scholarly journals How do Snow Partridge ( Lerwa lerwa ) and Tibetan Snowcock ( Tetraogallus tibetanus ) coexist in sympatry under high‐elevation conditions on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongyan Yao ◽  
Pengcheng Wang ◽  
Geoffrey Davison ◽  
Yong Wang ◽  
Philip J. K. McGowan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Tibetan Snowcock

scholarly journals Linking deeply-sourced volatile emissions to plateau growth dynamics in southeastern Tibetan Plateau

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maoliang Zhang ◽  
Zhengfu Guo ◽  
Sheng Xu ◽  
Peter H. Barry ◽  
Yuji Sano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Growth Dynamics ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Fault System ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Southeastern Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Surface Uplift ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Geodynamic Processes ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

AbstractThe episodic growth of high-elevation orogenic plateaux is controlled by a series of geodynamic processes. However, determining the underlying mechanisms that drive plateau growth dynamics over geological history and constraining the depths at which growth originates, remains challenging. Here we present He-CO2-N2 systematics of hydrothermal fluids that reveal the existence of a lithospheric-scale fault system in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau, whereby multi-stage plateau growth occurred in the geological past and continues to the present. He isotopes provide unambiguous evidence for the involvement of mantle-scale dynamics in lateral expansion and localized surface uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. The excellent correlation between 3He/4He values and strain rates, along the strike of Indian indentation into Asia, suggests non-uniform distribution of stresses between the plateau boundary and interior, which modulate southeastward growth of the Tibetan Plateau within the context of India-Asia convergence. Our results demonstrate that deeply-sourced volatile geochemistry can be used to constrain deep dynamic processes involved in orogenic plateau growth.

Roof of the World: Tibet, Pamirs

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Searle
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Tien Shan ◽  
Palm Tree ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
North West ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
The North ◽  
The World

The Tibetan Plateau is by far the largest region of high elevation, averaging just above 5,000 metres above sea level, and the thickest crust, between 70 and 90 kilometres thick, anywhere in the world. This huge plateau region is very flat—lying in the internally drained parts of the Chang Tang in north and central Tibet, but in parts of the externally drained eastern Tibet, three or four mountain ranges larger and higher than the Alps rise above the frozen plateau. Some of the world’s largest and longest mountain ranges border the plateau, the ‘flaming mountains’ of the Tien Shan along the north-west, the Kun Lun along the north, the Longmen Shan in the east, and of course the mighty Himalaya forming the southern border of the plateau. The great trans-Himalayan mountain ranges of the Pamir and Karakoram are geologically part of the Asian plate and western Tibet but, as we have noted before, unlike Tibet, these ranges have incredibly high relief with 7- and 8-kilometre-high mountains and deeply eroded rivers and glacial valleys. The western part of the Tibetan Plateau is the highest, driest, and wildest area of Tibet. Here there is almost no rainfall and rivers that carry run-off from the bordering mountain ranges simply evaporate into saltpans or disappear underground. Rivers draining the Kun Lun flow north into the Takla Makan Desert, forming seasonal marshlands in the wet season and a dusty desert when the rivers run dry. The discovery of fossil tropical leaves, palm tree trunks, and even bones from miniature Miocene horses suggest that the climate may have been wetter in the past, but this is also dependent on the rise of the plateau. Exactly when Tibet rose to its present elevation is a matter of great debate. Nowadays the Indian Ocean monsoon winds sweep moisture-laden air over the Indian sub-continent during the summer months (late June–September). All the moisture is dumped as the summer monsoon, the torrential rains that sweep across India from south-east to north-west.

Propagating uplift controls on formation of low-relief, high-elevation surfaces in the SE Tibetan Plateau

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoping Yuan ◽  
Kimberly Huppert ◽  
Jean Braun ◽  
Laure Guerit
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Step Change ◽  
Loss Mechanism ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Horizontal Advection ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Relief Surface ◽  
Deposition Processes ◽  
Three Rivers

<p>The SE Tibetan Plateau has extensive broad, low-relief, high-elevation surfaces perched above deep valleys, as well as in the headwaters of the three rivers (the Salween, the Mekong, and the Yangtze). However, understanding the presence of these low-relief surfaces is a long-standing challenge because their formation process remains highly debated. While alternate mechanisms have been proposed to explain the low-relief surface formation in this setting (e.g., drainage-area loss mechanism due to horizontal advection; Yang et al., 2015, Nature), a long-standing hypothesis for the formation of low-relief surfaces is by a step change in uplift and incision into a pre-existing, low-relief surface (Clark et al., 2006, JGR; Whipple et al., 2017, Geology).</p><p>The morphology of low-relief surfaces in the SE Tibetan Plateau is largely consistent with formation by a step change in uplift, but one problem with this model is that low-relief surfaces formed by a step change in uplift are relatively short-lived, since they are incised and steepened by erosion, which sweeps upstream at the response time of mountain ranges (in the order of several million years). Using a landscape evolution model that combines erosion, sediment transport and deposition processes (Yuan et al., 2019, JGR), we demonstrate that propagating uplift form large parallel rivers, with broad low-relief, high-elevation interfluves that persist for tens to hundreds of million years, consistent with various dated ages. These low-relief surfaces can be long-lived because the drainage areas in these interfluves are insufficient to keep up with rapid incision of the large parallel mainstem rivers. Our simulated features match various observations in the SE Tibetan Plateau: (i) low-relief surfaces are approximately co-planar in headwaters, and decrease in elevation smoothly from northwest to southeast across the plateau margin; (ii) χ-elevation plots of the mainstem rivers are convex; (iii) low-relief surfaces have low erosion rates; and (iv) erosion rates are high in the mainstem rivers at the propagating margin.</p>

scholarly journals From ‘third pole’ to north pole: a Himalayan origin for the arctic fox

2014 ◽  
Vol 281 (1787) ◽  
pp. 20140893 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoming Wang ◽  
Zhijie Jack Tseng ◽  
Qiang Li ◽  
Gary T. Takeuchi ◽  
Guangpu Xie
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
High Altitude ◽  
Polar Region ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Ice Age ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Fox ◽  
Low Latitude ◽  
Kunlun Mountain ◽  
The Himalaya

The ‘third pole’ of the world is a fitting metaphor for the Himalayan–Tibetan Plateau, in allusion to its vast frozen terrain, rivalling the Arctic and Antarctic, at high altitude but low latitude. Living Tibetan and arctic mammals share adaptations to freezing temperatures such as long and thick winter fur in arctic muskox and Tibetan yak, and for carnivorans, a more predatory niche. Here, we report, to our knowledge, the first evolutionary link between an Early Pliocene (3.60–5.08 Myr ago) fox, Vulpes qiuzhudingi new species, from the Himalaya (Zanda Basin) and Kunlun Mountain (Kunlun Pass Basin) and the modern arctic fox Vulpes lagopus in the polar region. A highly hypercarnivorous dentition of the new fox bears a striking resemblance to that of V. lagopus and substantially predates the previous oldest records of the arctic fox by 3–4 Myr. The low latitude, high-altitude Tibetan Plateau is separated from the nearest modern arctic fox geographical range by at least 2000 km. The apparent connection between an ancestral high-elevation species and its modern polar descendant is consistent with our ‘Out-of-Tibet’ hypothesis postulating that high-altitude Tibet was a training ground for cold-environment adaptations well before the start of the Ice Age.

Phylogeography of Tibetan snowcock (Tetraogallus tibetanus) in Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

2009 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 526-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bei An ◽  
Lixun Zhang ◽  
Stephen Browne ◽  
Naifa Liu ◽  
Luzhang Ruan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Tibetan Snowcock

scholarly journals Three new needle-shaped Fragilaria species from Central America and the Tibetan Plateau

Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 479 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
KIM J. KRAHN ◽  
ANJA SCHWARZ ◽  
CARLOS E. WETZEL ◽  
SERGIO COHUO-DURÁN ◽  
GERHARD DAUT ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Specific Conductivity ◽  
Central Area ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Width Ratio ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Alkaline Ph ◽  
Apical Pore ◽  
Lake Nam Co

Three new needle-shaped Fragilaria species from freshwater lake Apastepeque in El Salvador (Fragilaria salvadoriana sp. nov., F. maarensis sp. nov.) and subsaline lake Nam Co on the Tibetan Plateau (F. huebeneri sp. nov.) are described and compared based on light and scanning electron microscopy observations and morphometric analyses. Fragilaria salvadoriana sp. nov. is characterized by narrowly linear-lanceolate, sometimes centrally constricted valves, subcapitate to rarely capitate apices, and a distinct, dented appearing central area. Striae are composed of 2−5 occluded areolae. It can be differentiated from similar needle-shaped species by the valve outline, relatively low striae density, and shark fin-shaped spines. Characteristic of F. maarensis sp. nov. are a very narrowly lanceolate valve outline and subcapitate apices. The apical pore field is composed of 2–3 rows of poroids and acute, irregularly oriented spines are present at the junction between valve face and mantle. This taxon is clearly different from other Fragilaria species, displaying a high length-to-width ratio and a low number of areolae per stria. The Tibetan species, F. huebeneri sp. nov., forms long ribbon-like colonies linked together by spatula-shaped spines. Valves have subcapitate apices, a spindle- to needle-shaped outline and an indistinct central area. Striae are alternate and composed of 3–5 areolae per stria. Teratological forms of F. huebeneri sp. nov. were commonly observed in the sediment trap samples. Fragilaria salvadoriana sp. nov. and F. maarensis sp. nov. were found in a warm, tropical crater lake characterized by low conductivity and dissolved oxygen content, medium alkaline pH, and magnesium-calcium-bicarbonate-rich waters. Fragilaria huebeneri sp. nov. was frequent in a large, high elevation lake with increased specific conductivity, alkaline pH and sodium-bicarbonate-rich waters. The new species are compared to morphologically similar species from the genus Fragilaria Lyngbye and ecological preferences are discussed.

Aeolian dust transport, cycle and influences in high-elevation cryosphere of the Tibetan Plateau region: New evidences from alpine snow and ice

2020 ◽  
Vol 211 ◽  
pp. 103408
Author(s):  
Zhiwen Dong ◽  
Janice Brahney ◽  
Shichang Kang ◽  
James Elser ◽  
Ting Wei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Plateau Region ◽  
Dust Transport ◽  
Aeolian Dust ◽  
Transport Cycle ◽  
Snow And Ice

The middle Cretaceous (110−94 Ma) evolution of Tangza Basin in the western Tibetan Plateau and implications for initial topographic growth of northern Lhasa

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xu Han ◽  
Jin-Gen Dai ◽  
Jie Lin ◽  
Shi-Ying Xu ◽  
Bo-Rong Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Early Cretaceous ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Foreland Basin ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Alluvial Fan ◽  
Magmatic Arc ◽  
Clastic Rocks ◽  
Western Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Spinel Composition

Reconstruction of Cretaceous geological evolution of Tibetan Plateau growth is critical for assessing the effect of India-Asia collision on the formation of its high elevation. However, Cretaceous topographic evolution and geodynamic mechanism in northern Lhasa remain ambiguous. Here we present results from sedimentology, zircon U-Pb ages, and detrital Cr-spinel composition of the Tangza Formation in the western part of northern Lhasa. Sedimentary lithofacies document that orbitolinid foraminifera−limestone beds were deposited in a shallow-marine setting, while clastic rocks accumulated in an alluvial fan during the middle Cretaceous. Zircon U-Pb ages of interbedded volcanic rocks place a robust constraint on the initiation of clastic rock deposition at ca. 106 Ma. Sandstones are enriched lithic fragments with abundant volcanic grains. U-Pb ages of detrital zircon display a prominent age population at 101−130 Ma with a 120 Ma peak. These data indicate that the clastic rocks were mainly derived from northern Lhasa, including an Early Cretaceous magmatic arc. Sedimentary and provenance characteristics are most consistent with deposition in a local foreland basin. The activation of south-vergent local thrusting may be responsible for loading of the Tangza foreland basin. This thrust faulting may be associated with crustal shortening induced by the continuous convergence of Lhasa and Qiangtang since collision initiated during the Early Cretaceous. The initial uplift of western and central parts of northern Lhasa and eastern Gangdese arc occurred at ca. 106 Ma, while the widespread uplift of northern and central Lhasa probably initiated at ca. 92 Ma. The mid−Late Cretaceous uplift in Lhasa was significantly earlier than the early Cenozoic India-Asia collision.

Characterizations of wet mercury deposition on a remote high-elevation site in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau

2015 ◽  
Vol 206 ◽  
pp. 518-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Huang ◽  
Shichang Kang ◽  
Qianggong Zhang ◽  
Junming Guo ◽  
Mika Sillanpää ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Mercury Deposition ◽  
Southeastern Tibetan Plateau ◽  
High Elevation Site

scholarly journals Genomic analyses reveal evolutionary and geologic context for the plateau fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Liu ◽  
Linong Guo ◽  
Zongwei Li ◽  
Zhe Zhou ◽  
Zhen Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Extreme Environment ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Metal Resistance ◽  
Repeat Sequence ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Ltr Retrotransposon ◽  
Ophiocordyceps Sinensis

Abstract Background Ophiocordyceps sinensis, which is only naturally found in the high-elevation extreme environment of the Tibetan Plateau, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine. Information concerning the evolutionary and geologic context of O. sinensis remains limited, however. Methods We constructed the high-quality genome of O. sinensis and provided insight into the evolution and ecology of O. sinensis using comparative genomics. Results We mapped the whole genome of the anamorph/asexual form Hirsutella of O. sinensis using Illumina and PacBio sequencing technologies and obtained a well assembled genome of 119.2 Mbp size. Long-read Single Molecule Real Time (SMRT) sequencing technology generated an assembly with more accurate representation of repeat sequence abundances and placement. Evolutionary analyses indicated that O. sinensis diverged from other fungi 65.9 Mya in the Upper Cretaceous, during the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. Gene family expansions and contractions in addition to genome inflation via long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposon insertions were implicated as an important driver of O. sinensis divergence. The insertion rate of LTR sequences into the O. sinensis genome peaked ~ 30–40 Mya, when the Tibetan Plateau rose rapidly. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis suggested that O. sinensis contained more genes related to ice binding compared to other closely related fungi, which may aid in their adaptability to the cold Tibetan Plateau. Further, heavy metal resistance genes were in low abundance in the O. sinensis genome, which may help to explain previous observations that O. sinensis tissues contain high levels of heavy metals. Conclusions Our results reveal the evolutionary, geological, and ecological context for the evolution of the O. sinensis genome and the factors that have contributed to the environmental adaptability of this valuable fungus. These findings suggest that genome inflation via LTR retrotransposon insertions in O. sinensis coincided with the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. LTRs and the specific genetic mechanisms of O. sinensis contributed to its adaptation to the environment on the plateau.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document