Hong Liu, PhD

            

FIU/FTBG Research Ecologist

11935 Old Cutler Road
Miami, FL 33156 USA
Phone 305/667-1651, ext. 3417
Fax 305/665-8032

Department of Environmental Studies
11200 SW 8th Street
Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199 USA
Phone 305/348-6799
Fax: 305/348-6137
hliu@fiu.edu

 

I am an ecologist with research interests in invasive species biology and conservation ecology. My research areas include plant mating systems, population viability analysis and plant-animal interactions (seed dispersal, insect pollination, and insect herbivory). My current research addresses important environmental issues such as predicting horticultural plant naturalization, the ecological consequences of specialized invasive pollinator and invasive mutualism. I am also interested in rare plant restoration, especially endangered orchids. I am currently leading several conservation and restoration research projects in tropical and subtropical southwestern China.


 Click here for Hong Liu's complete CV

 

Education and Training

Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Cooperative Agreement Program, University of Florida and Invasive Plant Research Laboratory, ARS, USDA (2005-2008). Advisor: Robert W. Pemberton

Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Florida.(2003-2005)

Ph.D. Biology, Florida International University (2003).  Dissertation: Population viability analyses of Chamaecrista keyensis, a narrowly endemic herb of the Lower Florida Keys

M.S. Botany, Clemson University (1997)

B.S. Ecology, Nanjing University (1989)

 

Recent Publications

Liu, H., C. –L. Feng, Y.-B. Luo, B. –S. Chen, Z. –S. Wang, and H. –Y. Gu. 2010. Potential challenges of climate change to orchid conservation in a wild orchid hotspot in southwestern China. Botanical Review. In press.

Liu, H.-X., Y. –B. Luo, and H. Liu*. 2010. Studies of mycorrhizal fungi of Chinese orchids and their role in orchid conservation in China – a review. Botanical Review. In press. (*corresponding author)

Liu, H. and R. W. Pemberton. 2009. Invasive orchid bee outperforms co-occurring native bees to promote an invasive Solanum. Oecologia 159:515-525.

Pemberton, R. W. and H. Liu*. 2009. Marketing time determines naturalization rates of horticultural plants in Florida. Ecology 90(1): 69-80. (*corresponding author)

Pemberton, R. W. and H. Liu*. 2008. Potential of invasive and native solitary specialist bee pollinators to help restore the rare cowhorn orchid (Cyrtopodium punctatum) in Florida.     Biological Conservation 141: 1758-1764. (* corresponding author)

Liu, H. and P. Stiling. 2006. Testing the enemy release hypothesis: a review and meta-analysis. Biological Invasions 8: 1535-1545.

Liu, H. and E. Menges. 2005. Dry-season fires promote population vital rates of Chamaecrista keyensis, a narrowly endemic herb of the Lower Florida Keys. Ecology 86: 1483-1495.

 

Recent Grants and Awards 

  • Governor’s Special Grant, Guangxi Science and Technology Bureau, Oct 2010 – Dec 2012. Conservation Ecology of selected endangered orchids in Yachang Orchid Nature Reserve. $74,000 (0.5 million RMB). I am the PI.
  • Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Funds. July 2009-Dec 2010. Habitat analyses of selected endangered orchids in Southwestern China. $17,000. I am the PI on the grant.
  • Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Funds. June 2009-Dec 2011. Conservation of Carpinus putoensis, a critically endangered island tree species endemic to the Zhoushan Archipelago of China. $25,000. I am a co-PI on the grant.
  • Guangxi Provincial Government. May 2009. Guangxi International Orchid Conservation Symposium. $100,000. I am one of the principle organizers of the symposium.
  • Summer Faculty Development Award, College of Arts and Science, Florida International University. May-August 2009. Comparative study of symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi requirements of an endangered native orchid and it introduced invasive congener in South Florida. $8,704.00.

Current Students

  • Jason Downing, Master student. Project: impacts of invasive oil-collecting Centris bee in southern Florida
  • Cara Cooper, Master student, Project: Ecology of the invasive grass Melinis repens in Southern Florida

Active Research Projects

  •  Conservation ecology and restoration of endangered orchids southwestern China
  •  Phenology of wild orchids in southwestern China in response to spring temperature fluctuation.
  •  Conservation ecology of rare and endemic plants in Hainan Island, China
  •  Comparative ecology of rare vs. invasive orchids in southern Florida
  •  Comparative weed risks of horticultural and endangered plants
  •  Impacts of invasive pollinators in southern Florida 

Teaching