CENTRAL ASIAN SCIENCE JOURNAL − Wild apple trees in Kazakhstan are said to have become increasingly “contaminated” by domestic apple trees, posing a threat to their survival. In parallel, research has determined the route of the Scythians, nomads originating from Mongolia.This article was originally published on Novastan’s French website on 26 April 2021. This scientific review will include: crossovers between Tian Shan apple trees and the risk that this poses to wild apple trees, a genome study on the Scythians, a group of nomadic steppe warriors from the 1st millennium BC, Kyrgyzstan’s mortality rate in recent decades and how identifying a potential habitat could better protect the Siberian Ibex.

The risk of crossover for wild apple trees

Malus sieversii is the ancestor from which all apple trees originate in the world. Native to the mountains of Central Asia, this wild apple tree is now found only in the Tian Shan mountain range. Classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), crossovers with domestic apple trees, named Malus domestica, raise fears for the survival of this species. In an article published in the journal Genes on January 15, South Korean researchers studied the genetic diversity of eleven populations of wild and domestic apple trees located in the Kazakh section of Tian Shan. By focusing on thirteen genetic markers, they were able to map the genetic proximity of the 102 samples studied. Although this genetic diversity is quite similar to what has been observed in previous studies, the transfer of genes from cultivated apple trees to wild apple trees is greater than previously recorded. Researchers suggest that the spread of apple tree cultivation to areas where wild apple trees have historically grown is the reason behind the increasing crossovers.

The study also revealed facts about another wild species, Malus niedzwetzkyana, a tree which yields fruit with characteristically red flesh. Analyses reveal that the integrity of this endangered species may already have been compromised by crossovers with domestic apple trees in the few areas it can be found. In the future, the acceleration of hybridization coupled with the decline in the population of wild apple trees could lead to the disappearance of these species altogether. These trees are also an invaluable resource when it comes to genes used to improve crop varieties. Their preservation is therefore extremely important.

The Scythians, conquering the Iron Age steppes

The beginning of the 1st millennium BC is a pivotal moment in Central Asian history. At this time, a collection of peoples sharing similar mortuary rites, united under the term ‘Scythian’ cultures, changed the history of this region. At the beginning of the Iron Age, (-1100 − 400 AD) the Scythians transformed from sedentary people to nomadic warriors. Such a transition was enabled by new iron weapons and new riding techniques, such as the introduction of the saddle. An international study published on March 26 in Advanced Sciences focused on studying the genome of Scythian tombs in order to reconstruct the emergence and spread of this nomadic culture. The genomes of 111 individuals found in graves dating from 850 BC. J-C to 950 AD. J-C have been sequenced and compared to older genomes from several parts of Central Asia, as well as to the DNA of present-day Kazakhs. The analysis, carried out by researchers at the Max Planck Institute and the Almaty Institute of General Genetics and Cytology, revealed complex processes of population mixing. The origins of the spread of this nomadic culture can be found in the Kazakh steppes, where populations already present in the Bronze Age (2700 to 900 BC) mixed with peoples from a large region in the north of Mongolia and also with the peoples of southern Central Asia. As a result of this mixture, the Sarmatians and the East Scythians emerged in the Urals and Altai respectively, and subsequently spread across the Kazakh steppe from 800 to 100 BC. From the end of the Iron Age to 500 AD, the study reveals a continuous flow from eastern Eurasia to southern Kazakhstan and Persia. Finally, the comparison with the DNA of current Kazakhs shows that their genetic profile cannot solely be modelled from these ancient migrations. This suggests that the genetic homogeneity of the Kazakh ethnicity most certainly dates from the establishment of the Kazakh Khanate in the 15 century.

Trends in infant mortality in Kyrgyzstan

A study published last March and funded by Unicef in The Lancet Global Health looked at infant mortality in Kyrgyzstan from 1990 to 2018. Based on public data, researchers determined that infant mortality declined by 46% over this period. This reduction, compared to the 70% drop observed on average in the rest of Central Asia, varies by region. The analysis suggests that this decrease in mortality is mainly due to the increase in breastfeeding in the first hour after birth. The number of stillbirths remained constant, while deaths among children under five fell 69%, reflecting the trend observed in the rest of Central Asia. The black mark in Kyrgyzstan is the number of maternal deaths during childbirth, which has fallen by just 7%, compared to 54% in other Central Asian countries. The researchers also determined the main reasons for these deaths. Better management of premature births and the associated risks of infection and pneumonia could save nearly 4,000 newborns by 2030. Micronutrient supplementation for mothers would also greatly reduce their risk of death. With a set of other measures listed by the authors, around 600 lives could be saved each year in Kyrgyzstan by 2030.

Determining a potential habitat for the Capra Sibirica could help protect it

Finally, information has grown concerning the habitat of the Siberian ibex. Capra sibirica is a Central Asian ibex classified as “Near Threatened” by IUCN and very commonly found in Tian Shan. In order to better protect them, a study published in Scientific reports on March 16 attempted to determine a potential habitat for this species. By focusing on a small number of environmental factors, such as roughness of terrain, altitude, distance to a water source or type of vegetation, the researchers were able to define the main determinants for the site selection. This species has the particularity of seeing males and females choose different habitats during the summer season. Using the factors mentioned above, the scientists identified potential areas that meet their needs. Females seem to prefer rougher terrain which provides better safety for their cubs and is normally situated closer to a water source. Generally speaking, males prefer moderately uneven terrain at higher altitudes. This difference in altitude is believed to be due to the males’ increased sensitivity to heat. Higher altitude also allows them to avoid being bitten by certain insects that are present at lower altitudes. This work could be useful in choosing the areas that should be preserved in order to better protect the Siberian Ibex and its habitat.  

Written by Anthony Vial

Translated from French by Alice Coveney

Edited by Maya Ivanova

For more news and analysis from Central Asia, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Telegram, Linkedin or Instagram.

The post Apple Trees, Scythians and Ibex: Research Summary in Central Asia appeared first on Novastan English.

CENTRAL ASIA SCIENCE REVIEW − Thanks to images provided by US intelligence agencies, researchers have been able to observe the recession of glaciers in Central Asia.  In other news, Uzbek remains from the Iron Age have been examined to determine their origins. This article was originally published on Novastan’s French website on 27 October 2021. Many research studies conducted by local and international institutes and universities shed light on Central Asia. Novastan brings you a selection of recent studies on the region.

Tian Shan glaciers in constant recession since the 1960s

Because of global warming, melting glaciers in Asia will have direct consequences for the populations of Central Asia and their access to water. Studying the evolution of the glaciers is therefore crucial to foresee the consequences. However, estimations of the glaciers’ volume, via satellite observation, are rather recent and do not go back further than thirty years. In order to reconstruct the path of evolution prior to that date, an international team, including researchers from the Almaty Institute of Geography (located in southern Kazakhstan), have used an unexpected source of data: US intelligence agencies. In their study published last July in Nature Communications, scientists explain that they used satellite images from the US program CORONA, which operated between 1959 and 1972. These spy satellites were used by the US to monitor the USSR during the Cold War by taking images with a two-metre resolution. By using images from CORONA KH-4 and KH-9 which feature Asian glaciers, researchers were able to extend the estimation of the glaciers’ volume to the beginning of the 1960s. The results of their study show that the seven researched regions all suffered from a loss of ice mass during this time period, the main region being the northern part of the Tian Shan. Research also shows that this loss is strongly linked with summer temperatures. Read more on Novastan:Climate change could lead to ever more fluctuated temperatures in Central Asia Furthermore, the scientists state that in the Tian Shan, some glaciers have already permanently receded, whereas others that had seemed more stable are now starting to suffer from global warming, showing significant decline. This report shines a new light on the long-term evolution of glaciers, particularly within Central Asia. It could help to better understand the melting phenomenon which is linked to global warming and therefore to anticipate its consequences on Central Asia’s ecosystems and populations. The genetic origins of the Iron Age Uzbeks The different peoples and ethnicities of Central Asia have complex origins, which the latest gene sequencing developments are trying to decipher. To this end, a study published on 28 July in Molecular Biology and Evolution has focused on Iron Age Uzbek populations to determine their origins. By using genetic markers, scientists investigated the genome extracted from 27 individuals whose remains date back to the Iron Age (about 2100 to 1500 years ago) and had been found in southern modern-day Uzbekistan. By focusing on variations in single base pairs in DNA, researchers were able to determine continuity between Bronze Age populations of Iranian and Anatolian ancestry and Iron Age populations. However, their work reveals an increase in mixing with other steppe populations during the latter period. These results provide a better understanding of the cultural diversity of Iron Age peoples in this region by identifying the genetic differences present in them. The special case of fish diversity in Uzbekistan In other news about Uzbekistan, a study published on 19 August in Scientific Reports looked at the genetic diversity of fish in the country. Uzbekistan’s geographical situation is special because it is one of only two endorheic countries in the world – in other words, none of its rivers flow into any sea or ocean. This configuration makes it a closed river system that affects the biological diversity of fish. Bakhtiyor Sheraliev, from the Faculty of Life Sciences at Fergana State University, and his co-author Zuogang Peng, therefore wanted to survey the diversity of fish in this particular system. To do this, they collected 666 fish specimens from several rivers and lakes. These were found to belong to 59 different fish species. Read more on Novastan:Talas and its people: life by a Central Asian river affected by climate change The researchers identified the species by combining morphometric measurements with known genetic markers, thus making it possible to differentiate between each species. The results of their study show that the already low diversity of fish in Uzbek waters has continued to decline in recent years. Of the species identified, a handful are considered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature to be endangered. This study demonstrates the possibility of using a genetic identification approach to survey fish populations more quickly and accurately than conventional methods. In addition, the results reveal details of the current ecological diversity in Uzbekistan, which can be used to better protect threatened species and their ecosystems. Genetics reveal the appearance of Stipa capillata Also published in Scientific Reports are details about an international team which succeeded in sequencing the genome of Stipa capillata.  The study was published on 28 July. This plant, which is one of the most widespread feathered grasses in Europe and Asia, is found extensively on the steppes of Central Asia. Knowing the distribution of the various species of the Stipa genus in these environments makes it possible to classify them to monitor their evolution, which is a particularly important task in the context of climate change. By sequencing the genome of specimens collected in Kyrgyzstan for the first time, the scientists were able to trace the origin of the Stipa genus. The analysis of the genome made it possible to estimate that the genus appeared around 4.39 million years ago. This study contributes to a better understanding of the steppe ecosystem, in particular to the diversity of plants, which remains insufficiently documented.  

Written by Anthony Vial

Translated from French by Leopoldine Rigaud

Edited by Mari Paine

For more news and analysis from Central Asia, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Telegram, Linkedin or Instagram.

The post The recession of the Tian Shan glaciers and other recent studies appeared first on Novastan English.

A team of international researchers discovered a brontosaurus-like Sauropod fossil in Uzbekistan this February. Dubbed Dzharatitanis kingi, this fossil is the first of its kind found in Central Asia.

This article was originally published on Novastan’s French website on 19 March 2021.

Researchers Hans-Dieter Sues and Alexander Averianov published an article in the scientific journal PLOS One announcing the discovery of a vertebra from a sauropod dinosaur from the same family as the brontosaurus on 24 February 2021.

Want more Central Asia in your inbox? Subscribe to our newsletter here.

The dinosaur, found in the Kyzylkum Desert in western Uzbekistan, is the first of its kind in Asia. The researchers named it Dzharatitanis Kingi, a reference to the region it was discovered as well as a tribute to the late Christopher King, a geologist who took part in the work.

According to Russian media outlet Sputnik, the Dzharatitanis Kingi would have lived on a coastal plain in the west of the Asian continent near the ancient Tethys Ocean 100 million years ago in the Cretaceous period and would have been nearly 20 metres in length.

The first fossil of this type in Central Asia

Sputnik adds that, up until now, any remains from the Rebbachisauridae family, to which the Dzharatitanis kingi belongs, have only been found in North Africa, North America and Europe.

As such, discovering this fossil in this region of Asia supports the theory that continents were grouped together in the early Cretaceous period. During much of the Cretaceous period, Asia was separated from Europe by a strip of water called the Turgai Strait. Scientists believe an earth bridge linked the two.

Important research work carried out in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan

In an interview with Novastan, the paleontologist Hans-Dieter Sues, a senior scientist at the Smithsonian in Washington DC and co-author of the article, confirmed that this discovery was the result of a long research effort that began in the 1970s.

The work leading up to the discovery of this fossil, Sues explained, was carried out under the direction of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan. He also pointed out the crucial role of the Russian paleontologist Lev Nesov: “Until the 1970s it was known that there were dinosaur fossils in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan but it was not until then that a scientist from St. Petersburg State University, Lev A. Nesov, systematically searched for fossils.”

He also indicated that it was not until Uzbekistan gained independence in 1991 that Western researchers could join Lev Nessov’s project. The research team is now made up of Uzbek, Russian, British and American researchers. After Nesov’s death in 1995, his former student Alexander Averianov, of the Russian Institute of Zoological Sciences, took on the role of co-leader of the expeditions.

This discovery is only the beginning of a long research effort in the region. “Central Asia still has a lot of potential in the search for fossils,” Hans Sues concluded.

Joanna Blain
Novastan.org

Translated from French by Alice Coveney

For more news and analysis from Central Asia, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Telegram, Linkedin or Instagram.

The post Uzbekistan: researchers discover new dinosaur species appeared first on Novastan English.

February saw a meeting between South Korea and Uzbekistan focusing on space exploration and exploitation for peaceful purposes. This meeting was one in a series of diplomatic gatherings showing Uzbekistan’s growing ambitions to travel to outer space.

A version of this article was originally published on Novastan’s French website on 22 February 2021.

Uzbekistan is establishing greater diplomatic cooperation with South Korea to launch peaceful space exploration.

As the Uzbek press agency Dunyo reported, representatives from the Uzbek embassy in South Korea met with members of the South Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and the company SI Imaging Services on 15 February 2021. They discussed cooperation in space research and exploitation for peaceful purposes.

Want more Central Asia in your inbox? Subscribe to our newsletter here.

The parties noted there had been progress despite the coronavirus pandemic. Several rounds of talks took place between experts from the Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technologies of the Republic of Korea, KARI, the Ministry for the Development of Information Technologies and Communications of Uzbekistan and the Uzbek state space agency O’zbekkosmos. They have formed a working group to discuss further cooperation.

Representatives from both countries emphasised their intention to continue their cooperation and joint experiments, with a subsequent meeting of the working group expected to take place shortly, once again via videoconference.

A partnership with potential

The Uzbek-Korean space venture is part of a strategic partnership between the two countries, inaugurated when the South Korean president Moon Jae-In visited Central Asia in April 2019. This official visit also included Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

Moon and his Uzbek counterpart, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, established bilateral relations and a strategic partnership by signing a series of agreements regarding “the promotion and mutual protection of investments, exploration of space for peaceful purposes, cooperation in science, technology and innovation, creation of the Uzbek-Korean center for cooperation in the health sector, among others” according to the official website of the Uzbek presidential administration. The cooperation will cost over 12 billion dollars (£8.7 billion).

The working group on space exploration and exploitation was created after this meeting. On 19 April 2019, the South Korean science minister You Young-Min and his Uzbek counterpart Shuxrat Sadikov signed a memorandum of understanding on bilateral cooperation in the space sector in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent.

Uzbekistan’s space ambitions

Uzbekistan is discussing space exploration projects with various states other than South Korea, including France, China and Kazakhstan.

Russia also aims to fulfill Uzbekistan’s space exploration ambitions. Russian media outlet Sputnik reported that Russia and Uzbekistan have prepared an agreement on space cooperation. According to the Russian ambassador in Uzbekistan Vladimir Tyurdenev, this document could be signed in 2021 during the next Russian-Uzbek bilateral summit.

Outer space is an important issue in Uzbek politics: the creation of the Uzbekkosmos agency by Shavkat Mirziyoyev in 2019 showed the country’s ambition to get back into this sector, active under the Soviet Union. For example, the Uzbek government is planning to launch its own communication satellites to improve digital communications, in cooperation with Kazakhstan.

Arnaud Muller
Novastan.org

Translated from French by Alice Coveney

The post Uzbekistan and South Korea to cooperate on space exploration appeared first on Novastan English.