China Environmental Protection Foundation (CEPF) announced the funding list of 30 research projects nationwide under the program “Green Mountain Public Welfare Nature Conservation Initiative”. The Shennongjia Science and Technology Innovation Center of HZAU was selected for the project “The Genetic Mechanism of Apis cerana’ s Adaptation to Climate Change in Shennongjia and the Evaluation of its Ecological Value”.
As the only national reserve for Apis cerana, Shennongjia is an important ecological function area and a permanent demonstration base for global biodiversity, with a valuable contribution in terms of “Dual Carbon Goals” (peak carbon dioxide emission & carbon neutrality) and carbon sink program, which is related to the sustainable development of the region and even the world. Apis cerana is one of the key species in the Shennongjia ecosystem and contributes greatly to biodiversity conservation and maintenance of ecological balance. Not only does it have important ecological and genetic values, but it also produces the national product of geographical indication “Shennong Wild Flower Honey”, which is well-known both at home and abroad. Shennongjia is rich in nectar plants, providing a good habitat for the breeding of Apis cerana.
With the altitude difference of 2700 meters, the climate and biodiversity of different altitudes vary significantly, but few research has been done on the genetic mechanism of Apis cerana’ s adaptation to climate change and its function of serving the ecosystem. The project investigates the genetic mechanism of Apis cerana’ s adaptation to climate change in Shennongjia as well as its ecological value of interactions with regional plants. The study aims to prove the value of Apis cerana as an important germplasm resource in Shennongjia, a species of which can not only protect the genetic diversity of Apis cerana in central China, but also contribute to the development of ecology and characteristic industry in Shennongjia.
Source：http://news.hzau.edu.cn/2022/0130/62586.shtml
Translated by Xu Yuanxin
Supervised by Jin Bei
