Recently, researchers from the State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystem, Institute of Innovation Ecology & College of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University jointly published three high-level research papers in international excellent journals in botany. These papers showed the research results in evolutionary ecology of newly established Institute of Innovation Ecology, Lanzhou University.

1. “Incomplete lineage sorting rather than hybridization explains the inconsistent phylogeny of the wisent” was published in a Nature Research journal Communications Biology.

Cattle species, including yellow cattle, yaks, bison in North America and bison in Europe, are key species in grassland ecosystems all over the world. But the evolutionary history of this group has not been clear. Researchers from State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystem, and Institute of Innovation Ecology, Lanzhou University worked with researchers from the University of Utrecht and the University of Georgia to elucidate the evolutionary history of cattle species using population genome data, and found that the reproductive isolation between species was incomplete. Frequent gene flow exists between all species. However, incomplete lineage screening of mitochondrial genome during the evolution of this group may lead to inconsistent phylogenetic relationships between mitochondrial genome and nuclear genome as well as morphological characteristics of European bison. This study not only constructed the evolutionary relationship of the key species of the family, but also developed a new statistical method to analyze the evidence of various evolutionary conflicts, which provided a new research paradigm for future research.

2. “Trans-lineage polymorphism and nonbifurcating diversification of the genus Picea” was published in New Phytologist (IF =7.4).

Picea species are the constructive species of forest ecosystem in the north temperate zone. They play an important role in the protection of biodiversity and the maintenance of green mountains and waters in the western mountainous areas of China. However, the process of species diversity in this genus has not been well understood. Researchers from the State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystem, Institute of Innovation Ecology & College of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, together with researchers from the University of Edinburgh and other institutions, used genomic data to study the evolutionary relationships of 35 individuals in 27 taxa of the genus, and found that gene flows between species were frequent. Moreover, gene flow also exists between the main lineage branches with long differentiation, which indicates that there may not be strict bifid species differentiation in this genus.

3. “Genome sequence and genetic transformation of a widely distributed and cultivated poplar” was published in Plant Biotechnology Journal (IF =6.3)

Xinjiang poplar is an excellent tree species which is selected from the wild population of Populus Alba distributed in Central Asia. It is widely planted in Gansu, Xinjiang, Ningxia and other northern areas. It is widely used in farmland protection forest construction in rural areas, and in urban areas for greening. Researchers from the State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystem, Institute of Innovation Ecology & College of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University comprehensively analyzed the genome sequence of the tree species, preliminarily discussed its adaptability mechanism to the arid environment in Western China, established a genetically modified system. These results provided a research basis for the future selection of more excellent tree species and the use of this species to establish a model system for studying the biological characteristics of trees..

As a newly established research institute in Lanzhou university, these publications are the preliminary achievement of the Institute of Innovation Ecology. It has not only established a good start for the follow-up work of the Institute of Innovation Ecology, but also increased confidence in the construction of "Double First-rate" and laid a solid foundation for further research on major theoretical issues in the field of ecology.

Article links

1.'Incomplete lineage sorting rather than hybridization explains the inconsistent phylogeny of the wisent'

2.'Trans-lineage polymorphism and non-bifurcating diversification of the genus Picea'

3.'Genome sequence and genetic transformation of a widely distributed and cultivated poplar '