biostudies-literatureUnknown68(4)Yao HNational Survey on Terrestrial Wildlife Resources in ChinaDeciphering the role of climatic oscillations in species divergence helps us understand the mechanisms that shape global biodiversity. The cold-adapted species may have expanded their distribution with the development of glaciers during glacial period. With the retreat of glaciers, these species were discontinuously distributed in the high-altitude mountains and isolated by geographical barriers. However, the study that focuses on the speciation process of cold-adapted species is scant. To fill this gap, we combined population genetic data and ecological niche models (ENMs) to explore divergence process of snow partridge (<i>Lerwa lerwa</i>). <i>Lerwa lerwa</i> is a cold-adapted bird that is distributed from 4,000 to 5,500 m. We found 2 genetic populations within <i>L. lerwa</i>, and they Current zoology489-498https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9450178biostudies-literatureInter-glacial isolation caused divergence of cold-adapted species: the case of the snow partridge.PMC9450178Ran QWang NGuo KWang PZhang ZZhang YYang AYao HWang ZLiu GfalseInter-glacial isolation caused divergence of cold-adapted species: the case of the snow partridge.Deciphering the role of climatic oscillations in species divergence helps us understand the mechanisms that shape global biodiversity. The cold-adapted species may have expanded their distribution with the development of glaciers during glacial period. With the retreat of glaciers, these species were discontinuously distributed in the high-altitude mountains and isolated by geographical barriers. However, the study that focuses on the speciation process of cold-adapted species is scant. To fill this gap, we combined population genetic data and ecological niche models (ENMs) to explore divergence process of snow partridge (<i>Lerwa lerwa</i>). <i>Lerwa lerwa</i> is a cold-adapted bird that is distributed from 4,000 to 5,500 m. We found 2 genetic populations within <i>L. lerwa</i>, and they 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Aug2025-04-04T23:14:14.156Z2025-04-04T23:14:14.156ZS-EPMC94501783609014710.1093/cz/zoab075