
Shenhua Qian
Doctor of Ecology · Associate Professor
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China
I am a plant ecologist dedicated to unraveling the complex interactions that shape plant biodiversity and ecosystem function across multiple scales—from steep mountain landscapes and urban jungles to global floristic assemblages. My research journey began with ecological fieldwork focusing on natural plant population structures and the conservation of critically endangered species. Early in my career, I conducted in-depth studies in heterogeneous, high‐elevation ecosystems. For example, by investigating Abies mariesii, I examined how spatially discrete populations in subalpine environments maintain genetic connectivity despite pronounced habitat heterogeneity. Building on these field-based insights, I turned my attention to critically endangered species such as Cathaya argyrophylla and the dove tree, Davidia involucrata. I investigated how natural population dynamics of these endangered species are affected by both environmental factors and human interventions.
As my work evolved, I expanded into urban ecology and macroecology, exploring the functional diversity of spontaneous plant communities in rapidly urbanizing settings such as Chongqing, China. I assessed how urban growth intensity and spatiotemporal land dynamics filter species based on life history traits, revealing that urbanization can both homogenize and diversify functional strategies within plant assemblages.
My recent research also embraces global perspectives, examining how climatic and geographic factors shape beta-diversity, phylogenetic turnover, and endemism across continents. I also applied advanced phylogenetic metrics to understand patterns of invasion biology at regional and global scales. In these studies, I employ a diverse toolkit that includes functional trait analysis, phylogenetic methods, and spatial statistics. I have a strong interest in R for data analysis and visualization, particularly in geospatial data visualization, which has been crucial in deciphering complex spatial patterns and relationships.
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, DOI:10.1002/eap.70008 (In Press)
- 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.