Head of the Group: Prof. Dr. Zhu Hua

E-mail: zhuh@xtbg.ac.cn

A. MAJOR FIELD OF RESEARCH

The mission of the research group is to study the vegetation and the flora of Yunnan and SE Asia, and to discover their past and the present geographical patterns, biodiversity composition and distributions. Major research focuses mainly on vegetation and flora of the tropical-subtropical Yunnan and their biodiversity composition. Taxonomy, biogeography and ecology of the genus Lasianthus (Rubiaceae) and the family Cycadaceae are also interested.

B. MEMNBERS

Staff:

Prof. & Dr. Zhu Hua (H. Zhu): Head of the research group.

Dr. Shi Jipu: Research assistant, community ecology.

Mr. Xiao Longqian: Research assistant, molecular biogeography.

Graduate students:　

2 MS students (1 in last year, 1 in first year); 3 PhD students (currently).　 

C. PROJECTS: 

The group is undertaking the researches on biogeography and biodiversity of tropical forests and flora of southern Yunnan. Taxonomy and biogeography of the genus Lasianthus (Rubiaceae), and the phylogeny and biogeography of Cycadaceae are also studied.

The following is the list of grants:

1. The plant diversity and biogeography of the tropical rain forest in Yunnan, China (The National Natural Science Foundation of China, duration 2005-2008, amount of grant RMB 260,000).　

2. Taxonomy and biogeography of the genus Lasianthus (Rubiaceae) (The National

Natural Science Foundation of China, duration 2007-2010, amount of grant RMB260,000 ).　

3. Phylogeny and biogeography of Cycadaceae (Yunnan Natural Science Foundation,

duration 2007-2010, amount of grant RMB 60,000 ).　

4. Sprouting regeneration of main tree species of tropical and subtropical forests in

Yunnan (Foundation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, duration 2007-2010, amount of grant RMB250,000 ).

D. OUTPUT:

More than 60 scientific articles and 4 monographs on the vegetation and flora of Yunnan have been published by staffs of the research group since 2003. The following major findings were reported:

The flora of southern Yunnan, southwestern China, consists of 3340 native seed plant species belonging to 1176 genera and 182 families. Tropical floristic elements at the generic level form a major contribution (78.3%) to the total flora of southern Yunnan, of which the dominant geographical elements are those of tropical Asian distribution. The flora of southern Yunnan has a close affinity with the tropical Asian flora. However, situated at the northern margin of tropical Asia, the flora of southern

Yunnan comprises less strictly tropical elements compared to the Malaysian flora, and consequently represents only a marginal type of Indo- Malaysian flora. The tropical rain forest of southern Yunnan is a type of tropical Asian rain forest. Its tropical floristic elements contribute more than 90 % at the generic level and more than 80%at specific level to the total flora, of which, the ones of typical tropical Asia distribution contribute about 75% of its species. Occurring at the northern edge of the tropical zone (up to 2440’ N), the tropical rain forest of southern Yunnan differs from the equatorial rain forest in having some deciduous trees in the canopy layer, fewer megaphanerophytes and epiphytes, but more abundant lianas as well as more plant with microphyllous leaves. It is suggested that the tropical rain forest did not occur until late Tertiary in the region and is more correspondent to topography and local habitats than the regional climate.

E. INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS:

Journal Editorial member:

1. Journal of Systematic and Evolution

2. Journal of Plant Ecology (former Acta Phytoecologica Sinica)

3. Biodiversity Science

4. Guihaia

5. Acta Botanica Yunnanica

6.  Journal of Tropical and Subtropical Botany

7. Tropical Conservation Science