapped around its head, ‘swirling’ griffinheads, rooster heads, waterfowls, full-face ‘smiling’ cat heads, flame-shaped figures with ‘commas’ inside. All of the above mentioned artifacts and images have exclusive analogies in Pazyryk culture. As far back as in 1999, the author suggested that the elite of Ordos nomads of 3rd century BC constituted common religious and, possibly, ethnic unity with the Pazyryk people. New discoveries of Pazyryk culture kurgans in the south of Mongolian Altai support a idea that the Ordos part of the Pazyryk people might have connected with Mountain Altai directly via Alashan and Transaltai Gobi stony deserts bypassing foreign peoples of Mongolian Plateau and the Hexi Corridor. According to Shiji, people (or its elite) occupying the Ordos Plateau since 4th–3rd up to late 2nd centuries BC were known by the name “Loufan”, and in early 3rd century BC the Loufan people were controlled by the state of Zhao. As the written sources and archaeological evidence suggest, in the 3rd century BC, the north-east part of the Ordos Plateau (where the burials in question are located) was the area claimed by Zhao and Qin states; therefore, the barbarian tribes of the north-east of the Ordos Plateau should have been closely intertwined with these states. These relations are proven by Pazyryk-Ordos style artifacts manufactured in Qin and Zhao and found in barbarian tombs, as well as similar objects discovered in the Qin, Zhao and Yan territories. In Sigoupan M2 tomb were found such items bearing Chinese inscriptions of Zhao and Qin states. A large number of similar inscribed artifacts manufactured in Zhao found in Xinzhuantou M30 noble tomb in the Lower Capital of Yan state. It supports the theory that the Ordos barbarians were called Loufan, since as per written sources, Loufan people were included in both Zhao’s and Yan’s administrative systems. Some items identical to the M30 artifacts were found in tombs of Zhao dynasty members in Handan. In tomb of bronze caster of late Warring States period in Xi’an were found ceramic models made for casting bronze or gold decorative plaques in Pazyryk-Ordos style. However, some pictures in this style were represented on artifacts found in the tomb of Qin State Queen Dowager Xia (died in 240 BC). Artifacts with images of “hoofed griffin” are found among Qin state artifacts in Shuihude M47 and Shangwangqun M1 tombs dated to late Warring States period. Moreover, in Xi’an were also found two roof tile-ends with images of a sacred Pazyryk ‘hoofed griffin’ with twisted body. These tiles obviously belonged to luxurious mansion of Warring States period. These artifacts suggest that the Ordos Loufans did not only maintained cultural communication with the Qin state, but also became part of its people.

Transient Modeling of Permafrost Distribution From 1986 to 2016 in Mongolia

ABSTRACTThe distribution of permafrost in the southernmost zones is complicated in both time and space. We assessed this complexity by applying transient heat transfer schemes to model permafrost in Mongolia between 1986 and 2016. The modeling took into account the spatial distribution of soil thermal properties and time series of ground temperature profiles observed at 69 borehole sites. Spatial modeling was forced by downscaled ERA5 air temperatures that were further debiased with local meteorological records. The results indicated that permafrost warmed by 0°C to 0.4°C/decade, most significantly in eastern and northern Hangai and at high elevations in the Altai Mountains. The extent of permafrost remained stable, but the active layer was thickened, especially after the late 1990s. Forested wet soils experienced less warming, while temperatures in soils with low organic matter and low moisture content increased by 0.5°C over the modeling period. The lower limits of mountain permafrost were estimated to be between 1320 and 2030 m a.s.l., depending on the latitude. Our permafrost map allows the delineation of a complex distribution of permafrost in Mongolia, which is strongly controlled by the spatially complex topography, landcovers, and soil wetness.

Пион уклоняющийся (Paeonia anomala L.) флоры Алтая в условиях Кировска (Мурманская область)

The results of comparison study of two ecotypes (foothills and high mountain) of Paeonia anomala L. the most typical for the Mountain Altai in Kirovsk (Murmansk region) are presented. It has been stated that while introduced in PABGI, this plants pass complete cycle of growth and development, bear fruit. The findings of investigations processed indicate a good adaptation of this species. The special features of seasons rhythm, ontogenesis of plants, germination of seeds of these ecotypes under the conditions of culture were found. The comparative study feature of growth conditions in situ and ex situ, season rhythms, ontogenesis of plants this ecotypes, gave the possibility to determine optimal conditions for growing that plants under introduction in Khibiny mountains of the Kola peninsula. The findings of investigations processed indicate a good adaptation of the plants of high mountains ecotypes in Kola North. The recommendations on the reproduction and cultivation that plants are given.

Re-evaluating the origins of sands in the Gurbantunggut Desert and its role as an aeolian dust contributor

We analyzed the trace and rare earth element contents of the desert sands and loess deposits in the Junggar Basin. Combined with previously published data, and using principal component analysis, our results provide insights into the sand provenances of the Gurbantunggut Desert in eastern Central Asia (CA); the genetic links between deserts and loess deposits in CA; and the specific sources in CA for the aeolian dust in North Pacific Ocean sediments. The results demonstrate the spatial heterogeneity of the geochemistry of sand across the Gurbantunggut Desert. The desert sands in the northern and western parts of this desert are mainly derived from the Altai and Junggar mountains, respectively, as supported by the directions of sand fluxes. However, Beitashan Mountain makes a negligible contribution due to the lack of fluvial transport and westward sand fluxes. However, more sediment samples need to be collected to confirm the contribution of Tianshan Mountains. Our findings also indicate that the Gurbantunggut Desert did not contribute significantly to loess accumulation on the northern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains, in accordance with the weak genetic relationships between loess deposits and deserts in western CA. We attribute this to the limited ability of the CA deserts to produce and supply dust-sized particles. Additionally, using the Metropolis-Hastings sampling approach, we find that the Gurbantunggut Desert is not the source region in CA for the fine dust particles in North Pacific Ocean sediments. Overall, our results contribute to a deeper understanding of the aeolian systems in CA and their impacts on the dust cycle at a hemispheric scale.

Phenomenon of Early Upper Palaeolithic Bladelet Assemblages in the Altai Mountains

Purpose. The present study is devoted to the analysis, systematization, verification and generalization of data on “Aurignacian-like” bladelet assemblages of the Early Upper Palaeolithic of the Altai. In the regional context, this luminous phenomenon is considered the main component of the technocomplex of the Ust-Karakolian cultural tradition and even a cultural marker.Results. The study was based on the analysis of archaeological material from known Early Upper Palaeolithic sites in the region, published and archival data containing information on the chronology, stratigraphy and planography of the industries. As a result, the data on the bladelet component of the Ust-Karakolian complexes from Altai, their industrial and spatial contexts have been updated and supplemented. Materials from the Ust-Karakol-1 (excavation 1, horizon B) and Anui-2 (excavation 2, horizon B) sites were found to be the reference for preservation and information of this industrial group. In both cases, the bladelet strategy dominates the assemblage, clearly standing out against the back-ground of non-specialized blade and flake production. The age of the industry was determined to be around 37–34 thousand cal. BP using previously published and new radiocarbon dating data.Conclusion. According to the obtained data, the main problems of identification and research of the Ust-Karakolian sites in Altai are related to the peculiarities of the conditions of their formation. They were determined by the processes of active slope formation, which led to deformation, fragmentation or complete destruction of the original archaeological structures.

Horse equipment of the Pazyryk culture of Mongolia

In this date 50 burial structures of the Pazyryk culture were excavated in the western region of the Mongolian Altai Mountains between 2005 and 2018. This research focused on examining the riding horse equipment unearthed from these structures. The significance of this study lies in it’s ability to provide a comprehensive overview of a specific aspect of the Pazyryk culture in the Mongolian Altai region, achieved through comparative analysis with riding horse equipment discovered in adjacent regions. This comparative approach offers valuable insights into the regional variations and cultural nuances within the broader context of the Pazyryk culture. Furthermore, this research serves as a foundation for future investigations aiming to elucidate the broader significance of the documented artifacts and materials. Specifically, it has the potential to contribute significantly to the understanding of ancient nomadic horse culture. By building upon this groundwork, scholars can further explore and interpret the multifaceted aspects of horserelated practices, technologies, and symbolism prevalent among the ancient nomadic societies inhabiting the Eurasian steppes.

Study on the Expansion Potential of Artificial Oases in Xinjiang by Coupling Geomorphic Features and Hierarchical Clustering

The study of the expansion potential of artificial oases based on remote sensing data is of great significance for the rational allocation of water resources and urban planning in arid areas. Based on the spatio-temporal relationship between morphogenetic landform types and the development of artificial oases in Xinjiang, this study explored the development pattern of artificial oases in the past 30 years by using trend analysis and centroid migration analysis, constructing a series of landform–artificial oasis change indices, and investigating the suitability of different landforms for the development of artificial oases based on geomorphological location by adopting a hierarchical clustering method. The following conclusions are drawn: (1) From 1990 to 2020, the area of artificial oases in the whole territory continued to increase, with significant expansion to the south from 2005 to 2010. (2) Six categories of landform types for artificial oasis development were created based on the clustering results. Of these, 7.39% and 6.15% of the area’s geomorphological types belonged to the first and second suitability classes, respectively. (3) The optimal scale for analyzing the suitability of landforms for the development of artificial oases over the past 30 years in the whole area was 8 km, which could explain more than 96% of the changes in the growth of artificial oases. The distribution of landforms of first- and second-class suitability within the 8 km buffer zone of an artificial oasis in the year 2020 was 10.55% and 9.90%, respectively, and landforms of first-class suitability were mainly concentrated in the near plain side of the urban agglomerations located on the northern and southern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains, and the urban agglomerations at the southern edge of Altai Mountains. This study quantified the potential of different geomorphological types for the development of artificial oases and provided a basis for site selection in future artificial oasis planning and urban construction.

Selection assessment of promising forms of natural Hippophae rhamnoides (Elaeagnaceae) populations and their offspring in the Kazakhstan Altai Mountains

Abstract. Vdovina TA, Isakova EA, Lagus OA, Sumbembayev AA. 2024. Selection assessment of promising forms of natural Hippophae rhamnoides (Elaeagnaceae) populations and their offspring in the Kazakhstan Altai Mountains. Biodiversitas 25: 1809-1822. This article presents the results of studying the genetic diversity of sea buckthorn, Hippophae rhamnoides L. in natural populations of the East Kazakhstan region. This made it possible to identify valuable forms based on which targeted breeding work was carried out. Selection work has shown that this species has a unique gene pool. As a result of the analytical selection of H. rhamnoides in the first, second, and third generations, promising seedlings were obtained: ´Podarok Bajtulinu Sh-9-81 (4-6) II´, ´Jubilejnaja Kotuhova T-2-82 (2-22) III´, ´Dolgozhdannaja ?5 (3-24) III´, ´Shetlastinka ?7 (2-24) III´, ´Nesravnennaja Sh-9-81 (3-27) III´, ´Krasavica Sh-9-81 (3-30) III´, ´Solnyshko Sh-12-81 (1-18) III´ with high yield, large fruits, long stalk and low fruit tearing force. Among the male plants, the following forms are distinguished: ´Gustoj Tuman T-2-82 (1-24) III´, ´Ljubimec T-17-82 (2-20) III´, ´Krasavchik K-8-82 (1-34) III´, ´Bogatyr' T-17-82 (2-20) III´ with high winter hardiness and pollen productivity. A scale has been developed for the force of fruit separation and the density of the “cob” for local forms. A selection achievement (variety) patent was received for the ´Jubilejnaja Kotuhova´ form. The next two forms (´Shetlastinka´ and ´Podarok Bajtulinu´) pass the state test for economic usefulness. The richest gene pool of sea buckthorn in the Altai mountainous country indicates its high heterogeneity.

Investigation of 200 anthropogenic activities in a representative alpine peatland in the Altay Mountains, northwestern China

Peatlands records can be used to reconstruct and understand the history of environmental evolution, as well as a more accurate reflection of human activities. The black carbon (BC) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ideal natural archives of anthropogenic activities. To identify the information of anthropogenic activities recorded by peatlands in the middle and high latitudes of the alpine mountains in the arid and semi-arid regions of China. this study analyzed the concentrations of BC, δ13C ratios of BC, PAHs, and molecular diagnostic ratios of PHAs (including Benzo(a) anthracene (BaA), Chrysene (Chr), fluoranthene (Flt), anthracene (Ant), phenanthrene (Phe), Benzo(a) pyrene (BaP), and pyrene (Pyr) in a 30-cm peat profile from the Altay Mountain, northwestern China. Our results revealed concentrations of BC from 11.71 to 67.5 mg·g−1, and PAHs from 168.09 to 263.53 ng·g−1. The δ13CBC value ranged from − 31.37 to − 26.27‰, with an average of − 29.54‰, indicating that the BC mainly comes from biomass combustion. The ratios of BaA/(BaA + Chr), Flt/(Flt + Pyr), and Ant/(Ant + Phe) exceeded 0.35, 0.5, and 0.1, respectively, revealing that the PAHs pollutants mainly originated from the combustion of biomass and fossil fuel burning. Furthermore, based on these findings and our knowledge of social development in Altay, industrial transport and tourism have influenced the emission, transport, and deposition of BC and PAH in peatlands in the Altay mountains since the 1980s. After 1980, pollutant concentrations decreased with the implementation of environmental policies. The results not only reveal the influence of anthropogenic activities on the sedimentary characteristics of peatlands in the Altay Mountains, but also provide an important theoretical basis for the conservation of fragile mountain peatlands.

Water Stable Isotopes in the Central Altai Mountainous Rivers as Indicator of Glacier Meltwater Fraction in Runoff

We used stable water isotopes (δ18O and δ2H) to identify the fractions of glacier meltwater and summer precipitation in the runoff in the Taldura River in the Altai mountains. The mean isotopic characteristics of glacier ice, snow, summer precipitation and river water were obtained. Using isotopic separation of hydrographs, we determined that glacier feeding completely prevails throughout the Taldura River in the middle of the ablation season. In general, the fraction of glacier meltwater in the Taldura River’s runoff in the ablation season varies from 80% to 95% depending on local weather conditions.

Tectonic geomorphology and Quaternary slip history of the Fuyun fault, southwestern Altai Mountains, central Asia

The northwest-trending Altai Mountains of central Asia expose a complex network of thrust and strike-slip faults that are key features accommodating intracontinental crustal shortening related to the Cenozoic India-Asia collision. In this study, we investigated the Quaternary slip history of the Fuyun fault, a right-lateral strike-slip fault bounding the southwestern margin of the Altai Mountains, through geologic mapping, geomorphic surveying, and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) geochronology. At the Kuoyibagaer site, the Fuyun fault displaces three generations of Pleistocene–Holocene fill-cut river terraces (i.e., T3, T2, and T1) containing landslide and debris-flow deposits. The right-lateral offsets are magnified by erosion of terrace risers, suggesting that river course migration has been faster than slip along the Fuyun fault. The highest Tp2 terrace was abandoned in the middle Pleistocene (150.4 ± 8.1 ka uppermost OSL age) and was displaced 145.5 +45.6/–12.1 m along the Fuyun fault, yielding a slip rate of 1.0 +0.4/–0.1 mm/yr since the middle Pleistocene. The lower Tp1 terrace was abandoned in the late Pleistocene and aggraded by landslides and debris flows in the latest Pleistocene–Holocene (36.7 ± 1.6 ka uppermost OSL age). Tp1 was displaced 67.5 +14.2/–6.1 m along the Fuyun fault, yielding a slip rate of 1.8 +0.5/–0.2 mm/yr since the late Pleistocene. Our preferred minimum slip rate of ~1 mm/yr suggests the Fuyun fault accommodates ~16% of the average geodetic velocity of ~6 mm/yr across the Altai Mountains. Integration of our new Fuyun slip rate with other published fault slip rates accounts for ~4.2 mm/yr of convergence across the Chinese Altai, or ~70% of the geodetic velocity field.

Research on the Spatiotemporal Characteristics of the Coupling Coordination Relationship of the Energy–Food–Water System in the Xinjiang Subregion

In the Xinjiang region, the sustainable management of water resources, energy, and food is crucial for regional development. This study establishes a coupling evaluation index for energy–food–water (EFW) systems from the perspectives of supply, consumption, and efficiency. Using an integrated EFM-CDD-RDD-CCDM approach, an assessment of the coupling and coordination levels of the EFW systems in 14 cities within Xinjiang was conducted for the period of 2004 to 2020. Additionally, the method of obstacle degree identification was utilized to determine the main barriers affecting the EFW systems. Key findings included the following. (1) In terms of individual system coordination indices, the water resource systems exhibited overall higher coordination (ranging from 0.30 to 0.72) with comparatively minor spatial variability, while the energy (from 0.18 to 0.81) and food (from 0.12 to 0.83) systems showed greater temporal and spatial fluctuations. From 2004 to 2020, improvements were observed in the coordination of food and water resource systems, whereas a decline was noted in the coordination of the energy subsystem. (2) Prior to 2011, the coupling of food–water and energy–food systems showed an upward trend, whereas the energy–water coupling decreased annually by 2.62%, further highlighting the tensions between energy development and water resource constraints in Xinjiang. (3) The comprehensive coupling coordination index of the Xinjiang EFW systems ranged between 0.59 and 0.80; between 2004 and 2020, there was an oscillatory increase. From 2004 to 2016, the coupling and coordination degree across the municipalities generally improved, with the regions on the western side and southern slope of the Tianshan Mountains, the Altai Mountains, and the northwestern edge of the Junggar Basin exhibiting the highest levels, followed by the three prefectures in southern Xinjiang. (4) The EFW obstacle degree posed by the food systems in Xinjiang and its divisions showed a decreasing trend from 2004 to 2020, with the energy system identified as the main factor affecting the coupling and coordination degrees of the EFW systems (increasing by 44% to 52%). Therefore, it is imperative to accelerate the energy transition and optimization in the lead energy development and production areas of Xinjiang. This research provides a scientific basis for Xinjiang’s sustainable development strategies and highlights potential directions for the future optimization of resource management.

Structure of high elevation forests in Katunsky Range (the Altai Mountains)

Structure of high elevation forests in Katunsky Range (the Altai Mountains)

Altai Mountains – cradle of hybrids and introgressants: A case study in Veronica subg. Pseudolysimachium (Plantaginaceae)

AbstractMountains form a diverse mosaic of microhabitats over small distances created by changes in climate, soil, and water availability. A key to adaptation of plants to such microhabitats is genetic variation; however, natural accumulation of genetic variation through mutation is slow and often not sufficient alone. Adaptive introgression via hybridization is an alternative to generate genetic variation. Here, we investigate hybridization and discuss its adaptive role in Veronica subg. Pseudolysimachium at their Altai Mountains distribution. To support our hypotheses of frequent hybridization, we genotyped thousands of SNPs for 233 individuals from 10 species and 7 putative hybrids previously described based on morphology. We employed Bayesian and likelihood statistical models and supported our results by morphometric analysis and genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). The results suggest that almost all the individuals of the putative hybrids are of F1 type. The GISH investigation in one case strongly supports homoploid hybridization (origin of V. ×schmakovii from V. longifolia and V. porphyriana. Divergence times of Altai Veronica species are estimated to be within 1–2 million years ago with high probability of gene flow over that time. Our results also demonstrate that the direction of gene flow is mainly from the locally endemic V. porphyriana. We hypothesize that the large Siberian plains and topographically diverse foreland of the Altai Mountains provide an ideal setting for hybridization with the potential for adaptive introgression of alleles conferring tolerance to cooler climates, to the lowland species migrating into the Altai Mountains.