The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau is one of the regions most strongly affected by climate change. The climate feedback of the distribution of plateau pika, a key species, is closely related to the trophic structure of the plateau ecosystem and the development of agriculture and animal husbandry on the plateau. In order to understand the impact of future climate change on the suitable distribution area of plateau pika, potential suitable distribution areas of Plateau pika were predicted using the MaxEnt model under three climate scenarios (SSP 1-2.6, SSP 2-4.5, and SSP 5-8.5) in the near term (2021–2040) and medium term (2041–2060). The predictions were found to be highly accurate with AUC values of 0.997 and 0.996 for the training and test sets. The main results are as follows: (1) The precipitation of the wettest month (BIO 16), mean diurnal range (BIO 2), slope, elevation, temperature seasonality (BIO 4), and annual mean temperature (BIO 1) were the main influencing factors. (2) In the historical period, the total suitable distribution area of Plateau pika in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau accounted for 29.90% of the total area at approximately 74.74 × 10⁴ km², concentrated in the eastern and central areas of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. (3) The total suitable distribution area of pika exhibited an expansion trend under SSP 1-2.6 and SSP 2-4.5 in the near term (2021–2040), and the expansion area was concentrated in the eastern and central parts of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The expansion area was the largest in Qinghai Province, followed by Sichuan Province and Tibet. In contrast, the suitable distribution area shrank in the Altun Mountains, Xinjiang. Under SSP 5-8.5 in the near term and all scenarios in the medium term (2041–2060), the suitable distribution area of Plateau pika decreased to different degrees. The shrinkage area was concentrated at the margin of the Qaidam Basin, central Tibet, and the Qilian Mountains in the east of Qinghai Province. (4) Plateau pika migrated toward the east or southeast on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau under the three climate scenarios. Under most of the scenarios, the migration distance was longer in the medium term than in the near term.

The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau has given birth to many indigenous highland plants due to its special geographical location and sensitivity to climate change. Relevantly, the impact of climate change on species distribution has been a hot issue for research in biogeography. Using the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model, the spatial distribution of habitat suitability for Fritillaria przewalskii Maxim. (FPM) on the Tibetan Plateau was predicted and ranked by combining ecological data and information on its actual current geographical distribution. The potential distribution and trends of FPM on the Tibetan Plateau from 2021 to 2040, 2041 to 2060, 2061 to 2080 and 2081 to 2100 under four current and future climate scenarios (SSP126, SSP245, SSP370 and SSP585) were also predicted. The predictions were found to be highly accurate with AUC values of 0.9645 and 0.9345 for the training and test sets, respectively. A number of conclusions could be drawn from the results. Firstly, the main ecological factors limiting the growth distribution of FPM were the Vegetation types, NPP (net primary production), Soil types, Bio7 (temperature annual range), Pop (population), Slope, GDP, Aspect, Bio1 (annual mean temperature) and Elevation, with a cumulative contribution of 97.6%. Secondly, in the recent past period of 1970–2000, the total suitable distribution area of FPM accounted for 5.55% of the plateau’s total area, which was about 14.11 × 10⁴ km², concentrated in its eastern and central regions. Thirdly, compared to the previous period, the aforementioned distribution area will, for the period spanning 2021–2040, increase by 14.48%, 16.23%, 16.99%, and 21.53% in the SSP126, SSP245, SSP370, and SSP585 scenarios, respectively. This comes with an overall expansion trend, and the areas predicted to be affected are concentrated in the eastern and central-western parts of the Tibetan Plateau. The other three future periods 2041–2060, 2061–2080, and 2081–2100 also show increases in these total areas to varying degrees. It is noteworthy that in the future periods 2061–2080 and 2081–2100, under the SSP370 and SSP585 scenarios, the area of high suitable distribution decreases or even disappears. Lastly, under the four climate scenarios, the FPM suitable distribution area will shift towards the western part of the Tibetan Plateau.

The evolution and current distribution of species on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau have been significantly impacted by historical occurrences, including the uplift of the plateau and the Quaternary climate upheaval. As a remnant species, the plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) is a great model for researching historical events. In this study, 302 samples from 42 sample sites were utilized to analyze the impact of historical events on the evolution and distribution pattern of plateau pikas. The genetic diversity, patterns of differentiation, and historical dynamics of the plateau pika were investigated using molecular markers that included four mitochondrial genes (COI, D-loop, Cytb, and 12S rRNA) and three nuclear genes (GHR, IRBP, and RAG1). The results showed that: (1) The genetic diversity of the plateau pika was high in the Tibetan Plateau (H_d = 0.9997, π = 0.01205), and the plateau pika evolved into five lineages that occupied different geographical areas, with lineage 1 (Group 1) in the south of the Yarlung Zangbo River, lineage 2 (Group 2) in the hinterland of the plateau, lineage 3 (Group 3) in the northeastern part of the plateau, lineage 4 (Group 4) in the Hengduan Mountains, and lineage 5 (Group 5) in the eastern part of the plateau. (2) The gene flow among the five lineages was low, and the differentiation level was high (N_m < 0.25; Fst > 0.25), indicating that the geographical barriers between the five lineages, such as the Yarlung Zangbo River, the Qaidam-Ghuong-Guide Basin, and the Lancang River, effectively promoted the population differentiation of the plateau pika. (3) The plateau pika first spread from the Hengduan Mountains to the entire Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and then conducted small-scale migration and dispersal in several refuges across the plateau in response to climate changes during the glacial and interglacial periods. (4) Except for Group 1 and Group 4, all the other populations exhibited a rapid expansion between 0.06 and 0.01 Mya, but the expansion was considerably delayed or halted by the effects of climate change during the last glacial maximum (0.02 Mya). Overall, the plateau pika on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau exhibits high genetic diversity, and topographic obstacles, including mountains, valleys, and basins, created by the uplift of the plateau and climatic changes since the Quaternary period have played an important role in the differentiation and historical dynamics of the plateau pika population.

Consistent behavioural differences among individuals have been documented across many animal taxa, yet their developmental consequences remain less clear in domestic production systems. This gap is especially relevant in managed environments, where food availability and ecological constraints differ markedly from those in the wild. In this study, we assessed behavioural traits in 25 Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries) ewes and examined their associations with early growth in their lambs under semi-captive conditions on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. We quantified docility, exploration, vocal responses, and several physiological measures of responsiveness in ewes, and related these variables to lamb birth weight, early weight gain, and a composite growth index. We found that maternal docility had no significant effect on lamb birth weight, whereas maternal activity was negatively associated with offspring birth weight. One possible interpretation is that more behaviourally responsive ewes allocate energy differently during gestation, which could limit fetal growth, although this mechanism was not directly tested here. These results suggest that behavioural effects on offspring development depend strongly on production context. In this semi-captive system, greater maternal responsiveness was not associated with improved offspring performance, unlike patterns often discussed for wild populations. This context dependence may be relevant when behavioural traits are considered in Tibetan sheep management or breeding.

Consistent behavioural differences among individuals have been documented across many animal taxa, yet their developmental consequences in domestic production systems remain less clear. This gap is especially relevant in managed environments, where food availability and ecological constraints differ markedly from those in the wild. In this study, we assessed behavioural traits in 25 Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries) ewes and examined their associations with early growth in their lambs under semi-captive conditions on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. We quantified docility, exploration, vocal responses, and several physiological measures of responsiveness in the ewes and related these variables to lamb birth weight, early weight gain, and a composite growth index. We found that maternal docility had no significant effect on lamb birth weight, whereas maternal activity, defined as locomotor movement recorded during the open-field phase, was negatively associated with offspring birth weight. One possible interpretation is that ewes showing greater locomotor activity during the open-field phase allocate energy differently during gestation, which could limit foetal growth, although this mechanism was not directly tested in this study. These results suggest that the behavioural effects on offspring development depend strongly on the production context. In this semi-captive system, greater maternal responsiveness was not associated with improved offspring performance, unlike patterns that are often observed in wild populations. This context dependence may be relevant when behavioural traits are considered in Tibetan sheep management or breeding.

The ecological stoichiometric traits of forest floor material nutrient resorption in forest ecosystems. However, systematic insights into nutrient allocation and scaling during the transformation of plant organs to forest floor material remain limited. This study examined six representative tree species on the southern slope of the Qilian Mountains, quantifying the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents and their stoichiometric characteristics in leaves, branches, and mixed forest floor material. Allometric relationships between N and P were analyzed using the standardized major axis regression. Coniferous species exhibited a conservative strategy with high C/N and C/P ratios, whereas broad-leaved species and mixed forests exhibited nutrient-enrichment strategies. During the organ-to-forest floor material transformation, N and P contents significantly reduced, whereas C/N and C/P ratios increased, indicating strong nutrient resorption. N and P were positively associated with plant organs and forest floor material, with isometric relationships (b = 1.06 and 0.98 for plant organs and forest floor material, respectively). Because the slopes did not differ significantly from 1 (p > 0.05), the N:P ratio remained relatively constant, with no significant P limitation. This indicates that tree species regulate forest floor material quality through divergent nutrient utilization strategies, modulating nutrient cycling. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the ecological restoration and stand structure optimization of alpine forests.