International Journal of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity 2024, Vol.14, No.3, 133-146 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmeb 134 Endemic birds are vital indicators of environmental health and play crucial roles in maintaining the ecological balance of the plateau’s diverse habitats. The presence and behavior of these birds can reflect changes in the environment, such as climate change and human disturbance. Research has shown that suitable geographic ranges for most mammals, amphibians, and reptiles have increased over the past 40 years, while ranges for birds have generally decreased due to climate change (Jiang et al., 2023). This highlights the need for ongoing monitoring and conservation efforts. Furthermore, these birds contribute to the plateau’s biodiversity and ecological functions, such as seed dispersal and pest control, which are crucial for the health and sustainability of the plateau’s ecosystems (Wu et al., 2022). This study systematically explores the origins and evolutionary history of endemic bird species on the Tibetan Plateau, providing a detailed analysis of the biogeographic patterns and adaptation mechanisms that allow these species to thrive in such a unique and harsh environment. The research highlights current knowledge gaps in this field and proposes directions for future studies, which will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the evolution and conservation of these region-specific birds. 2 Geological and Climatic History of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau 2.1 Formation and uplift of the plateau The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, also known as the Tibetan Plateau, is the highest and largest plateau in the world, covering an area of approximately 2.5 million square kilometers (Figure 1). The formation of this geological marvel began around 50 million years ago, triggered by the collision between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. This tectonic activity initiated a series of complex geological processes that led to the gradual uplift of the region. Over millions of years, the continued convergence of these plates resulted in the elevation of the plateau to its current average height of over 4 500 meters. The initial phase of uplift during the Eocene epoch (around 40-50 million years ago) was followed by significant episodes of rapid elevation changes during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs, approximately 20 to 8 million years ago. These geological events have been instrumental in shaping the topography and climate of not only the plateau but also the surrounding regions. Figure 1 Geographic Scope of the Tibetan Plateau (Adapted from Mao et al., 2021) Image caption: The image depicts the broad scope of the Tibetan Plateau (QTPsl), including the narrowly defined Tibetan Plateau proper (QTPss), the Himalayas, and the Hengduan Mountains. The regions within the plateau are distinguished by different colors, with the locations and boundaries of each major geographical unit clearly marked, providing a visual explanation of the geographical concept of the Tibetan Plateau and its complex topographic structure. The bottom left corner displays a detailed map downloaded from the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China (Adapted from Mao et al., 2021)
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