Medium High Altitude Research Articles

Integration analysis of transcriptome and metabolome revealed the potential mechanism of spermatogenesis in Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries) at extreme high altitude

Testis has an indispensable function in male reproduction of domestic animals. Numerous genes and metabolites were related to testicular development and spermatogenesis. However, little is known about the biological regulation pathways associated with fecundity in male Tibetan sheep. In this study, Testes were collected from Huoba Tibetan sheep (HB, 4614 m) and Gangba Tibetan sheep (GB, 4401 m) at extreme high altitude, and Alpine Merino sheep (AM, 2500 m, control group) at medium-high altitude, investigating the genes and metabolites levels of them. The histological analysis of testicular tissue using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed for Tibetan sheep and Alpine Merino sheep, and the testes of them were analyzed by transcriptomics and metabolomics to explore the potential mechanism of testicular development and spermatogenesis. The statistical results showed that the cross-sectional area of testicular seminiferous tubules, diameter of seminiferous tubules, and spermatogenic epithelium thickness were significantly smaller in HB and GB than in AM (P < 0.05). Overall, 5648 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 336 differential metabolites (DMs) were identified in three sheep breeds, which were significantly enriched in spermatogenesis and other related pathways. According to integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, AMPK signaling pathway, and TCA cycle, were predicted to have dramatic effects on the spermatogenesis of Tibetan sheep. Several genes (including Wnt2, Rab3a, Sox9, Hspa8, and Slc38a2) and metabolites (including L-histidinol, Glucose, Fumaric acid, Malic acid, and Galactose) were significantly enriched in pathways related to testicular development and spermatogenesis, and might affect the reproduction of Tibetan sheep by regulating the acrosome reaction, meiotic gene expression, and the production of sex hormones. Our results provide further understanding of the key genes and metabolites involved in testicular development and spermatogenesis in Tibetan sheep.

Butterflies' biodiversity of Souk Ahras Forest (Mechroha and Ouled Driss North east of Algeria)

AbstractThis study investigated for the first time species richness, abundance of butterflies and disturbed habitats in Souk Ahras Forest. The assessment of butterflies' diversity and relative abundance was conducted from July 2019 to July 2021. We recorded 60,696 individuals of 49 butterfly species belonging to six families (Papilionidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, Hesperiidae and Sphingidae). Nymphalidae was dominant by 19 species, followed by Lycaenidae 13 species, Pieridae 10 species, Hesperiidae 4 species, Papilionidae 2 species and diurnal moths ‘Sphingidae’ with only one species. The highest number of species was recorded in oaks groves (medium high altitude) with 35 species; in terms of abundance, grassland (low altitude) dominates in number (n = 20,094). The lowest species diversity (S = 7) and number of individuals (n = 1227) were recorded in the Dense tree stratum scrub station which records significant water pollution. We notice that the abundance of butterflies was important during the spring and summer periods but less important during the winter. Landscape composition and habitat influence butterfly diversity and their dynamics. Many species used more than one distinct habitat type, or just one special habitat; we suggest that vegetation cover is an important mechanism for butterfly diversity persistence in forest ecosystems mosaics.

Man-land relationship based on the spatial coupling of population and residential land – A case study of Yuzhong County in Longzhong Loess Hilly Region, China

Population and residential land use are the core elements of the rural man-land relationship system. The relationship between the rural population and residential land is of great significance to the study of the man-land relationship in rural regions. The Longzhong loess hilly region is one of the most vulnerable areas of social ecology and economy in China, with relatively poor natural conditions and economic development. In this paper, 268 administrative villages in Yuzhong County, Longzhong Loess Hilly Region, were used as evaluation units with spatial dislocation analysis methods to analyze the spatial distribution of population and residential land from a micro-spatial perspective. This shows the coupling relationship between population and residential land, and altitude gradient characteristics. Following conclusions are obtained: (1) Rural permanent residents, migrants, residential land area and idle homesteads show high spatial similarity. The areas with high density and geographic concentration are mainly concentrated in the central Chuanyuan area, and the areas with low ones are mainly distributed in the northern mountainous regions. (2) There is a highly coupled relationship between population and residential land in Yuzhong County. For the permanent population and residential land area, 89.18% of the administrative villages are in coordination, and 10.82% of the administrative villages are not coordinated. In terms of the proportion of the migrant population and the proportion of idle homesteads, 55.97% of the administrative villages are coordinated, and 44.03% of the administrative villages are not coordinated. (3) The altitude gradient effect on the “population-residential land” coupling relationship is significant. The permanent population and residential land area are mainly “H-H” type villages in low-altitude gradient areas, and “L-L” type villages in medium-high altitude gradient areas. The proportion of the outflow population and the proportion of idle homesteads of “L-L” type villages are the largest in low-altitude gradient areas, and that of “H-L” type villages are the largest in the middle and high-altitude gradient areas. This paper explored a new model of man-land relationship, and improved the theory of rural man-land relationship regional system. It is of great significance to promote the coordinated and sustainable development of loess hilly region and even the entire Loess Plateau in China.

Representations of the Avalanche Risk Among Winter Outdoor Activities Practitioners in the Vosges Mountains

Whereas numerous studies questioned the risk concept in France, few so far have focused on medium-high altitude avalanches, even though those occur on a regular basis. This article studies how winter outdoor activities practitioners apprehend avalanche risk in the Vosges Mountains (North-East of France). Our survey demonstrates that their perception of both the mountain environment and the avalanche risk is influenced by their culture of sports and mountains in general. Our analysis shows a diversity in knowledge and perception of the risk. However, a significant number of practitioners (including hikers, skiers or mountaineers) seem to have no culture at all of the avalanche risk, which prevents them from realising that they are exposed. As a consequence, one can say that this lack of feeling vulnerable has led to an absence of mental construction of the avalanche risk in the Vosges mountains.

Modeling Spatiotemporal Population Changes by Integrating DMSP-OLS and NPP-VIIRS Nighttime Light Data in Chongqing, China

The sustained growth of non-farm wages has led to large-scale migration of rural population to cities in China, especially in mountainous areas. It is of great significance to study the spatial and temporal pattern of population migration mentioned above for guiding population spatial optimization and the effective supply of public services in the mountainous areas. Here, we determined the spatiotemporal evolution of population in the Chongqing municipality of China from 2000–2018 by employing multi-period spatial distribution data, including nighttime light (NTL) data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program’s Operational Linescan System (DMSP-OLS) and the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (NPP-VIIRS). There was a power function relationship between the two datasets at the pixel scale, with a mean relative error of NTL integration of 8.19%, 4.78% less than achieved by a previous study at the provincial scale. The spatial simulations of population distribution achieved a mean relative error of 26.98%, improved the simulation accuracy for mountainous population by nearly 20% and confirmed the feasibility of this method in Chongqing. During the study period, the spatial distribution of Chongqing’s population has increased in the west and decreased in the east, while also increased in low-altitude areas and decreased in medium-high altitude areas. Population agglomeration was common in all of districts and counties and the population density of central urban areas and its surrounding areas significantly increased, while that of non-urban areas such as northeast Chongqing significantly decreased.

Geographical variation of the chemical composition in essential oils extracted from Sardinian Salvia verbenaca

Salvia verbenaca is a perennial herbaceous plant well appreciated as medicinal herb which can be found in Mediterranean area, Europe, Africa and Asia. In this study, S. verbenaca flowers and leaves were collected in six different geographical areas of Sardinia (Italy). Information about the variation of the chemical composition of plants grown in different locations were obtained from gas chromatography analysis of the extracted essential oils. Gas chromatography analysis detected 33 compounds, which have been grouped in oxygenated monoterpenes, monoterpene hydrocarbons, sesquiterpenes and other compounds. The chemical composition of each group resulted significantly affected by sampling site in terms of geography and altitude. Concerning the geographical distribution of the detected chemicals, sesquiterpenes were found in considerable amount in three localities, monoterpenes hydrocarbons in two and other compounds were predominant only in one site. Regarding the altitude level, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and other compounds were predominant, respectively, at medium and medium-high altitude.

LTE‐based multistatic passive radar system for UAV detection

Using the frequency-division duplex long-term evolution (LTE)-based multistatic passive radar system for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) detection is considered. The typical outdoor terrestrial LTE eNodeBs and the broadband direct air-to-ground communications network eNodeBs are used to cover the UAVs at the low altitude and at the medium-high altitude, respectively. The bistatic range measurements are obtained from multiple eNodeBs, and the hyperbolic positioning technique is used for target localisation. Since the existing LTE downlink signals are more suitable for the transmission of the communication data rather than target detection, a new LTE downlink signal feature termed as target localisation reference signals (TLRS) is designed exclusively for the passive radar application using the Costas frequency coding and the P4 phase coding. Compared with the existing LTE downlink signal features, the TLRS have better waveform properties and could potentially provide much higher target detection accuracy. Meanwhile, the TLRS occupy only 0.266% LTE downlink time–frequency resources within a time frame of 1 s when the bandwidth is 10 MHz and have no negative impact on the normal LTE downlink data transmission.

Effects of human impacts on diversity and distribution of chironomids (Diptera: Chironomidae) in prealpine springs

Diversity and distribution of chironomid fauna (Diptera: Chironomidae) in 36 springs in the Italian Prealps (Veneto and Trentino NE-Italy, 46°N, 10-11°E) was studied in relation to altitude, spring type and grade of disturbance. The springs were located between 62 and 1710 m asl of altitude, in three calcareous mountain areas (Mt. Baldo, Mts. Lessini and Mt. Pasubio). They differed in conservation status (natural, moderately and highly disturbed) and belonged to five hydromorphological types (rheocrene, limnocrene, rheohelocrene, rheolimnocrene, rheohygropetric). Each spring was surveyed once, between early summer and autumn, within 50 m of the spring’s source (eucrenal). A total of 4198 chironomid larvae and pupae were sorted from 111 macroinvertebrate samples collected, belonging to five subfamilies (Tanypodinae, Diamesinae, Prodiamesinae, Orthocladiinae and Chironominae), 41 genera and 60 species/groups of species, and three juveniles taxa. As expected, Orthocladiinae accounted for a large part of specimens (88%) and species (74%), with Tvetenia calvescens/bavarica as the most frequent and abundant taxon, shared by pristine and disturbed springs and by all spring types. Most taxa were found in few sites, and frequencies declined gradually for most wider distributed species. A high number (74%) of rare (= present in less than 10% of sites) taxa were found and from one to 23 taxa were identified per spring. Maximum richness occurred in moderately disturbed (Shannon-H = 1.29±0.60) springs, located at medium-high altitude (385-1266 m asl), according to the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. Even the evenness (Equitability-J) was higher as average in these springs. A Cluster Analysis run on Bray-Curtis similarity index highlighted a high similarity i) between the chironomid assemblages of moderately disturbed and natural springs (44 species in each spring group, with 29 species in common), and ii) between rheocrene and rheohelocrene types, thus the springs with the highest microhabitat heterogeneity. High individuality of springs was revealed, and new information about non-biting midges autecology provided. The utility of chironomids as bioindicators of water quality and ecological state of springs was confirmed, with some species e associated with high disturbance level (e.g., Polypedilum nubeculosum gr. to water intake works) and others with pristine conditions (e.g., Pseudodiamesa branickii).

Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Host Status and Relative Infestation of Selected Mango Cultivars in Three Agro Ecological Zones in Uganda

ABSTRACTDespite their economic importance, there is paucity of knowledge on fruit fly host status in Uganda. Therefore, this study set out to profile the host range of the main fruit fly pests and determine the susceptibility of selected fruits and mango cultivars across three main mango agro ecological zones, which included: Western Medium High Altitude Farmlands (WMHF), Lake Victoria Crescent (LVC), and the Northern Moist Farmlands (NMF) in Uganda. A wide range of fruits was sampled across the three zones. These were incubated at the National Agricultural Research Laboratories following standard protocols. Emerging fruit fly species were identified using standard keys and counted. Among the sampled fruits, 633 (35.0%) individual fruits from 15 plant families were positive for fruit fly infestation. Bactrocera invadens dominated (76.3%) of the positive samples, while infestation by native species, such as Ceratitis capitata and Ceratitis cosyra, was negligible. Annonaceae, Solanaceae, Rutaceae, and Anacardiaceae plant families recorded significantly more host species, while the number of pest fruit flies (species richness) per plant species followed a similar trend: Solanaceae > Rutaceae > Anacardiaceae. There was significant (P < 0.0001) variability in infestation among mango fruit cultivars, both within and across zones. When all zones were pooled together, Tommy Atkins and Kent, and Keitt, Kate, and Biire were the least and most infested, respectively. In conclusion, fruit flies have a diverse range of commercial and non-commercial hosts in Uganda. Strategies for fruit fly pest eradication in the country should ensure elimination or management of alternative fruit hosts and integration of tolerant mango cultivars in fruit development programs.

Study of low energy hadronic interaction models based on BESS observed cosmic ray proton and antiproton spectra at medium high altitude

We study low energy hadronic interaction models based on BESS observed cosmic ray proton and antiproton spectra at medium high altitude. Among the three popular low energy interaction models, we find that FLUKA reproduces the results of BESS observations on the secondary proton spectrum reasonably well over the whole observed energy range, the model UrQMD works well at relatively higher energies, whereas the spectrum obtained with GHEISHA differs significantly from the measured spectrum. The simulated antiproton spectrum with FLUKA, however, exhibits significant deviation from the BESS observation whereas UrQMD and GHEISHA reproduce the BESS observations within experimental error.

Adenosine deaminase-acid phosphatase association and the environment: A study in a continental Italian population.

Three hundred fifty newborns from Rome and 351 from Penne were studied in continental Italy. Medium high altitude above sea level and cold winters characterize the area of Penne, while low altitude and very mild winters characterize the area of Rome. An effect of environmental conditions on the association between adenosine deaminase (ADA) and acid phosphatase (ACP1), previously shown in Sardinia, has been confirmed in continental Italy. When compared with expected independent assortment, the proportion of ACP1*A/*A carrying the ADA*2 allele is lower than expected in the lowlands and higher than expected in highlands. In continental Italy there is an interaction among ACP1-ADA genotype, season of conception, and locality. The excess of *A/*A newborns carrying the ADA*2 allele is present only among those conceived in the first half of the year (January-June). Among newborns in Penne conceived in the Spring, the proportion of those with *A/*A genotype is increased and these infants show decreased intrauterine growth. The present data suggest that ADA and ACP1 interact during intrauterine life with effects on development and survival and that such effects are dependent on local environment and season of conception. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 12:214-220, 2000. Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.