Shenhua Qian

Curriculum Vitae

Shenhua Qian ｜ Doctor of Ecology · Associate Professor

  • Email: [email protected]
  • Address: College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China

As a plant ecologist, I study biodiversity and ecosystem function from mountain landscapes to urban environments and global assemblages. My early research focused on plant populations and endangered species conservation, particularly in high-elevation ecosystems. I studied Abies mariesii to understand genetic connectivity in subalpine populations, then investigated endangered species like Cathaya argyrophylla and Davidia involucrata, examining how environmental and human factors affect their population dynamics.

My research expanded to urban ecology, studying plant communities in urbanizing areas like Chongqing, China. I analyzed how urban development affects species diversity and functional strategies in plant communities.

Recently, I’ve taken a global approach, studying how climate and geography influence biodiversity patterns and invasion biology across continents. I use functional trait analysis, phylogenetic methods, and spatial statistics, with expertise in R for data analysis and geospatial visualization.

Employment

  • Associate Professor, College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University (2021.09 – Present)
  • Assistant Professor, College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University (2017.06 – 2021.08)
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Postdoctoral Station of Ecology Chongqing University (2015.06 – 2017.05)

Education

  • Doctor of Environment Science, Yokohama National University (2012.04 – 2015.03)
  • Master of Environment Science, Yokohama National University (2010.04 – 2012.03)
  • Bachelor of Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University (2005.09 – 2009.06)

Funds

  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (General Program), Mechanisms of Plant Invasion in Mountain Cities Based on Modern Species Coexistence Theory, 42477500, Jan 2025-Dec 2028, 470,000 RMB, Ongoing, Principal Investigator
  • Central Universities Basic Research and Cross-Frontier Project, Evolution of Perfluorinated Compound Pollution Characteristics and Ecotoxicological Effects Under Different Land Use Conditions in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, 2020CDJQY-A014, Jan 2020-Dec 2021, 150,000 RMB, Completed, Principal Investigator
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (Young Scientists Fund), Response and Adaptation Mechanisms of Spontaneous Plant Functional Traits to Urbanization in Mountain Cities, 31901152, Jan 2020-Dec 2022, 220,000 RMB, Completed, Principal Investigator
  • Key Laboratory Open Fund, Study on Biotic Homogenization and Its Driving Mechanisms in Chinese Urban Green Spaces, SHUES2018A01, Jan 2019-Dec 2019, 30,000 RMB, Completed, Principal Investigator
  • Chongqing Postdoctoral Research Special Funding, Study on Nutrient Use Strategies and Coexistence Mechanisms of Dominant Species in Subtropical Evergreen Broad-leaved Forests, Xm2016083, Nov 2016-May 2017, 50,000 RMB, Completed, Principal Investigator
  • China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (59th Round General Program), Nutrient Use Strategies of Evergreen Broad-leaved Tree Species and Plant-Soil Feedback Mechanisms in Jinyun Mountain, 2016M592635, May 2016-May 2017, 50,000 RMB, Completed, Principal Investigator

Publications

(Selected publications; first or corresponding author only; check for full list of publications)

  • Huang, J., Qian, S.*, Fortin, MJ. (2025). Spatiotemporal land use dynamics filter life history strategies to shape urban spontaneous plant assemblages. Ecological Applications, 35(1): e70008.
  • Zou, C., Wang, C., Huang, J., Li, Y., Zhao, Y., Liu, Y., Zhao, X., Hu, X., Zhu, G.*, & Qian, S.* (2024). Patterns and causes of soil heavy metals and carbon stock in green spaces along an urbanization gradient. Ecological Indicators, 167, 112725.
  • Qian, H.*, Qian, S.*, Kessler, M. (2024). Spatial and climatic drivers of β-diversity in assemblages of angiosperm genera across the world. Journal of Ecology, 112, 2876–2886.
  • Qian, H.*, Kessler, M., Qian, S.*, & Zhang, J. (2024). Patterns and drivers of taxonomic and phylogenetic endemism in regional fern floras across the world. Biological Conservation, 291, 110506.
  • Qian, H.*, Qian, S.*, Zhang, J., Kessler, M.* (2024). Effects of climate and environmental heterogeneity on the phylogenetic structure of regional angiosperm floras worldwide. Nature Communications, 15, 1079.
  • Qian, H.*, Kessler, M., Zhang, J., Jin, Y., Soltis, D. E., Qian, S.*, Zhou, Y., & Soltis, P. S. (2023). Angiosperm phylogenetic diversity is lower in Africa than South America. Science Advances, 9(46), eadj1022.
  • Qian, S., Lu, H., Xiong, T., Zhi, Y.*, Munoz, G., Zhang, C., Li, Z., Liu, C., Li, W., Wang, X., & He, Q. (2023). Bioaccumulation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Ferns: Effect of PFAS Molecular Structure and Plant Root Characteristics. Environmental Science & Technology, 57(11), 4443-4453.
  • Qian, H.*, & Qian, S.* (2022). Floristic homogenization as a result of the introduction of exotic species in China. Diversity and Distributions, 28(10), 2139-2151.
  • Qian, H., Qian, S.*, & Sandel, B. (2022). Phylogenetic structure of alien and native species in regional plant assemblages across China: Testing niche conservatism hypothesis versus niche convergence hypothesis. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 31(9), 1864-1876.
  • Qian, H., Rejmánek, M., & Qian, S.* (2022). Are invasive species a phylogenetically clustered subset of naturalized species in regional floras? A case study for flowering plants in China. Diversity and Distributions, 28(10), 2084-2093.
  • Zhi, Y., Lu, H., Grieger, K. D., Munoz, G., Li, W., Wang, X., He, Q., & Qian, S.* (2022). Bioaccumulation and Translocation of 6: 2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonate, GenX, and Perfluoroalkyl Acids by Urban Spontaneous Plants. ACS ES&T Engineering.
  • Hu, L., Qin, D., Lu, H., Li, W., Shang, K., Lin, D., Zhao, L., Yang, Y., & Qian, S.* (2021). Urban growth drives trait composition of urban spontaneous plant communities in a mountainous city in China. Journal of Environmental Management, 293, 112869.
  • Qian, S.*, Qin, D., Wu, X., Hu, S., Hu, L., Lin, D., Zhao, L., Shang, K., Song, K., & Yang, Y.* (2020). Urban growth and topographical factors shape patterns of spontaneous plant community diversity in a mountainous city in southwest China. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 55, 126814.