Research Interests:

Main Research Interests (on birds): Evolution and systematics Molecular phylogeny and phylogeography Geographical distribution and biodiversity conservation Adaptive evolution by phylogenomics and comparative genomics

Awards and Honors:

2018, Inovative Research Fellow, Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, CAS 2016, National Special Support Program for High-level Personnel Recruitment 2015, National Excellent Scientific and Technological Worker 2014, Elected in leading the Inovation Team in Zoological Systematics and Evolution 2009, National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scientists  2008, Thomson Reuters Research Fronts Award 2008 2006, The 1st China Zoological Society Youth Scientist Award 2005, The 5th Tibetan Plateau Youth Scientist Award 2000, Cheng Tso-Hsin Excellent Youth in Ornithology Prize

Professional Activities:

Professional memberships: 2024-, President of China Biogeographical Society 2016-, Chairman of Asian Ornithological Working Group, IOU 2014-, Vice-president of the International Ornithologists’ Union (IOU) 2006-/1998-, Fellow of (IOU) (formerly International Ornithological Committee) 2005-/2017-, Vice-president / President of China Ornithological Society Other professional activities: 2013-, Associate Editor-in-Chief, Zoological Systematics 2014-, Associate editor, Journal of Biogeography 2015-, Editor for Asia, Journal of Ornithology 2018-, Editor, Current Zoology 2019-, Editor-in-Chief, Avian Research 2020-, Subject editor, Journal of Avian Biology 2010-, Editorial board member, Integrative Zoology 2014-, Editorial board member, Current Genomics 2020-, Editorial board member, Frontiers in Zoology

Research Grants:

The key ongoing programs: (Lei FM as PI) Source Title Date NSFC Major International Joint Research Project Phylogenomics and plumage color evolution of the Long-tailed Tits (Aegithalos spp.) 2025-2029 NSFC Key Research Program On driving factors and adaptive evolution of elevational diversity of Paridae species 2022-2026 National Key Research and Development Program of China On the mechanism and monitoring technology for major wildlife diseases cross-border transmission 2022-2025 Personnel: students and postdoctoral fellows: 1.Faculty: Professor, Lei Fumin Associate professor, Jia Chenxi, Gang Song, Zhang Dezhi High Senior Engineer, Li Xiaobing  Assistant Professor, Hao Yan Visiting professor, for senior international scientist, Per Alstrom, Matthew J Miller 2. Current graduate students: Post-Doc fellows: Wu Yun, Zhao Na Ph.D candidates: Lv Hongrui, Tang Siyu, Wang Huan, Wang Shangyu, Zhu Qianghui MS: Ma Xingjian, Wang Guangli

Selected Publications:

Over 400 papers and chapters were published in the peer-reviewed journals or monographs, of which over 270 papers were publiched in the SCI journals. # To whom correspondence. Bo TB#, Song G#, Zhang MR#, Xu XM#, Duan JD, She HS, Fang Y, Li WT, Wen J, Liu JS, Wang DH* and Lei FM*. Gut microbiota contribute to high-altitude adaptation in tree sparrows. mSystems (2025) Cheng YL, Miller MJ and Lei FM*. Molecular innovations shaping beak morphology in birds. Annual Review of Animal Biosciences 13(2025): 13:99-119. Fan P#, Song G#, Qiao HJ, Zhang DZ, Qu YH and Lei FM*. Revaluation of the genetic diversity–area relationship by integrating nucleotide and haplotype diversity. Current Zoology XX(2025): 1-7. Wu L, Ji YZ and Lei FM*. Two-step loss of GLUTs in the high metabolism passerines. Integrative Zoology 0(2025): 1-8. Zhang K#, Wen ZX#, Wu YJ, Yue YF, Jia CX, Song G and Lei FM*. Scale-dependent dispersal drives community assembly of breeding birds along elevational gradients. Ecological Processes 14(2025): 33. Cheng YL and Lei FM*. Avian lower beak is always overlooked: its coordinate role in shaping species-specific beak should not be underestimated. Integrative Zoology 19(2024): 339-342. Jiang ZY, Zang WQ, Ericson Per, Song G, Wu SY, Feng SH, Drovetski S, Liu G, Zhang DZ, Saitoh T, Alström P, Edwards S, Lei FM and Qu YH*. Gene flow and an anomaly zone complicate phylogenomic inference in a rapidly radiated avian family (Prunellidae). BMC Biology 22(1)(2024): 49. Jiao XL, Wu L, Zhang DZ, Wang H, Dong F, Yang L, Wang SY, Amano HE, Zhang WW, Jia CX, Rheindt FE, Lei FM* and Song G*. Genomes and phenotypes of a forest bird reveal fine-scale differentiation across the Sino-Himalayan Mountains. Molecular Biology and Evolution 41(3)(2024): msae027. Rancilhac L, Enbody ED, Harris R, Saitoh T, Irestedt M, Liu Y, Lei FM, Andersson L, Alström P. Introgression underlies phylogenetic uncertainty but not parallel plumage evolution in a recent songbird radiation. Systematic Biology 73(1)(2024):12-25. Stiller J#, Feng SH#...Lei FM (43th author)...Zhang GJ*. Complexity of avian evolution revealed by family-level genomes. Nature (629)(2024): 851-860. Wang SY, Wu L, Zhu QH, Wu JH, Tang SY, Zhao YF, Cheng YL, Zhang DZ, Qiao GX*, Zhang RZ and Lei FM*. Trait variation and spatiotemporal dynamics across avian secondary contact zones. Biology 13(2024): 643. Wu Y, Xiong Y, Ji YZ, Cheng YL, Zhu QH, Jiao XL, Chang YB, Zhao N, Yang J, Lei FM *and Song G*. Metabolic and Microbial Changes in Light-vented Bulbul during Recent Northward Range Expansion. Current Zoology 70(2024): 24-33. Xiong Y#*, Fan LQ#, Chang YB#, Xiao HT and Lei FM. Warm temperature is associated with reduced body mass and diversification rates while increasing extinction risks in cold-adapted seabirds. Global Change Biology 30(2024): e70000. Xiong Y*#, Rozzi R#, Zhang YZ#, Fan LQ, Zhao JD, Li DM, Yao YF, Xiao HT, Liu J, Zeng XY, Xu HL, Jiang YZ and Lei FM*. Convergent evolution toward a slow pace of life predisposes insular endotherms to anthropogenic extinctions. Science Advances 10(2024): eadm8240. Yu X, Song G, Wang H, Wei QC, Jia CX* and Lei FM*. Migratory flyways and connectivity of Brown Headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) revealed by GPS tracking. Global Ecology and Conservation 56(2024): e03340. Zhang DZ, She HS, Wang SY, Wang HT, Li S, Cheng YL, Song G, Jia CX, Qu YH,  Rheindt FE, Olsson U, Alström P and Lei FM*. Phylogenetic conflict between species tree and maternally inherited gene trees in a clade of Emberiza buntings (Aves: Emberizidae). Systematic Biology 73(2)(2024): 279-289. Zhao TH*, Heim W, Nussbaumer R, van Toor M, Zhang GM, Arne Andersson A, Bäckman J, Liu ZZ, Song G, Hellström M, Roved J, Liu Y, Bensch S, Wertheim, Lei FM* and Helm B*. Seasonal migration patterns of Siberian Rubythroat (Calliope calliope) facing the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Movement Ecology 12(2024): 54. Chen YL#, Ge DY#, Ericson PGP, Song G, Wen ZX, Luo X, Yang QS*, Lei FM* and Qu YH*. High alpine burrow sharing mammals and birds show similar population level vulnerability to climate change. Nature Climate Chang 13(2023): 990-996. Germain RR*#, Feng SH#, Chen GJ, Graves GR, Tobias JA, Rahbek C, Lei FM, Fjeldså J, Hosner PA, Gilbert MTP, Zhang GJ* and Nogués-Bravo D*. Species-specific traits mediate avian demographic responses under past climate change. Nature Ecology and Evolution (7)(2023): 862-872. Germain RR*, Feng SH, Buffan L, Carmona C, Chen GJ, Graves GR, Tobias JA, Rahbek C, Lei FM, Fjeldså J, Hosner P, Gilbert MTP, Zhang GJ* and Nogués-Bravo D*. Changes in global avian functional diversity over the last million years. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 120(7)(2023): e2201945119. Hao Y, Song G, Zhang YE, Zhai WW, Jia CX, Ji YZ, Tang SY, Lv HR, Qu YH* and Lei FM*. Divergent contributions of coding and noncoding sequences to initial high-altitude adaptation in passerine birds endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Molecular Ecology 32(13)(2023): 3524-3540. Hughes AC, Orr MC, Lei FM, Yang QM and, Qiao HJ*. Understanding drivers of global urban bird diversity. Global Environmental Change 76(2023):102588. Jiang ZY, Song G, Luo X, Zhang DZ, Lei FM and Qu YH*. Recurrent selection and reduction in recombination shape the genomic landscape of divergence across multiple population pairs of Green-backed Tit. Evolution Letters 7(2)(2023):99-111. Ng EYX#, Li SQ#, Zhang DZ, Garg KM, Song G, Martinez J, Manh HL, Tu VT, Fuchs J, Dong L, Olsson U, Huang Y, Alström P*, Rheindt FE* and Lei FM*. Genome-wide SNPs confirm plumage polymorphism and hybridization within a Cyornis flycatcher species complex. Zoologica Scripta 52(2023): 1-16. Qiao HJ#, Orr M#, Yang QM, Zhan XJ, Lei FM and Hughes AC*. Global birdwatching data reveal uneven consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Biological Conservation 288(2023): 110351. She HS, Hao Y, Song G, Luo X, Lei FM, Zhai WW and Qu YH*. Gene expression plasticity followed by genetic change during colonization a high elevation environment. eLife 12(2023): RP86687. Wu L#, Dang J#, Tang LF#, Cheng YL, Song G, Sun YH, Martens J, Päckert M, Alström P, Zhang DZ*, Jia CX* and Lei FM*. Limited song-mixing without genomic gene flow in a contact zone between two songbird species. Molecular Biology and Evolution 40(3)(2023): msad053. Xia H, Nilsson C, Thorup K*, Jia CX* and Lei FM*. Non-breeding movements of the black-tailed gull (Larus crassirostris). Avian Research 14(2023):100103. Zhang DZ#, She HS#, Rheindt FE, Wu L, Huan Wang, Zhang K, Cheng YL, Song G, Jia CX, Qu YH, Olsson U, Alström P and Lei FM*. Genomic and phenotypic changes associated with alterations of migratory behaviour in a songbird. Molecular Ecology 32(2)(2023): 381-392. Akhrorov D#, Cai TL#, Song G, Fan P, Abebe AF, He P and Lei FM*. Ecological constraints on elevational gradient of bird species richness in Tajikistan. Avian Research 13(2022): 100026. Bo TB#, Song G#, Tang SY, Zhang MR, Ma ZW, Lv HR, Wu Y, Zhang DZ, Yang L, Wang DH* and Lei FM*. Incomplete concordance of host phylogeny and gut microbial community in Tibetan wetland birds. Frontiers in Microbiology 13(2022): 848906. Chen XM#, Ji YZ#, Cheng YL#, Hao Y, Song G, Qu YH and Lei FM*. Comparison between short-term stress and long-term adaptive responses reveal common paths to molecular adaptation. iScience 25(2022): 103899. Chen YL#, Jiang ZY#, Ericson PGP, Song G, Luo X, Lei FM* and Qu YH*. The combination of genomic offset and niche modelling provides insights into climate change-driven vulnerability. Nature Communications 13(2022):4821. Dong F,* Zhang Q, Chen YL, Lei FM, Li SH and Yang XJ*. Potential millennial-scale avian declines by humans in southern China. Global Change Biology 28 (18)(2022): 5505-5513. Ji YZ, Feng SH, Wu L, Fang Q, Brüniche-Olsen A, DeWoody JA, Cheng YL, Zhang DZ, Hao Y, Song G, Qu YH, Suh A, Zhang GJ*, Hackett HJ* and Lei FM*. Orthologous microsatellites, transposable elements, and DNA deletions correlated with generation time and body mass in neoavian birds. Science Advances 8(2022): eabo0099. She HS, Jiang ZY, Song G, Ericson PGP, Luo X, Shao SM, Lei FM and Qu YH*. Quantifying adaptive divergence of the snowfinches in a common landscape. Diversity and Distributions 28(2022): 2579-2592. Xiong Y, Hao Y, Cheng YL, Fan LQ, Song G, Li DM, Qu YH and Lei FM*. Comparative transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis reveals pectoralis highland adaptation across altitudinal songbirds. Integrative Zoology 17(2022): 1162-78. Cai TL#, Quan Q#, Song G*, Wu YJ, Wen ZX, Zhang CL, Qu YH, Qiao GX and Lei FM*. Ecological and evolutionary constraints on regional avifauna of passerines in China. Current Zoology 67(4)(2021): 431-440. Cheng YL#, Miller MJ#, Zhang DZ, Xiong Y, Hao Y, Jia CX, Cai TL, Li SH, Johansson US, Liu Y, Chang YB, Song G, Qu YH and Lei FM*. Parallel genomic responses to historical climate change and high elevation in East Asian songbirds. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 118(50)(2021): e2023918118. Cobos ME, Cheng YL, Song G, Lei FM* and Peterson AT. New distributional opportunities with niche innovation in Eurasian snowfinches. Journal of Avian Biology (2021):e02868. Dong F, Kuo HC, Chen GL, Wu F, Shan PF, Wang J, Chen D, Lei FM, Hung CM*, Liu Y* and Yang XJ*. Population genomic, climatic, and anthropogenic evidence suggests the role of human forces in endangerment of green peafowl (Pavo muticus). Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 288(2021): 1948. Du YB#, Fan LQ#, Xu ZH, Wen ZX, Cai TL, Feijo A, Hu JH, Lei FM, Yang QS* and Qiao HJ*. A multi-faceted comparative perspective on elevational beta-diversity: the patterns and their causes. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 288(2021): 1949. Fan P, Fjeldså J, Liu X, Dong YF, Chang YB, Qu YH, Song G* and Lei FM*. An approach for estimating haplotype diversity from sequences with unequal lengths. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 12(2021):1658-1667. Li XJ, Wang XY, Yang C, Lin LL, Zhao L, Yu XP, Lei FM and Huang Y*.The De Novo Genome Sequencing of Silver Pheasant (Lophura nycthemera). Genome Biology and Evolution 13(12) (2021):1-5. Lin HY#, Song G#, Lei FM*, Li DM* and Qu YH*. Avian corticosteroid-binding globulin: biological function and regulatory mechanisms in physiological stress responses. Frontiers in Zoology 18(2021):22. Qu YH#*, Chen CH#, Chen XM#, Hao Y#, She HS, Wang MX, Ericson PGP, Lin HY, Cai TL, Song G, Jia CX, Chen CY, Zhang HL, Li J, Liang LP, Wu TY, Zhao JY, Gao Q, Zhang GJ, Zhai WW, Zhang C*, Zhang EY* and Lei FM*. The evolution of ancestral and species-specific adaptations in snowfinches at the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 118(2021):13. Wu L, Jiao XL, Zhang DZ, Cheng YL, Song G, Qu YH and Lei FM*. Comparative genomics and evolution of avian specialized traits. Current Genomics 22 (7)(2021): 496-511. Xiong Y and Lei FM*. SLC2A12 of SLC2 gene family in bird provides functional compensation for the loss of SLC2A4 gene in other vertebrates. Molecular Biology and Evolution 38(4)(2021): 1276-1291. Zhang DZ, Rheindt FE, Cheng YL, Song G, Jia CX, Qu YH, Alström P* and Lei FM*. Most genomic loci misrepresent the phylogeny of an avian radiation because of ancient gene flow. Systematic Biology 70(5)(2021): 961-975. Cai TL, Shao SM, Kennedy JD, Alström P, Moyle RG, Qu YH, Lei FM* and Fjeldså J. The role of evolutionary time, diversification rates and dispersal in determining the global diversity of a large radiation of passerine birds. Journal of Biogeography 47(2020):1612-1625. Cheng YL, Miller MJ, Zhang DZ, Song G, Jia CX, Qu YH and Lei FM*. Comparative genomics reveals evolution of a beak morphology locus in a high-altitude songbird. Molecular Biology and Evolution 37(10)(2020): 2983-2988. DuBay SG*, Wu YJ*, Scott GR, Qu YH, Liu Q, Smith JH, Xin C, Reeve AH, Chen JC, Meyer D, Wang J, Johnson J, Cheviron ZA, Lei FM and Bates J. Life history predicts flight muscle phenotype and function in birds. Journal of Animal Ecology 89(5)(2020):1262-1276. Feng SH#, Stiller J#, Deng Y#, Armstrong J#,… Lei FM (145th author),…Paten B* and Zhang GJ*. Dense sampling of bird diversity increases power of comparative genomics. Nature 587(7833)(2020):252-257. Gwee CY#, Garg KM#, Chattopadhyay B#, Sadanandan KR, Prawiradilaga DM, Irestedt M, Lei FM, Lee JGH, Irham M, Haryoko T, Rowe KMC, Ferasyi TR, Wu SY, Wogan GOU, Bowie RCK and Rheindt FE*. Phylogenomics of white-eyes, a “great speciator”, reveals Indonesian archipelago as the center of lineage diversity. eLife 9(2020): e62765. Lei FM* and Song G. Cheng Tso-Hsin: The Founder of China Modern Ornithology and Zoogeography. Protein & Cell 11(12)(2020):859-861. Li DM#, Davis JE#, Wang G, Bishop VR, Meddle SL, Wingfield JC* and Lei FM*. Coping with extremes: remarkably blunt adrenocortical responses to acute stress in two sympatric snow finches on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during winter relative to other seasons. General and Comparative Endocrinology 291(2020):113434. Li DM#. Davis JE#, Sun YF, Wang G, Nabi G, Wingfield JC* and Lei FM*. Coping with extremes: convergences of habitat use, territoriality, and diet in summer but divergences in winter between two sympatric snow finches on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Integrative Zoology 15(6)(2020):533-543. Qu YH*, Chen CH, Xiong Y, She HS, Zhang YE, Chen YL, DuBay S, Li DM, Ericson PGP, Hao Y, Wang HY, Zhao HF, Song G, Zhang HL, Yang T, Zhang C, Liang LP, Wu TY, Zhao JY, Gao Q, Zhai WW and Lei FM*. Rapid phenotypic evolution with shallow genomic differentiation during early stages of high elevation adaptation in Eurasian tree sparrow. National Science Review 7(2020):113-127. Song G, Zhang RY, Machado-Stredel F, Alström P, Johansson US, Irestedt M, Mays Jr. HL, McKay BD, Nishiumi I, Cheng YL, Qu YH, Ericson PGP, Fjeldså J, Peterson AT and Lei FM*. Great journey of Great Tits (Parus major group): origin, diversification, and historical demographics of a broadly-distributed bird lineage. Journal of Biogeography 47(2020):1585-1598. Xiong Y#, Fan LQ#, Hao Y, Cheng YL, Chang YB, Wang J, Lin HY, Song G, Qu YH and Lei FM*. Physiological and genetic convergence supports hypoxia resistance in high-altitude songbirds. PLOS Genetics 16(12)(2020):e1009270. Abebe AF, Cai TL, Song G, Fjeldså J, Wale M and Lei FM*. Species richness of breeding birds along the elevational gradients in the Horn of African Mountains. Ecology and Evolution 9(2019):9609-9623. Cai TL, Cibois A, Alström P, Moyle RG, Kennedy JD, Shao SM, Irestedt M, Qu YH, Lei FM* and Fjeldså J. Near-complete phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the world's babblers (Aves: Passeriformes). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 130(2019):346-356. Hao Y, Qu YH, Song G and Lei FM*. Genomic insights into convergent evolution. Current Genomics 20(2)(2019):81-89. Hao Y, Xiong Y, Cheng YL, Song G, Jia CX, Qu YH* and Lei FM*. Comparative transcriptomics of 3 high-altitude passerine birds and their low-altitude relatives. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 116(24)(2019):11851-11856. Jiang ZY#, Gao B#, Lei FM* and Qu YH*. Population genomics reveals that refugial isolation and habitat change lead to incipient speciation in the Ground tit. Zoologica Scripta 48(2019):277-288. Liao XP#, Yang RS#, Xia J#, Chen L, Zhang RM, Fang LX, Lei FM, Song G, Jia L, Han L, Bai SC, Bai R, Sun J and Liu YH*. High colonization rate of a novel carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella lineage among migratory birds in Qinghai Lake, China. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 74(10)(2019): 2895-2903. Xie P#, Shi JY#, Tang SY#, Chen CX, Khan A, Zhang FX, Xiong Y, Li C, He W, Wang GD, Lei FM, Wu YR* and Xie Q*. Control of bird feeding behavior by tannin1 through modulating the biosynthesis of polyphenols and fatty acid-derived volatiles in sorghum. Molecular Plant 12(10)(2019):1315-1324. Zhang DZ, Tang LF, Cheng YL, Hao Y, Xiong Y, Song G, Qu YH, Rheindt FE, Alström P, Jia CX* and Lei FM*. “Ghost introgression” as a cause of deep mitochondrial divergence in a bird species complex. Molecular Biology and Evolution 36(11)(2019): 2375-2386. Zhao M, Chang YB, Kimball RT, Zhao J, Lei FM* and Qu YH*. Pleistocene glaciations explain disjunction distribution of the Chestnut-vented Nuthatch (Aves, Sittidae). Zoologica Scripta 48(1)(2019): 33-45. Cai TL, Fjeldså J, Wu YJ, Shao SM, Chen YH, Quan Q, Li XH, Song G, Qu YH, Qiao GX and Lei FM*. What makes the montane regions of Sino-Himalaya as the diversity hotspots of pheasants? Journal of Biogeography 45(2018): 640-651. Chen XM, Qu YH, Cheng YL, Wang J, Lei XH, Song G, Zhang HS, Wang HT and Lei FM*. miR-19b-3p regulates MAPK1 expression in embryonic fibroblasts from the Great tit (Parus major) under hypoxic conditions. Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry 45(2018):546-560. Song G#, Zhang R#, Alström P, Irestedt M, Cai TL, Qu YH, Ericson PGP, Fjeldså J and Lei FM*. Complete taxon sampling of the avian genus Pica (magpies) reveals ancient relictual populations and synchronous Late-Pleistocene demographic expansion across the Northern Hemisphere. Journal of Avian Biology 49(2)(2018):e01612. Yang J, Qu YH, Huang Y* and Lei FM*. Dynamic transcriptome profiling towards understanding the morphogenesis and development of diverse feather in domestic duck. BMC Genomics 19(2018):391. Zhu XJ#, Guan YY#, Qu YH, Gabriel D, Song G* and Lei FM*. Elevational divergence in the great tit complex revealed by major hemoglobin genes. Current Zoology 64(4)(2018):455-464. Zhu XJ#, Guan YY#, Signore AV, Natarajan C, DuBay SG, Cheng YL, Han NJ, Song G, Qu YH, Moriyama H, Hoffmann FG, Fago A, Lei FM* and Storz JF*. Divergent and parallel routes of biochemical adaptation in high-altitude passerine birds from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 115(8)(2018): 1865-1870. Cheng YL#, Gao B#, Wang HT#, Han NJ, Shao SM, Song G, Wu SY, Zhang EY, Zhu XJ, Lu X, Qu YH* and Lei FM*. Evolution of beak morphology in the Ground Tit revealed by comparative transcriptomics. Frontiers in Zoology 14(2017):58. Dai CY*, Hao Y, He Y and Lei FM*. The absence of reproductive isolation between non-sister and deeply diverged mitochondrial lineages of the black-throated tit (Aegithalos concinnus) revealed by a multilocus genetic analysis in a contact zone. BMC Evolutionary Biology 17(2017):266. Dong F, Huang CM, Li XL, Gao JY, Zhang Q, Wu F, Lei FM*, Li SH* and Yang XJ*. Ice age unfrozen: severe effect of the last interglacial, not glacial, climate change on East Asian avifauna. BMC Evolutionary Biology 17(2017):244. Liu BY, Alström P*, Olsson U, Fjeldså J, Quan Q, Roselaar KCS, Saitoh T, Yao CT, Hao Y, Wang WJ, Qu YH and Lei FM*. Explosive radiation and spatial expansion of the Old World in an avian family. Ecology and Evolution 7(16)(2017):6346-6357. Liu L, Zhang J, Rheindt F, Lei FM, Qu YH, Wang Y, Sullivan C, Nie WH, Wang JH, Yang FT, Chen JP, Edwards S, Meng J and Wu SY*. Genomic evidence reveals a radiation of placental mammals uninterrupted by the KPg boundary. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 114(35)(2017):E7282-E7290. Sun YF, Li M, Song G, Lei FM, Li DM* and Wu YF*. The role of climate factors in geographic variation in body mass and wing length in a passerine bird. Avian Research 8(2017):1. Wu YJ, DuBay SG, Colwell RK, Ran JH and Lei FM*. Mobile hotspots and refugia of avian diversity in the mountains of south-west China under past and contemporary global climate change. Journal of Biogeography 44(3)(2017): 615-626. Zhang CL#, Quan Q#, Wu YJ, Chen YH, He P, Qu YH* and Lei FM*. Topographic heterogeneity and temperature amplitude explain species richness patterns of birds in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Current Zoology 63(2)(2017): 131-137. Zhang DZ#, Song G#, Gao B, Cheng YL, Qu YH, Wu SY, Shao SM, Wu YJ, Alström P and Lei FM*. Genomic differentiation and patterns of gene flow between two long-tailed tit species (Aegithalos). Molecular Ecology 26(23)(2017):6654-6665. Li XJ, Lin LL, Cui AM, Bai J, Wang XY, Xin C, Zhang Z, Yang C, Gao RR, Huang Y* and Lei FM*. Taxonomic status and phylogenetic relationship of tits based on mitogenomes and nuclear segments. Molecular Phylogenetic and Evolution 104(2016):14-20. Shao SM, Quan Q, Cai TL, Song G, Qu YH and Lei FM*. Evolution of body morphology and beak shape revealed by a morphometric analysis of 14 Paridae species. Frontiers in Zoology 13(2016):30. Song G#, Zhang RY#, DuBay SG, Qu YH, Dong L, Wang WJ, Zhang YY, Lambert DM and Lei FM*. Allopatric east and sympatric west, same population dynamics in the past: A multi-locus phylogeography of Long-tailed Tit across Eurasia continent. Zoologica Scripta 45(2016):115-126. Song G#, Zhang RY#, Qu YH, Wang ZH, Dong L, Kristin A, Alström P, Ericson PGP, Lambert D, Fjeldså J and Lei FM*. A zoogeographic break between the Palearctic and Sino-Japanese realms documented by consistent North / South genetic divergences in three woodland birds in eastern China. Journal of Biogeography 43(2016):2099-2112. Zhang Z, Wang XY, Huang Y, Olsson U, Martínez J, Alström P* and Lei FM*. Phylogeny of Cyornis flycatchers (Aves: Muscicapidae): unexpected divergence and lack of divergence revealed. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 94(2016):232-241. Zhao Min, Alström P, Olsson U, Qu YH* and Lei FM*. Phylogenetic position of the Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria. Journal of Ornithology 157(2016): 913-918. Alstrom P*, Xia CW, Rasmussen PC, Olsson U, Dai B, Zhao J, Learder PJ, Carey GJ, Dong L, Cai TL, Holt PI, Manh HL, Song G, Liu Y, Zhang YY and Lei FM*. Integrative taxonomy of the Russet Bush Warbler Locustella mandelli complex reveals a new species from central China. Avian Research 6(2015):9. Bi YH*, Zhang ZJ, Liu WJ, Yin YB, Hong JM, Li XD, Wang HM, Wong G, Chen JJ, Li YF, Ru WD, Gao RY, Liu D, Liu YX, Zhou BP, Gao GF, Shi WF* and Lei FM*. Highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus struck migratory birds in China in 2015. Scientific Reports 5(2015):12986. Lei FM*, Qu YH, Song G, Alström P. and Fjeldså J. The potential drivers in forming avian biodiversity hotspots in the East Himalaya Mountains of Southwest China. Integrative Zoology 10(2015):171-181. Li XJ, Huang Y* and Lei FM*. Comparative mitochondrial genomics and phylogenetic relationship of Crossoptilon species (Phasianidae, Galliformes). BMC Genomics 16(2015):42. Peterson AT*, Moyle RG*, Lei FM*, Campillo LC, Hosner PA, Klicka LB, Lim HC, Nyári ÁS, Qu YH, Reddy S, Sheldon FH and Zou FS. Avian evolution and speciation in the Southeast Asian tropics. Current Zoology 61(5)(2015): 898-900. Qu YH#, Tian S#, Han NJ, Zhao HW, Gao B, Tian SL, Cheng YL, Song G, Ericson PGP, Zhang Y, Wang DW, Quan Q, Jiang Z, Li RQ and Lei FM*. Genetic responses to seasonal variation in altitudinal stress: whole-genome resequencing of great tits in East Himalayas. Scientific Reports 5(2015): 14256. Qu YH, Song G, Gao B, Quan Q, Ericson PGP and Lei FM*. The influence of geological events on the endemism of East Asian birds studied through comparative phylogeography. Journal of Biogeography 42(2015):179-192. Quan Q, Qu YH and Lei FM*. Genetic diversification in the East Himalayas as revealed by comparative phylogeography of the black-throated bushtit and Elliot’s laughing thrush. Current Zoology 61(5)(2015):935-942. Shaner PJ, Tsao TH, Lin RC, Liang W, Ye CF, Yang XJ, Lei FM, Zhou F, Yang CC and Li SH*. Climate niche differentiation between two passerines despite ongoing gene flow. Journal of Animal Ecology 84(2015):829-839. Zhang GJ*, Rahbek C*, Graves GR*, Lei FM*, Jarvis ED* and Gilbert MTP*. Bird sequencing project takes off. Nature 522(7554)(2015):34. Alström P*, Hooper DM, Liu Y, Olsson U, Mohan D, Gelang M, Hung LM, Zhao J, Lei FM and Price TR. Discovery of a relict lineage and monotypic family of passerine birds. Biology Letters 10(3)(2014):20131067. Cui LB#, Liu D#, Shi WF#, Pan JC#, Qi X#, Li XB, Guo XL, Zhou MH, Li W, Li J, Xiao HX, Yu XF, Pu XY, Wu Y, Yu HY, Zhao KC, Zhu YF, Wu B, Jin T, Shi ZY, Tang FY, Zhu FC, Sun QL, Wu LH, Yang RF, Shi Y, Yan JH, Lei FM, Zhu BL, Liu WJ, Ma JC, Wang H and Gao GF*. Dynamic reassortments and genetic heterogeneity of the human-infecting influenza A (H7N9) virus. Nature Communications 5(2014):3142. Cui P*, Zhou DQ, Wu Y, Wu J, Lei JC, Shao MQ, Liu GH, Wu XD, Wu JD, Ji WT and Lei FM*. The ecological risks of avian influenza virus spread via migratory birds: A case study at Poyang Lake, China. Pakistan Journal of Zoology 46(6)(2014):1545-1555. Dong F, Zou FS, Lei FM, Liang W, Li SH* and Yang XJ*. Testing hypotheses of mitochondrial gene-tree paraphyly: unraveling mitochondrial capture of the Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler (Pomatorhinus ruficollis) by the Taiwan Scimitar Babbler (P. musicus). Molecular Ecology 23(2014):5855-5867. Lei FM*, Qu YH and Song G. Species diversification and phylogeographical patterns of birds in response to the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Quaternary glaciations. Current Zoology 60(2)(2014):149-161. Li XB, Zhang Z, Yu AL, Ho SYW, Carr MJ, Zheng WM, Zhang YZ, Zhu CD*, Lei FM* and Shi WF*. Global and local persistence featuring the migration dynamics of highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5N1 viruses. Emerging Infectious Diseases 20(8)(2014):1287-1295. Qu YH, Ericson PGP, Quan Q, Song G, Gao B, Zhang RY and Lei FM*. Long-term isolation and stability explain high genetic diversity in the Eastern Himalaya. Molecular Ecology 23(2014):705-720. Song G, Alström P*, Gao XB, Zhang YW, Gong HS, Holt PI, Quan Q, Yin ZH and Lei FM*. Rediscovery of an enigmatic Chinese passerine, the Blackthroat Calliope obscura: plumage, vocalizations, distribution, habitat choice, nesting and conservation. Journal of Ornithology 155(2014): 347-356. Wang WJ, Dai CY, Alström P, Zhang CL, Qu YH, Li SH, Yang XJ, Zhao N, Song G and Lei FM*. Past hybridization between two East Asian long-tailed tits (Aegithalos bonvaloti and A. fuliginosus). Frontiers in Zoology 11(2014): 40. Wu YJ, Colwell RK, Quan Q, Zhang CL and Lei FM*. Understanding historical and current patterns of species richness of babblers along a 5000-m subtropical elevational gradient. Global Ecology and Biogeography 23(2014): 1167-1176. Alström P*, Song G, Zhang RY, Gao XB, Holt PI, Olsson U and Lei FM*. Taxonomic status of Blackthroat Calliope obscura and Firethroat C. pectardens. Forktail 29(2013):52-57. Dai CY, Wang WJ and Lei FM*. Multilocus phylogeography (mitochondrial, autosomal and Z-chromosomal loci) and genetic consequences of long-distance male dispersal in Black-throated tits (Aegithalos concinnus). Heredity 110(5)(2013):457-465. Liu D#, Shi WF#, Shi Y, Wang DY, Xiao HX, Li W, Bi YH, Wu Y, Li XB, Yan JH, Liu WJ, Zhao GP, Yang WZ, Wang Y, Ma JC, Shu YL*, Lei FM* and Gao GF*. Origin and diversity of novel avian influenza A H7N9 viruses causing human infection: phylogenetic, structural, and coalescent analyses. Lancet 381(9881)(2013):1926-1932. Qu YH#, Zhao HW#, Han NJ, Zhou GY, Song G, Gao B, Tian SL, Zhang JB, Zhang RY, Meng XH, Zhang Y, Zhu XJ, Wang WJ, Lambert D, Ericson PGP, Yeung C, Zhu HM, Jiang Z, Li RQ* and Lei FM*. Ground tit genome reveals avian adaptation to living at high altitudes in the Tibetan plateau. Nature Communications 4(2013):2071. Song G, Yu LJ, Gao B, Zhang RY, Qu YH, Lambert DM, Li SH, Zhou TL and Lei FM*. Gene flow maintains genetic diversity and colonization potential in recently range-expanded populations of an Oriental bird, the Light-vented bulbul (Pycnonotus sinensis, Aves: Pycnonotidae). Diversity and Distribution 19(2013):1248-1262. Wang WJ, McKay BD, Dai CY, Zhao N, Zhang RY, Qu YH, Song G, Li SH, Liang W, Yang XJ, Pasquet E and Lei FM*. Glacial expansion and diversification of an East Asian montane bird, the green-backed tit (Parus monticolus). Journal of Biogeography 40(6)(2013):1156-1169. Wu YJ, Robert C, Rahbek C, Zhang CL, Quan Q, Wang CK and Lei FM*. Explaining the species richness of birds along a subtropical elevational gradient in the Hengduan Mountains. Journal of Biogeography 40(2013): 2310-2323. Xing XY, Alström P*, Yang XJ and Lei FM*. Recent northward range expansion promotes song evolution in a passerine bird, the Light-vented Bulbul. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 26(4)(2013):867-877. Lei FM*. Global endemism needs spatial integration. Science 335(2012): 284-285. Li DM, Wang G, Wingfield JC* and Lei FM*. A comparison of the adrenocortical responses to acute stress in cardueline finches from the Tibetan Plateau, Arctic Alaska and lowland Western North America. Journal of Ornithology 153(2012):761-770. Liu HT, Wang WJ, Song G, Qu YH, Li SH, Fjeldsa J and Lei FM*. Interpreting the process behind endemism in China by integrating the phylogeography and ecological niche models of the Stachyris ruficeps. PLOS ONE 7(10)(2012): e46761. Qu YH, Zhang RY, Quan Q, Song G, Li SH and Lei FM*. Incomplete lineage sorting or secondary admixture: disentangling historical divergence from recent gene flow in the Vinous-throated parrotbill (Paradoxornis webbianus). Molecular Ecology 21(2012):6117-6133. Zhang RY. Song G, Qu YH, Alström P, Ramos R, Xing XY, Ericson PG, Fjeldså J, Wang HT, Yang XJ, Kristin A, Shestopalov AM, Choe JC and Lei FM*. Comparative phylogeography of two widespread magpies: importance of habitat preference and breeding behavior on genetic structure in China. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 65(2012):562-572. Zhao N, Dai CY, Wang WJ, Zhang RY, Qu YH, Song G, Chen K, Yang XJ, Zou FS and Lei FM*. Pleistocene climate changes shaped the divergence and demography of Asian populations of the great tit Parus major: evidence from phylogeographic analysis and ecological niche models. Journal of Avian Biology 43(4)(2012):297-310. Cui P, Hou YS, Tang MJ, Zhang HT, Zhou YC, Yin ZH, Li TX, Guo S, Xing Z, He YB, Prosser DJ, Newman SH, Takekawa JY, Yan BP and Lei FM*. Movements of the Bar-headed Geese Anser indicus in relation to H5N1 spread during breeding and post breeding periods in Qinghai Lake, China. Journal of Ornithology 152(2011):83-92. Cui P, Hou YS, Xing Z, He YB, Li TX, Guo S, Luo Z, Yan BP, Yin ZH and Lei FM*. Bird migration and risk for H5N1 transmission into Qinghai Lake, China. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases 11(5)(2011):567-576. Lei FM* and Shi WF. Prospective of genomics in revealing transmission, reassortment and evolution of wildlife-borne avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses. Current Genomics 12(7)(2011):451-465. Qu YH, Luo X, Zhang RY, Song G, Zou FS and Lei FM*. Lineage diversification and historical demography of a montane bird Garrulax elliotii - implications for the Pleistocene evolutionary history of the eastern Himalayas. BMC Evolutionary Biology 11(2011):174. Qu YH, Zhang RY, Cui P, Song G, Duan ZY* and Lei FM*. Evolutionary genomics of the pandemic 2009 H1N1 (pH1N1v) influenza viruses. Virology Journal 8(2011):250. Qu YH, Lei FM*, Zhang RY and Lu X. Comparative phylogeography of five avian species: implications for Pleistocene evolutionary history in the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. Molecular Ecology 19(2)(2010):338-351. Kou Z, Li YD, Yin ZH, Guo S, Wang ML, Gao XB, Tang LJ, Jiang P, Xin Z, Ding CQ, He YB, Cui P, Zhao HF, Zhang Z, Tang S, Yan BP, Lei FM* and Li TX*. The survey of H5N1 flu virus in wild birds in 14 provinces of China from 2004 to 2007. PLOS ONE 4(9)(2009):e6926. Song G, Qu YH, Yin ZH, Li SH, Liu NF and Lei FM*. Phylogeography of the Alcippe morrisonia (Aves: Timaliidae): long population history beyond late Pleistocene glaciations. BMC Evolutionary Biology 9(2009):143. Li DM, Wang G, Wingfield JC, Zhang Z, Ding CQ and Lei FM*. Seasonal changes in adrenocortical responses to acute stress in Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus) from Tibetan Plateau: comparison with House Sparrow (P. domesticus) in North America and with the migratory P. domesticus bactrianus in Qinghai Province. General Comparative Endocrinology 158(1)(2008): 47-53. Luo X, Qu YH, Li SH, Han LX and Lei FM*. A phylogenetic analysis of laughingthrushes (Timaliidae: Garrulax) and their allies using mitochondrial and nucleotide sequences. Zoologica Scripta 38(1)(2008):9-22. Lei FM#, Tang S#, Zhao DL, Zhang XW, Kou Z, Li YD, Zhang Z, Yin ZH, Chen SL, Li SD, Zhang DH, Yan BP and Li TX*. Characterization of H5N1 influenza viruses isolated from migratory birds in Qinghai Province of China in 2006. Avian Diseases 51(2)(2007):568-572. Yang XJ, Lei FM*, Wang G and Jesse AJ. Syllable sharing and inter-individual syllable variation in Anna’s hummingbird Calypte anna songs, in San Francisco, California. Folia Zoologica 56(3)(2007):307-318. Lei FM*, Wang AZ, Wang G and Yin ZH. Vocalizations of red-necked snow finch, Pyrgilauda ruficollis on the Tibetan Plateau, China - a syllable taxonomic signal ?. Folia Zoologica 54(1-2)(2005):135-146. Kou Z, Lei FM*, Yu J, Fan ZJ, Yin ZH, Jia CX, Xiong KJ, Sun YH, Zhang XW, Wu XM, Gao XB and Li TX*. New genotype avian influenza H5N1 viruses were isolated from tree sparrows in China. Journal of Virology 79(24)(2005):15460-15466. Liu JH#*, Xiao HX#, Lei F#, Zhu Q, Zhang XW, Zhang XL, Zhao D, Wang G, Feng Y, Ma J, Liu W, Wang J and Gao GF*. Highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus infection in migratory birds. Science 309(5738)(2005):1206. Qu YH*, Ericson PG, Lei FM and Li SH. Postglacial colonization of the Tibet plateau inferred from the matrilineal genetic structure of the endemic red-necked snow finch, Pyrgilauda ruficollis. Molecular Ecology 14(6)(2005): 1767-1781.