横断山区大绒鼠代谢组学及其适应对策的研究

表型可塑性是指同一基因型受环境的不同影响而产生的不同表型，是生物对环境的一种适应。动物的表型差异可以反映在形态、生理生化、行为、生活史等方面。本研究拟采用代谢组学、动物生理生态学、行为学和几何形态学方法，对横断山区大绒鼠的表型分化及适应对策等进行研究。研究内容包括（1）测定横断山不同地区大绒鼠代谢组分、体重、产热和能量摄入等表型分化；（2）测定不同地区大绒鼠头骨、臼齿等几何测量学特征，分析其形态表型变异；（3）测定不同地区大绒鼠的下丘脑神经肽表达量，确定其在体重调节中的作用；（4）测定食物质量和数量对大绒鼠的摄食行为的影响。整合大绒鼠的代谢组学、生理学、形态学和行为学特征，阐明横断山区大绒鼠表型可塑性的变化，深入理解和揭示大绒鼠对横断山区的环境变化的生存适应机理和进化意义。

Phenotypic plasticity is the ability of an organism to change its phenotype in response to changes in the environment. Fundamental to the way in which organisms cope with environmental variation, phenotypic plasticity encompasses all types of environmentally induced changes (e.g. morphological, physiological, behavioural, phenological) that may or may not be permanent throughout an individual’s lifespan. In the present study, metabonomical, physiological, behavioural and morphological methods were used to investigate the phenotypic divergence and adaptative strategies of Eothenomys miletus in Hengduan mountain region. Contents including: (1) measurement of phenotypic divergence about metabonomical compositions, body mass, thermogenesis and energy intake; (2) geometric morphometrics investigation of the skulls and mandibles in E. miletus from Hengduan mountain region in order to analysis of its phenotype variation; (3) the expression of hypothalamic neuropeptides in different areas of E. miletus were measured, determining the role of hypothalamic neuropeptides on it’s body mass regulation; (4) determination of feeding behavior under different food quality/quantity in E. miletus. Combining the features of phenotypes, including metabonomics, physiology, geometric morphometrics and behavior, which will clarified phenotypic divergence and adaptative strategies of E. miletus in Hengduan mountain region. Finally, data from this study will be help to further understand explore evolutionary significance and survival mechanisms of adaptation of small mammals to Hengduan mountain regions.