Exploration of migration directions in different populations of Eothenomys miletus in the Hengduan Mountains of Yunnan Province: a genome-based analysis

Eothenomys miletus is an endemic species that inhabits the Hengduan Mountain regions (HDR) and serves as one of the primary hosts for plague and hantaviruses. While the physiological characteristics of E. miletus have been extensively studied, the molecular aspects, particularly the migration direct...

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Main Authors: Yanfei Cai, Ting Jia, Wanlong Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2025.1533205/full
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author Yanfei Cai
Ting Jia
Wanlong Zhu
Wanlong Zhu
Wanlong Zhu
author_facet Yanfei Cai
Ting Jia
Wanlong Zhu
Wanlong Zhu
Wanlong Zhu
author_sort Yanfei Cai
collection DOAJ
description Eothenomys miletus is an endemic species that inhabits the Hengduan Mountain regions (HDR) and serves as one of the primary hosts for plague and hantaviruses. While the physiological characteristics of E. miletus have been extensively studied, the molecular aspects, particularly the migration direction of E. miletus, remain unclear. In the present study, we utilized genomic data to investigate the migration direction of four populations: Ailaoshan (ALS), Jiangchuan (JC), Lijiang (LJ), and Deqin (DQ), which are distributed from south to north within the HDR. Our results indicated that the ALS population is positioned at the base of the phylogenetic tree, and admixture analysis revealed that the ALS population is more closely related to the JC and DQ populations. Integrate the molecular genetic structure, fossil records of E. miletus as well as the results of our research, we inferred that the migration direction of E. miletus may have been from south to north, suggesting that the DQ and JC populations may have originated from the migration of ALS. However, the migration patterns and origins of the LJ population require further investigation and discussion. Additionally, we focused on identifying genomic signatures of selection and local adaptation among the different populations. We identified three selected genes associated with the olfactory placode in DQ: Six1, Six4, and Sox2. We hypothesized that these genes may be linked to the DQ population’s adaptation to the region’s microclimate. In summary, the present study is the first to employ genomics to explore the migration direction of E. miletus, which is crucial for future research on the origins of Eothenomys.
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spelling doaj-art-ed187f2409854934bf81c8efea376cd42025-01-28T13:32:05ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2025-01-011310.3389/fevo.2025.15332051533205Exploration of migration directions in different populations of Eothenomys miletus in the Hengduan Mountains of Yunnan Province: a genome-based analysisYanfei Cai0Ting Jia1Wanlong Zhu2Wanlong Zhu3Wanlong Zhu4Key Laboratory of Ecological Adaptive Evolution and Conservation on Animals-Plants in Southwest Mountain Ecosystem of Yunnan Province Higher Institutes College, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, ChinaKey Laboratory of Ecological Adaptive Evolution and Conservation on Animals-Plants in Southwest Mountain Ecosystem of Yunnan Province Higher Institutes College, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, ChinaKey Laboratory of Ecological Adaptive Evolution and Conservation on Animals-Plants in Southwest Mountain Ecosystem of Yunnan Province Higher Institutes College, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, ChinaKey Laboratory of Yunnan Province for Biomass Energy and Environment Biotechnology, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, ChinaEothenomys miletus is an endemic species that inhabits the Hengduan Mountain regions (HDR) and serves as one of the primary hosts for plague and hantaviruses. While the physiological characteristics of E. miletus have been extensively studied, the molecular aspects, particularly the migration direction of E. miletus, remain unclear. In the present study, we utilized genomic data to investigate the migration direction of four populations: Ailaoshan (ALS), Jiangchuan (JC), Lijiang (LJ), and Deqin (DQ), which are distributed from south to north within the HDR. Our results indicated that the ALS population is positioned at the base of the phylogenetic tree, and admixture analysis revealed that the ALS population is more closely related to the JC and DQ populations. Integrate the molecular genetic structure, fossil records of E. miletus as well as the results of our research, we inferred that the migration direction of E. miletus may have been from south to north, suggesting that the DQ and JC populations may have originated from the migration of ALS. However, the migration patterns and origins of the LJ population require further investigation and discussion. Additionally, we focused on identifying genomic signatures of selection and local adaptation among the different populations. We identified three selected genes associated with the olfactory placode in DQ: Six1, Six4, and Sox2. We hypothesized that these genes may be linked to the DQ population’s adaptation to the region’s microclimate. In summary, the present study is the first to employ genomics to explore the migration direction of E. miletus, which is crucial for future research on the origins of Eothenomys.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2025.1533205/fullEothenomys miletusphylogenetic analysisadmixturemigrationadaptation
spellingShingle Yanfei Cai
Ting Jia
Wanlong Zhu
Wanlong Zhu
Wanlong Zhu
Exploration of migration directions in different populations of Eothenomys miletus in the Hengduan Mountains of Yunnan Province: a genome-based analysis
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
Eothenomys miletus
phylogenetic analysis
admixture
migration
adaptation
title Exploration of migration directions in different populations of Eothenomys miletus in the Hengduan Mountains of Yunnan Province: a genome-based analysis
title_full Exploration of migration directions in different populations of Eothenomys miletus in the Hengduan Mountains of Yunnan Province: a genome-based analysis
title_fullStr Exploration of migration directions in different populations of Eothenomys miletus in the Hengduan Mountains of Yunnan Province: a genome-based analysis
title_full_unstemmed Exploration of migration directions in different populations of Eothenomys miletus in the Hengduan Mountains of Yunnan Province: a genome-based analysis
title_short Exploration of migration directions in different populations of Eothenomys miletus in the Hengduan Mountains of Yunnan Province: a genome-based analysis
title_sort exploration of migration directions in different populations of eothenomys miletus in the hengduan mountains of yunnan province a genome based analysis
topic Eothenomys miletus
phylogenetic analysis
admixture
migration
adaptation
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2025.1533205/full
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