Comparative transcriptomics revealed distinct genetic bases of the related toad species adapt to high altitudes and karst caves

In this study, we collected tadpoles of O. rhodostigmatus, O. omeimontis, O. popei, O. major and S. boulengeri occurring from elevations of 1360 m, 1300 m, 1400 m, 2500 m and 3700 m, respectively, and obtained their transcriptomic data using high-throughput sequencing. We used approaches of comparative transcriptomics to get knowledges on the following aspects: whether there are obvious selection on genetic structures of S. boulengeri for its high-elevation adaptation as well as of O. rhodostigmatus for its karst cave adaptation, and whether there was continuing evolution clues of highland adaptation with increasing elevations among O. omeimontis, O. popei, O. major and S. boulengeri.