In order to study the diversity, phylogenetic relationships and distribution of marsh frogs of the Pelophylax ridibundus complex in Kazakhstan and northwest China, we conducted phylogeographic analyses of 125 samples from 53 localities using the mtDNA ND2 and COI genes and the SAI nuclear gene sequences. Phylogenetic inference of mtDNA revealed three main lineages—sister lineages Balkhash and Syrdarya (as the Central Asian P. sp. novum), and the Anatolian P. cf. bedriagae, while from nDNA data, we additionally detected the western form, P. ridibundus. According to mtDNA data, the mean genetic distances between P. sp. novum and two other forms of marsh frogs was more than 5%. Genetic homogeneity within populations of the Syrdarya lineage and P. cf. bedriagae is characterized by low nucleotide diversity and high haplotype diversity. Demographic analyses of the lineages showed past population expansions of the Balkhash and the Syrdarya forms. Divergence from the most recent ancestor had occurred in the Early Pleistocene period (2.46 Mya) for the Balkhash and the Syrdarya lineages, and 1.27 Mya for the P. cf. bedriagae. Our findings provide a first investigation of the lineage diversification and population dynamics of the Central Asian marsh frogs and will be useful for further taxonomic implications and conservational actions.

Understanding the genetic diversity and structure of domesticated horse (Equus caballus) populations is critical for long-term herd management and breeding programs. This study examines 435 horses from Kazakhstan, covering seven groups in three geographic areas using 11 STR markers. Identified are 136 alleles, with the mean number of alleles per locus ranging from 9 to 19. VHL20 is the most variable locus across groups, while loci HTG4, AHT4, AHT5, HTG7, and HMS3 are variable in most populations. The locus AHT5 in the Emba population shows the highest frequency of rare alleles, while the lowest frequency, 0.005, is observed in the Kulandy population. All loci were highly informative for the Kazakhstani populations of E. caballus, with PIC values higher than 0.5. Pairwise variations in Wright’s F_ST distances show that the examined varieties have little genetic differentiation (0.05%), indicating a high degree of admixture and a continuing lineage sorting process. Phylogenetic and population structure analyses reveal three major clusters of Kazakh horses, representing (I) the Uralsk population of the Kushum breed and the monophyly of two groups: (II) the Kozhamberdy population of the Mugalzhar breed, and (III) the Mugalzhar–Kushum breed populations. Kazakhstani horse populations, while being regionally isolated, were recently in contact with each other.

Air pollution (AP) is one of the leading causes of health risks because it causes widespread morbidity and mortality every year. Its impact on the environment includes acid rain and decreased visibility, but more importantly, it also has an impact on human health. The rise of COVID-19 demonstrates the cost of failing to manage AP. COVID-19 can be spread through the air, and atmospheric particulate matters (PMs) can create a good atmosphere for the long-distance spread of the virus. Moreover, these PMs can cause lung cell inflammation, thereby increasing sensitivity and the severity of symptoms in COVID-19 patients. In this study, we emphasized the potential role of PMs in the spread of COVID-19. The relationship among COVID-19, PMs, and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) (receptor involved in virus entry into lung cells and inflammation) was also summarized.

The agamid lizard Phrynocephalus melanurus is restricted to Northwest China (Dzungar Basin) and the adjacent Eastern Kazakhstan (Zaisan and Alakol basins). To elucidate the phylogeography of P. melanurus, we obtained the mitochondrial DNA COI segments of 175 sampled lizards from 44 localities across the whole distribution. Phylogenetic analyses revealed two main Clades comprising five geographically structured lineages (I, IIa, IIb1, IIb2, and IIb3) that fit an isolation-by-distance (IBD) model. The divergence from the most recent common ancestor was dated to ~1.87 million years ago (Ma). Demographic analyses demonstrated lineage-specific response to past climate change: stable population for Clade I, Subclade IIb1; past population expansion for IIb3 since 0.18 Ma, respectively. Bayesian phylogeographic diffusion analyses detected initial spreading at the Saur Mount vicinity, approximately 1.8 Ma. Historical species distribution model (SDM) projected expansion of the suitable habitat in the last interglacial and shift and contraction in the last glacial maximum and Holocene epochs. The SDM predicted a drastic reduction in suitable area throughout the range as a response to future climate change. Our findings suggest that the evolution of P. melanurus followed a parapatric divergence with subsequent dispersal and adaptation to cold and dry environments during the Quaternary. Overall, this work improves our understanding of the lineage diversification and population dynamics of P. melanurus, providing further insights into the evolutionary processes that occurred in Northwest China and adjacent Eastern Kazakhstan.

Background: The fat-tailed coarse-wooled sheep breeds exhibit excellent reproductive performance, exceptional adaptability to pasture conditions, and high precocity, contributing to enhanced meat, fat, and wool productivity in sheep breeding. Despite the significant role of these sheep breeds in Kazakhstan’s livestock production, their genetics remain poorly studied. This raises concerns about the potential loss of unique, breed-specific traits that could be important for the future development and resilience of Kazakh stan’s sheep farming sector. This study aimed to analyze genome-wide genotyping SNP data of local fat-tailed coarse-wooled sheep breeds (Kazakh fat-tailed coarse-wooled, Edilbay, and Gissar) to reveal their genetic diversity, breed characteristics, and phylogenetic relationships with worldwide domestic sheep breeds and wild sheep. Methods: The OvineSNP50 Genotyping BeadChip was used to obtain genome-wide SNP genotyping data from 160 fat-tailed coarse-wooled sheep from Kazakhstan. Population structure analysis, principal component analysis, phylogenetic and the maximum likelihood tree analysis were performed in comparison with foreign domestic sheep breeds and wild sheep populations. Results: Kazakh breeds exhibited high genetic diversity, with Edilbay showing the greatest allelic richness. PCA and Admixture revealed clear differentiation among the three breeds: Edilbay and Gissar formed homogeneous clusters, while Kazakh fat-tailed coarse-wooled sheep displayed admixture and substructure. Evidence of gene flow from Edilbay into other Kazakh populations supports its role as a genetic source for regional breeds. Phylogenetic analysis placed Kazakhstani sheep close to other Central Asian breeds, while clearly distinct from East Asian and European populations. Wild sheep (Argali and Urial) formed separate clades, with Kerman wild sheep clustering closer to Urial. Conclusions: Our results highlight the value of genotyping data for studying genetic diversity and population structure. Developing genetic resources for Kazakhstan’s native sheep breeds will help preserve their unique diversity and ensure it remains available for future use in breeding and adaptation efforts.