Grassland is not only an important part of the terrestrial ecosystem with multiple ecological functions, but also an important base for Chinese herdsmen to produce and live. However, the occurrence and spread of rodent infestation reduces the biodiversity and productivity of grassland ecosystems. It also severely threatens human life, health, and biosecurity through disease transmission. In this study, we explored the ability of the nanocomposite sterilant ND-1 to control grassland rodent populations. Semi-closed experimental and control plots were established in the desert area of Alashan, Inner Mongolia, China. In spring 2018, the nanocomposite sterile ND-1 (Nongda-1) was introduced once, and the control effect of ND-1 on the growth of the wild population of midday gerbils was measured for two years. We show that ND-1 significantly reduced the population of midday gerbils in the experimental area, with a negative population growth rate. In addition, in the second year, the ratio of female midday gerbils to sub-adults in the experimental area was significantly lower than that in the control area, which resulted in a significant difference in the sex ratio of midday gerbils. There were significantly fewer females than males, and the population growth of midday gerbils in the experimental area was significantly inhibited. ND-1 had no significant effect on the home range of midday gerbils, and sterile individuals continued to occupy the home range and consume resources. Therefore, ND-1 reduced the number of female midday gerbils during the breeding period and the sex ratio and population density and altered the age structure of the wild population. Additionally, competition between sterile and normal individuals had a significant control effect on the growth of wild populations. Our studies demonstrate the significance of ND-1 in the sustainable control of grassland rodent pests, with the potential for limiting grassland rodent damage in the future.

Rodents, as a core component of desert ecosystems and an important indicator of environmental changes, are ideal subjects for studying the impacts of fluctuations in climatic conditions on wildlife. Based on field data from the southern Alxa Desert (2014–2020), this study constructed an ecosystem structure network integrating local/metacommunities, climate, soil, and plant communities. Combined with structural equation modeling, we explored the response mechanisms of rodent communities to climatic conditions across multiple scales. The results showed the following: the α-diversity of local and metacommunities exhibited convergent seasonal patterns, with greater impacts from human disturbances than interannual effects, as well as coexisting species turnover and nesting in metacommunities. Precipitation directly affected metacommunity abundance and diversity and indirectly influenced both community types via vegetation, while temperature directly regulated community characteristics; metacommunities were formed via the coupling of local communities through species migration and habitat filtering, reflecting complex links between local and regional processes. This research provides scientific support for predicting desert ecosystem dynamics and guiding conservation management.

Rising global temperatures lead to a continuous increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, posing serious threats to terrestrial homeotherms. However, adaptive changes in respiratory metabolism and molecular mechanisms in lung tissues of small mammals under extreme water shortage conditions remain unclear. This study hypothesized that small desert mammals can adapt to extreme water shortage environments by regulating the plasticity of lung tissue gene expression and respiratory metabolism. Using 29 wild-caught Siberian jerboas (Orientallactaga sibirica) as subjects, we implemented a 12-day complete water deprivation protocol to simulate extreme aridity. Body weight, food intake, and daily energy expenditure (DEE) were monitored throughout the experiment. Whole-transcriptome sequencing of lung tissues was performed to profile mRNA, circRNA, and miRNA expression, with competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network analysis to explore molecular mechanisms underlying lung adaptation to water deprivation. Over the 12-day water deprivation (WS) period, Orientallactaga sibirica (O. sibirica) exhibited a 30.3% reduction in body mass and a 68.1% decrease in food intake relative to the baseline level. DEE during the peak activity period at the end of the experiment was 12.6% lower in the WS group compared to the control group. In lung tissue, structural integrity-related genes (Mybl2, Ccnb1) were downregulated. A key finding was that circ_0015576 exhibits a significant positive correlation with the potassium channel gene Kcnk15 and a robust negative correlation with miR-503-5p—suggesting that circ_0015576 functions as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to sequester miR-503-5p and thereby derepress Kcnk15 expression. Core regulatory genes (ApoA4, Dusp15 etc.) were also coordinately downregulated. Collectively, these results indicate that O. sibirica reduces overall energy expenditure, which may be associated with lung gene expression plasticity, such as those related with lung cell proliferation, pulmonary function, and gas exchange efficiency. This metabolic downregulation facilitates energy conservation under severe water scarcity.

As integral components of ecosystems, rodents exhibit high sensitivity to environmental fluctuations. As a typical semi-subterranean rodent, the burrowing and foraging behaviors of the mole vole (Ellobius tancrei) profoundly impact local microhabitat structure and vegetation succession. Given its extensive distribution range, investigating the geographical distribution of the mole vole under climate change is critical for understanding its population dynamics and spatial patterns. To explore the impacts of climate change on the potential distribution of this species, we utilized an ensemble model based on 395 occurrence records and 38 environmental variables. We predicted its potential geographical distribution under current (1970–2000) and three future climate scenarios (SSP126, SSP245, and SSP585) across three future periods (2041–2060, 2061–2080, and 2081–2100) and further analyzed the variation trends and centroid migration directions of its global potential distribution. The results revealed the following: (1) Elevation (Dem) and temperature annual range (Bio7) were the dominant environmental factors driving the potential distribution of the mole vole, followed by precipitation of the warmest quarter (Bio18), mean diurnal range (Bio2), annual mean temperature (Bio1), base saturation (BSAT), precipitation seasonality (Bio15), calcium carbonate content (TCARBON_EQ), and available water capacity (AWC). (2) Under current climate conditions, the highly suitable habitats were mainly concentrated in Eurasia, particularly in Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, China, Mongolia, and Russia. (3) Under future climate scenarios, suitable habitats showed simultaneous expansion and contraction, with expansion consistently exceeding contraction across all scenarios and periods, especially under SSP585 in the late 21st century. (4) Relative to the current period, the suitable-habitat centroid shifted northeastward under SSP126, but northwestward under SSP245 and SSP585. This study reveals the dynamic spatial shifts of the mole vole driven by climate change, not only providing crucial scientific support for early spatial warning and precise prevention of agricultural and pastoral rodent damage, but also laying a theoretical foundation for understanding the ecological adaptation mechanisms of subterranean rodents and mitigating potential cross-regional dispersal risks.

To tackle the low nitrogen-use efficiency, water scarcity, and insufficient forage supply in improved grasslands in arid Northwest China, a two-factor field trial involving three biochar dosages (0, 10, 20 t ha⁻¹) and two nitrogen (N) application rates (0, 225 kg ha⁻¹) was conducted on mountain grassland in Xinjiang, with Onobrychis viciifolia and Bromus inermis as test forages. Soil physicochemical traits, soil–forage and water–nitrogen dynamics, forage productivity, and economic returns were determined, and partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM, GoF = 0.373) was conducted to quantify the regulatory pathways. Co-treatments with biochar and N markedly lowered soil bulk density and elevated porosity, soil organic carbon, and the available N pool; application of biochar deferred the peak of soil available N and prolonged fertilizer efficacy by more than seven days. Forage total nitrogen- and water-use efficiency peaked at the first cutting, with the B1N1 treatment (10 t ha⁻¹ biochar + 225 kg ha⁻¹ N) boosting water-use efficiency by 45.2%. O. viciifolia exhibited optimal performance under B1N15, while B2N15 (20 t ha⁻¹ biochar + 225 kg ha⁻¹ N) was more favorable for B. inermis. The B1N15 regime achieved the highest net profit of CNY 12,747.99 ha⁻¹, but high biochar input cut economic gains by 14.1%. The PLS-PM model uncovered a dual regulatory mechanism: combined amendments directly optimized soil microhabitats, and soil water–nitrogen conditions served as a central mediator to facilitate biomass accumulation and economic gains through cascading soil–vegetation transmission, without direct impacts on vegetation productivity or economic outputs. This research provides a scientific reference for the use of fertilization in the sustainable management of arid improved grasslands.