Island biogeography of soil microbes on island of the Thousand Island Lake, China
Microbes are known to exhibit biogeographic patterns. However, we know little about the biogeography of island-dwelling microorganisms. Here, we use soil microbial data, collected from 29 islands of the Thousand Island Lake in China, to explore patterns and determinants of bacterial and fungal diversity on actual islands. Our results showed that habitat fragmentation would increase the extinction risk of both soil bacteria and fungi, but the loss of bacterial and fungal richness in small islands was driven by different ecological mechanisms. Therefore, the conservation strategies for bacteria and fungi should be different.
Effects of species' ecological differences on invasion outcome in bacterial microcosms
There is increasing awareness of invasion in microbial communities worldwide, but the mechanisms behind microbial invasions remain poorly understood. Specifically, we know little about how the ecological differences between invaders and natives regulate invasion success and impact. By using laboratory bacterial microcosms as model systems, we experimentally assessed the roles of invader-native relatedness, niche and fitness differences for the success of bacterial invaders and their impact on native bacterial community structure. Our study illustrated the utility of applying modern coexistence theory for a more mechanistic understanding of microbial invasions.
Community phylogenetic structure and plant invasion during 50 years of succession to temperate forest
Photo from http://www.ecostudies.org/bss
Examining changes over ecological succession is an important step to mechanistically understand community assembly processes and plant invasion. In a research collaboration with Marc Cadotte at University of Toronto and Scott Meiners at Eastern Illinois University, we are using data collected from a long-term experimental study - the Buell-Small Succession Study, to examine patterns of phylogenetic structure and plant invasion during succession. Our study will add a better perspective how species colonization and extinction is critical in shifting community phylogenetic structure, and highlight the importance of long term demographic data in resolving Darwin’s naturalization conundrum.
Link to Buell-Small Succession Study
Link to Buell-Small Succession Study
Phylogenetic relatedness and invader success in Heishiding experimental grassland
Heishiding Grassland Experiment is a project designed to investigate the effects of biodiversity and nitrogen deposition on plant invasion, and the effect of plant invasion and nitrogen addition on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. In 2008, an arable field was divided into 1152 plots, we established plant assemblages that varied in species richness and crossed this gradient in diversity with nitrogen addition. Identical assemblages were either uninvaded or invaded with Ambrosia artemisiifolia. Since 2009, I have been the managing director and data manager of this project. My research has been focused on understanding phylogenetic relatedness and the effect of biodiversity on the performance of the invader.
Effect of diversity on community recover and phytoremediation efficiency of mining wasteland
In 2007, using a species pool of about 40 plant species, a large field experimental base was planted at a copper mine tailings wasteland in East China, and the vegetation development was investigated every year. We also monitored the soil characteristics including fertility parameters and the accumulation of heavy metals at the same time. As a grounds manager, I worked on vegetation survey and plot maintenance. I also divided the field into 200 plots that varied in species richness and composition, trying to understand how species diversity correlates with community recover and phytoremediation efficiency in the restoration.
Co-executor of the Aquatic Algal Microcosm Experiment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function
We subjected aquatic algal microcosm ecosystems of varying species richness to a representative cadmium (Cd) contamination scenario, to disentangle the effects of species richness on Cd removal efficiencies of the constructed algal microcosms for bioremediation of Cd contamination, and the mechanisms underlying these effects.Our results suggest that biodiversity may be an important but previously underemphasized factor of restoration ecology and pollution remediation.