Prof. Dr. Maihe Li

Education 

• 1996 - 1999: Dr. rer. net. techn. (Supervisors: Prof. Herbert Aulitzky, Prof. Hanno Richter), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
• 1994 - 1996: Degree in Forest Ecology (Supervisor: Prof. Herbert Aulitzky), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
• 1993 - 1994: Shanghai  International Studies University, China
• 1990 - 1991: Teacher's vocational studies, Forestry University Nanjing, China 
• 1981 - 1985: Degree in Forestry, Central-South University of Forestry & Technology, China   

My Brief Curriculum Vitae (PDF)

Research interests

My research interests mainly concentrate on high-elevation ecosystems, global change ecology, and aboveground-belowground interactions of the plant-soil system in a rapidly changing world. My current research projects focus on ecophysiological responses, acclimation, and adaptation of plants/trees and their ecosystems to environmental change such as increasing air temperature, more severe and more frequent drought events, greater nitrogen deposition, and their interactions.

• 1) Editorial Board Member (2020 - present): Journal of Plant Ecology
• 2) Academic Editor (2014 - present): PLoS ONE
• 3) Advisory Review Board (2019 - present): iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry
• 4) Associate Editor (2010 - 2018): iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry
• 5) Editorial Board Member (2011 - 2019): Ecological Processes
• 6) Associate Editor (2009 - 2020): Journal of Plant Ecology
• 7) Referee (2007 – 2009): Cheung Kong Scholars Programme (Hong Kong, China)
• 8) Referee (2017): Tan Kah Kee Science Award Foundation (China)
• 9) International Reviewer (2017, 2020): The Strategic Priority Research Program, Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS

• Since 2018: Senior Scientist, Ecophysiology, Forest dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Switzerland
• 2003 - 2018: Research Scientist, Ecophysiology, Forest dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Switzerland
• 2018 - present: Adjunct Professor, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, China
• Nov. 2012. Visiting Professor, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, China
• 2011. Honorary Professor, Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS
• 2018 - present: Guest Research Professor, Institute of Applied Ecology IAE, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• 2009 - 2018: Adjunct Research Professor, Institute of Applied Ecology IAE, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• 2006 - 2009: Guest Lecture Professor, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences UCAS
• 2006 - 2008: Guest Lecture Professor, College of Forestry, Central-South University of Forestry & Technology, China
• 2004 - 2009: Adjunct Research Professor, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment IMDE, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• 2001 - 2003: Post-Doc, Long-term Forest Ecosystem Research LWF, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL (with Dr. Norbert Kräuchi), Switzerland
• 2000 - 2001: Post-Doc, Institute of Botany, University of Basel (with Prof. Christian Körner), Switzerland
• 1999 - 2000: Post-Doc, Austrian Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape (with Hofrat Director Friedrich Ruhm), Austria
• 1996 - 1997: 8-month Research Assistant, Horticulture Research Center of Westfalen-Lippe (with Prof. Jürgen Matschke), Germany
• 1985 - 1994: Lecturer, Central-South University of Forestry & Technology, China

• Member of The Ecological Society of America (ESA)
• Member of the Gesellschaft fuer Ökologie - The Ecological Society of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (GfÖ)
• Member of The International Association for Ecology (INTECOL)

ORCID

Publons

Google Scholar Citation 

My full list of publications (PDF)

Previous research projects

• 21) Interactive effects of N and water on plant carbon physiology in semi-arid grasslands (using experimental sites in Xilinhaote experiments, Erguna research station) (in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Xingguo Han, Yong Jiang, Zhuwen Xu, Zhenwen Wang etc., 2010 - present)
• 20) Leaf triats of various tree species in a community in relation to environmental changes, funded by China West Normal University (2019 - 2020. Project participants: Zhong Du and Yanli Zhang)
• 19) Effects of drought duration on phenology, growth and physiology of Fagus sylvatica and Quercus petraea trees. China Scholarship Council CSC (No. 201703270004. 2018 - 2019; Project participant: Xiaogai Ge, Shennan Ouyang, Yue Yang etc.)
• 18) Drought effects on phenology with emphasis on reproductive phenology and the underlying physiological mechanisms in pine trees. Sino-Swiss Science and Technology Cooperation SSSTC (No. EG 06-032016. 2016 – 2018; Project participant: Peng He)
• 17) Spring recovery ability of previously drought-stressed trees in relation to resource storage. China Scholarship Council CSC (No. 201803270002. 2018 – 2019; Project participant: Yue Yang, Lijun Wu etc.)
• 16) Physiological coupling mechanisms of carbon and nutrient dynamics underlying the drought-induced decline of Scots pine. Swiss National Science Foundation SNF (No. 31003A_157126. 2015 – 2019; Project participant: Leonie Schönbeck etc.).
• 15) Ecophysiological mechanisms determining the elevational limits of different life forms: trees vs. shrubs vs. forbs. The National Natural Science Foundation of China NSFC (No. 41371076. 2014 – 2017; Project participant: Xue Wang etc.).
• 14) The alpine treeline dynamics and the underlying mechanisms in a changing world. The Fundamental Research Funds of the Academy of Forestry Sciences (No. CAFYBB2014ZD001. 2014 – 2017, in collaboration with Prof. Jingpin Lei).
• 13) Carbon dynamics and balance of woody plants at the respective upper limits – shrubs vs. trees across Eurasia. Sino-Swiss Science and Technology Cooperation SSSTC (No. EG 06-032015. 2015 – 2016; Project participant: Xue Wang etc.).
• 12) Ontogenetic effects on C-, N- and P-allocation in deciduous and evergreen trees under air warming. China Scholarship Council CSC (No. 201303270003. 2014 – 2015; Project participant: Jianfeng Liu)
• 11) Tree Height-diameter Relationships in the Alpine Treeline Ecotone Compared with Those in Closed Forests on Changbai Mountain, Northeastern China. China Scholarship Council CSC (No. 201604910644. 2016 – 2017; Project participant: Xiaoyu Wang).
• 10) Patterns and mechanisms of the high-mountain landscapes. Open-End Research Fund of the State Key Laboratory for Forest and Soil Ecology, China (No. LFSE2013-01. 2013 – 2014; Project participant: Xue Wang etc.).
• 9) Dynamics of the semi-arid grassland-forest boundary and the underlying mechanisms. Open-End Research Fund of the State Key Laboratory for Forest and Soil Ecology, China (No. LFSE2015-03, 2015 - 2015; Project participant: Wentao Lu etc.).
• 8) Carbon balance and the alpine treeline dynamics under climate change. The National Natural Science Foundation of China NSFC (No. 40771071. 2008 – 2010; Project participants: Hongli Pan and Zhong Du).
• 7) Carbon- and nutrient-physiology of trees growing at their northernmost limits compared to the upper limits. The China National Public Welfare Foundations of State Forestry Administration (Key Program. No. CAFIFEEPZBB2007001. 2007 – 2011, in collaboration with Prof. Wenfa Xiao and Zuoming Shi)
• 6) Comparing and linking the δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O in needles and tree rings for understanding the past physiology in trees. Sino-Swiss Science and Technology Cooperation SSSTC (No. EG 44-092011. 2012 - 2012; Project participant: Caifeng Yan).
• 5) Effects of global changes on soil Collembola. Sino-Swiss Science and Technology Cooperation SSSTC (No. EG 07-092009. 2009 - 2009; Project participant: Guoliang Xu).
• 4) The reaction of soil fauna to environment changes. (Swiss) Staatssekretariat für Bildung und Forschung SBF (No. 2007.0266. 2007 – 2008; Project participant: Guoliang Xu)
• 3) Physiological mechanisms of the alpine treeline formation in areas of the Gonggan Mts. The National Natural Science Foundation of China NSFC (No. 30540039. 2006 - 2006; Project participant: Junyan Zhang).
• 2) Climate change effects on wetland landscape in Zoige, eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. China Scholarship Council CSC (No. 2004851026. 2004 – 2005; Project participant: Pengfei Qiu).
• 1) Radial growth responses of Cryptomeria japonica to the climate. Open-End Research Fund of the key laboratory of ecological processes at Institute of Mountain Hazards and Development CAS (2005 - 2005; Project participant: Xiaohu Cai).

Courses

• Mountain Ecology and Environment (20 hrs)
• Plant Carbohydrates (6 hrs)

(Joint) Post-Docs

• 1) Dr. Xiao-Hu Cai (2005 - 2005)
• 2) Dr. Pengfei Qiu (2007 - 2008)
• 3) Dr. Guoliang Xu (2008 - 2010)
• 4) Dr. Caifeng Yan (2012 - 2014, in collaboration with Professor Dr. Xingguo Han at Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
• 5) Dr. Xin Sui (2016 - 2018, in collaboration with Professor Dr. Hongwei Ni at Heilongjiang Academy of Forestry, China)

(Joint) PhD Students

• 1) Jun-Yan Zhang (2004 - 2008, co-supervised with Prof. Dr. Genwei Cheng at University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)
• 2) Hong-Li Pan (2006 - 2009)
• 3) Zhong Du (2007 - 2010)
• 4) Caifeng Yan (2009 - 2012, co-supervised with Professor Dr. Shijie Han at University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)
• 5) Xue Wang (2012 - 2015, co-supervised with Professor Dr. Yong Jiang at University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)
• 6) Xiaoyu Wang (2015 - 2018, co-supervised with Professor Dr. Limin Dai and Dapao Yu at University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)
• 7) Leonie Schönbeck (2015 - 2019, co-supervised with Professor Dr. Kahmen Ansgar at University of Basel)
• 8) Peng He (2016 - 2019, co-supervised with Professor Dr. Yong Jiang at University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)
• 9) Yu Cong (2016 - 2019, co-supervised with Professor Dr. Hong S. He at Northeast Normal University, China)
• 10) Yue Yang (2017 - ......, co-supervised with Professor Dr. Zhenfang Wu at Northeast Normal University, China)
• 11) Ao Wang (2017 - ......, co-supervised with Professor Dr. Andreas Rigling at ETH Zurich)
• 12) Yanyan Ni (2017 - ......, co-supervised with Professor Dr. Wenfa Xiao at the Chinese Academy of Forestry)
• 13) Peng Zhang (2018 - ......, co-supervised with Professor Dr. Guangze Jin at Northeast Forestry University, China)

Joint MSc Students

• 1) Pan Li (2004 - 2007, co-supervised with Professor Dr. Sangen Wang at Southwest University, China)
• 2) Jie Wu (2005 - 2008, co-supervised with Professor Dr. Sangen Wang at Southwest University, China)
• 3) Ao Wang (2015 - 2017, co-supervised with Professor Dr. Feihai Yu at Beijing Forestry University, China)
• 4) Yanli Zhang (2017 - 2020, co-supervised with Professor Dr. Jingpin Lei at the Chinese Academy of Forestry)

Visiting Scientists

• Lei Zhang (Guest PhD student, 2015.11 - 2016. 8)
• Professor Dr. Jianfeng Liu (2014. 5 - 2015. 4)
• Professor Dr. Zhuwen Xu (2016. 2 - 2016. 3)
• Professor Dr. Xiaotao Lyv (2016.4 - 2016. 5)
• Professor Dr. Xiaogai Ge (2018. 5 - 2019. 5)
• Professor Dr. Haiyan Ren (2018. 1 - 2018. 2)
• Professor Dr. Zhong Du (2019. 5 - 2020. 8)
• Professor Dr. Xin Sui (2020. 12 - 2021. 12)