Shuijin Hu

Bio

Microbial mediation of plant and ecosystem responses to global change components. We are currently investigating the mechanisms through which soil microorganisms mediate plant and ecosystem responses to elevated atmospheric CO2, O3 and N inputs. Our major focus is on how microorganisms respond to alterations in C and N availability under these global change components, and what are the implications of the resulting changes in terms of ecosystem C storage.

Microbial interactions and pathogen/disease suppression. We want to know whether and how the structure, diversity and activities of soil microbial and mesofaunal communities influence the population dynamics and activities of soilborne pathogenic fungi, Pythium spp. and Rhizoctonia spp. in particular.

Microbial mediation of plant interactions. We are interested in understanding how microbes, mycorrhizal and endophytic fungi in particular, modulate the interactions among coexisting plant species. Effects of disturbance on the structure and activities of soil organisms. Our current research examines how disturbance such as conventional farming and elevated atmospheric CO2 affects soil microbes and soil food web interactions and how the resulting alterations in soil organisms influence C and N cycling.

Area(s) of Expertise

Plant-microbial Interactions, Terrestrial C and N Cycling, Mycorrhizae, Endophytes, N-cycling Microbes

Publications

• Precipitation- rather than temperature-driven pattern in belowground biomass and root:shoot ratio across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau , SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT (2024)
• Alkalinity exacerbates phosphorus deficiency in subtropical red soils: Insights from phosphate-solubilizing fungi , SOIL USE AND MANAGEMENT (2023)
• Climate warming suppresses abundant soil fungal taxa and reduces soil carbon efflux in a semi-arid grassland , MLIFE (2023)
• Coupled anaerobic methane oxidation and metal reduction in soil under elevated CO2 , GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY (2023)
• Interannual variation in precipitation predominantly controls mineral-associated organic carbon dynamics in a Tibetan alpine meadow , GEODERMA (2023)
• Moderate precipitation reduction enhances nitrogen cycling and soil nitrous oxide emissions in a semi-arid grassland , GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY (2023)
• Mycorrhizae enhance reactive minerals but reduce mineral-associated carbon , GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY (2023)
• Nitrogen availability mediates soil carbon cycling response to climate warming: A meta-analysis , GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY (2023)
• Nitrogen redistribution and seasonal trait fluctuation facilitate plant N conservation and ecosystem N retention , JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY (2023)
• Reduced phosphorus availability in paddy soils under atmospheric CO2 enrichment , NATURE GEOSCIENCE (2023)