Dingyuan Ma

Mrs. Dingyuan Ma


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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3 October 2026 in Insects
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Journal Article
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XXXiangcheng Xu
Xiangcheng Xu
DMDingyuan Ma
Dingyuan Ma
BLBingrong Liu
Bingrong Liu
Mingxian YangMingxian Yang
Mingxian Yang
KLKang Lai
Kang Lai
JYJiandong Yang
Jiandong Yang
The Asian honey bee (Apis cerana) is a key native pollinator in Asia, contributing substantially to both natural and agricultural ecosystems. However, climate change and human activities increasingly threaten its pollination services and long-term survival. Understanding patterns of genetic differentiation and local adaptation is therefore essential for protecting native populations. Sichuan Province in China, with its complex mountains, deep valleys, and pronounced climatic heterogeneity, offers an excellent natural laboratory for studying these processes in A. cerana. We collected 139 worker bees from 22 locations across Sichuan and generated whole-genome resequencing data. By integrating these data with genomes from eight well-established subspecies, we show that bees from Xinlong, Jiuzhaigou, and Kangding form three genetically differentiated populations that are distinct from all known subspecies. These populations display moderate to high genetic differentiation and unique demographic histories relative to previously described subspecies. Selective-sweep analyses further identified 200–300 candidate genes under positive selection in each population. These genes are enriched in functions related to chemical sensing, flight musculature, cell-cycle regulation, osmotic balance, and stress response, consistent with adaptation to patchy nectar resources, a short spring reproductive window, and large diurnal temperature swings. Our findings uncover three previously unrecognized genetic resources of A. cerana and provide genomic insights into their local adaptation, offering a valuable foundation for conservation and breeding programs.