Head of the Group:
Prof. Kun-Fang Cao, PhD

 

Group members：

Dr. Shi-Bao Zhang (Associate Professor)

Dr. Jiao-Lin Zhang (Associate Professor)

Ling Wang (secretary)

Xue-Wei Fu (lab technician)

Qiou-Yun Yang (lab technician)

 

Current Ph.D. students: Guang-You Hao, Yong-Jiang Zhang, Shi-Dan Zhu, Pei-Li Fu, Wei Huang, Ren-Yi Ma

 

Current M.Sc. students: Shi-Jian Yang, Jin-Yu Liu, Qun Fang, Shui Li

 

Contact information:
Xishuangbanna Tropical botanical Garden,
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan, 666303, China China
Phone: +86-691- 8716732
Fax: +86-691-8715070
Email: caokf@xtbg.ac.cn

Website: http://159.226.69.5/ppe/index.asp

 

Research interests:

Our research interests focus on investigating the mechanisms governing the patterns and processes of the tropical and subtropical terrestrial ecosystems by using the techniques and methods of plant physiology. Especially, plant water relations and hydraulics of different plant functional groups in relation to adaptation and acclimation to different environments; plant trait evolution and the relations between functional traits and community assembly as well as plant distribution; cambium growth of tropical trees, the responses of photosynthesis and photoprotection of tropical and subtropical plants to environmental stresses such as low temperature and drought; using dendrochronology to study the climate history and impacts of climate change on tree growth.

 

Main projects since 2002：

2006-2010，Ecophysiological study of plants of dry tropical forests on Karst mountains, a project under a major 973 project funded by Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, budget: RMB 400,000.

2007-2009，Comparative ecophysiology of evergreen and deciduous broadleaved trees in the montane cloud forest of Mt. Ailaoshan, Central Yunnan, a project funded by the National Natural ScienceFoundation of China(NSFC), RMB 270,000 .

2004-2007，The degradation mechanism of vegetations in the hot-dry valley of the Yuanjiang River(the upper Red River), the ecophysiological aspects, a key project funded by NSFC, RMB 800,000.

2003-2006，The adaptation mechanism of plants to environmental stresses in the hot-dry valleys. A key project of Chinese Academy of Scciences (CAS), RMB 1,200,000 distributed into 3 subprojects.

2002-2005，The mechanisms causing the endangerness of Parashorea wangtianensis(Shorea chinensis). A subproject of a major research project funded by CAS, RMB 425,000.

 

Selected publications：

 

Zhang SB, JL Zhang, F Slik,  & KF Cao*. 2011. Leaf element concentrations of terrestrial plants across China are influenced by taxonomy and the environment.  Global Ecology and Biogeography ,DOI: 10.1111/j.1466-8238.2011.00729.x

Zhang SB, F Slik, JL Zhang & KF Cao*. 2010. Spatial patterns of wood traits in China are controlled by phylogeny and environment. Global Ecology and Biogeography (in press)

Zhu，Shi-Dan and Kun-Fang Cao*. Contrasting cost-benefit strategy between lianas and trees in a tropical seasonal rain forest in Southwest China. Oecologia 163:591–599.

 Hao, Guang-You, Lawren Sack, Ai-Ying Wang, Kun-Fang Cao^*and Guillermo Goldstein*. Differentiation of water flux and drought tolerance traits in leaves of hemiepiphytic and non-hemiepiphytic Ficus species. Functional Ecology 24:731–740.

　 Huang，Wei, Shi-Bao Zhangand Kun-Fang Cao*. 2010. The different effects of chilling stress under moderate illumination on photosystem II compared with photosystem I and subsequent recovery in tropical tree species. Photosynthesis Research 103:175–182.

Zheng, Li; Ives, Anthony; Garland, Theodore; Larget, Bret; Yu, Yang; Cao, Kunfang*. New multivariate tests for phylogenetic signal and trait correlations applied to ecophysiological phenotypes of nine Manglietia species. Functional Ecology (online，doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2009.01596.x).

Zhang, Yong-jiang, FC Meinzer, Guang-you Hao FG Scholz, SJ Bucci, AC Franco, R Villalobos-Vega, JP Giraldo, Kun-fang Cao, WA Hoffmann, & G. Goldstein. 2009. Size-dependent mortality in a Neotropical savanna tree: the role of height-related adjustments in hydraulic architecture and carbon allocation. Plant,Cell and Environment 32：1456–1466（doi:10.1111/j.1365-3040.2009.02012.x).

Chen, Jun-Wen, Qiang Zhang and Kun-Fang Cao*. 2009. Independence of stem and leaf hydraulic traits in six Euphorbiaceae tree species with contrasting leaf phenology. Planta 230:459–468 (DOI 10.1007/s00425-009-0959-6).

Zhang, Qiang, Jun-Wen Chen, Bao-Gui Li, Kun-Fang Cao^*.2009.Epiphytes and hemiepiphytes have slower photosynthetic responses to lightflecks than terrestrial plants, evidences from tropical ferns and figs. Journal of Tropical Ecology 25:465–472

Fan, Ze-Xin, Achim Bräuning, Kun-Fang Cao&Shi-Dan Zhu. 2009. Growth-climate responses of high-elevation conifers in the central Hengduan Mountains, southwestern China. Forest Ecology and Management 258: 306–313

Hao, G-Y, T.J. Jones, C. Luton, Y.-J. Zhang, E. Manzane, F.G. Scholz, S. J. Bucci, K.-F. Cao and G. Goldstein. 2009. Hydraulic redistribution in dwarf Rhizophora mangle trees driven by interstitial soil water salinity gradients: impacts on hydraulic architecture and gas exchange. Tree Physiology 29(5): 697-705.

Zhang, Jiao-Lin and Kun-Fang Cao^*. 2009. Stem hydraulics mediates leaf water status, carbon gain, nutrient use efficiencies and plant growth rates across dipterocarp species. Functional Ecology 23: 658–667 (doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2009.01552.x)

Zhu,Shi-DanandKun-Fang Cao*. 2009. Hydraulic properties and photosynthetic rates in co-occurring lianas and trees in a seasonal tropical rainforest in southwestern China. Plant Ecology 204:295–304(DOI: 10.1007/s11258-009-9592-5).

Zhang, Q., J.-W Chen, B.-G. Li, and K.-F. Cao*. 2009. The effects of drought on photosynthesis in two epiphytic and two terrestrial tropical fern species. Photosynthetica 47 (1): 128-132.

Fan, Ze-Xin, Achim Bräuning, Bao Yang, Kun-Fang Cao. 2009. Tree ring density-based warm-season temperature reconstruction for the central Hengduan Mountains in southern China. Global and Planetary Change 65: 1–11.

Fan, Ze-Xin, Kun-Fang Cao, Peter Becker. 2009. Axial and radial variations in xylem anatomy of angiosperm and conifer trees in Yunnan, China. IAWA Journal 30 (1): 1–13.

Zhang J.-L. L.-Z. Meng and K.-F. Cao*. 2009. Sustained diurnal photosynthetic depression in upmost canopy leaves of four dipterocarp species in the rainy and dry seasons: does photorespiration play a role in photoprotection? Tree Physiology29: 217–228.

Zhu, Jun-Jie, Jiao-Lin Zhang, Hong-Cheng Liu and Kun-Fang Cao*. 2009. Photosynthesis, non-photochemical pathways and activities of antioxidant enzymes in a resilient evergreen oak under different climatic conditions from a valley-savanna in Southwest China. Physiologia Plantarum 135: 62–72.

Fan, Ze-Xin, Achim Bräuning & Kun-Fang Cao. 2008.Tree-ring based drought reconstruction in the central Hengduan Mountain region (China) since A.D. 1655. International Journal of Climatology 28：1879-1887.

Chen, Ya-Jun, Frans Bongers, Kun-Fang Caoand Zhi-quan Cai 2008. Above- and below-ground competition in high and low irradiance: treeseedling responses to a competing liana Byttneria grandifolia. Journal of Tropical Ecology 24:517–524.

Bai Kun-Dong,Liao, De-Bao,Jiang, De-Bing& Cao, Kun-Fang*. 2008. Photosynthetic induction in leaves of co-occurring Fagus lucida and Castanopsis lamontii saplings grown in contrasting light environments. Trees: Stucture and Function 22:449–462.

Hao, G-Y.,W. A. Hoffmann, F. G. Scholz, S. J. Bicci,F. C. Meinzer,A. C. Franco,K-F Cao and G. Goldstein. 2008. Stem and leaf hydraulics of congeneric tree species 　from adjacent tropical savanna and forest ecosystems. Oecologia 155: 405–415.

Cai, Z-Q., L. Poorter, K.-F. Cao & F. Bongers. 2007. Seedling growth strategies in Bauhinia species: comparing lianas and trees. Annals of Botany 100：831-838.

Elsheery, N., Wilske, B. & K-F. Cao^*. 2007. Seasonal variation in photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence in leaves of five mango cultivars in southern Yunnan, China. Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology 82:855-862.

Zhang, Jiao-Lin, Zhu, Jun-Jie & Cao, Kun-Fang^*, 2007. Seasonal variation in gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf spectral reflectance in six woody species with different leaf phenology in a valley-savanna in SW China. Trees: Structure and Function 21:631-643.

Wilske,B.K.-F. Cao, G. Schebeske, J.-W. Chen, A. Wang, J. Kesselmeier 2007.Isoprenoid emissions of trees in a tropical rainforest in Xishuangbanna, SW China. Atmospheric Environment 41: 3748–3757.

Cao, Kun-fang, Guo, Yu-hua, Cai, Zhi-quan 2006.Photosynthesis and antioxidant enzyme activity in breadfruit, jackfruit and mangosteen in southern Yunnan, China. Journal of Horticultural Sciences & Biotechnology 81:168-172.

Guo, Yu-HuaandCao, Kun-Fang*, 2004. Effect of night chilling on photosynthesis of two coffee species grown under different irradiances. Journal of Horticultural Sciences & Biotechnology 79: 713-716.

Feng, Yu-long,Kun-fang Cao*and Jiao-Lin Zhang, 2004. Photosynthetic characteristics, dark respiration, and leaf mass per unit area in seedlings of four tropical tree species grown under three irradiances. Photosynthetica 42: 431-437.

Feng, Yu-long, Kun-fang Cao*& Zhi-li Feng 2002.Thermal dissipation, leaf rolling and inactivation of PSII reaction ceters in Amomum villosum in durnal course. Journal of Tropical Ecology 18:865-876.

Cao, Kun-fang& Booth, W.E.2001.Leaf anatomical structure and photosynthetic induction for seedlings of five dipterocarp species under contrasting light conditions in a Bornean heath forest. Journal of Tropical Ecology 17:163-176.

Cao, Kun-fang 2000.Leaf anatomy and chlorophyll content of twelve woody species growing in contrasting light conditions in a Bornean heath forest. Canadian Journal of Botany 78:1245–1253

Cao, Kun-fang 2000. Water relations and gas exchange of tropical saplings during a prolonged drought in a Bornean heath forest, with reference to root architecture. Journal of Tropical Ecology 16:101-116

 

International cooperation with：

University of Miami,

California University at Los Angeles,

　　  Harvard University, USA;

Wageningen University, the Netherlands;

University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany;

  　INRA, UMR AMAP, Montpellier, France;

Utsunomiya and Kyoto Universities, Japan.