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).

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 (2008 - Present)

Downing J. and H. Liu. In press. Impacts of the invasive oil-collecting bee on native, specialized plant-pollinator interactions in southern Florida. Biological Invasions.

Liu, H., C. –L. Feng, B. –S. Chen, Z. –S. Wang, X. –Q. Xie, Z.–H. Deng, X.–L. Wei, S.–Y. Liu, Z.–B. Zhang, and Y.–B. Luo. 2012. Overcoming extreme weather events: successful but variable assisted translocations of wild orchids in southwestern China. Biological Conservation 150: 68-75.

Pemberton, R.W. and H. Liu. 2011. Naturalized yellow cowhorn orchid, Cyrtopodium flavum (Orchidaceae), spreading in Florida. Journal of Botanical Research Institute of Texas 5: 331-335

Maschinski, J., M. Ross, H. Liu, J. O'Brien, E. J. von Wettberg, and K. E. Haskins. 2011. Sinking ships: Conservation alternatives for endemic taxa threatened by sea level rise. Climatic Change 107: 147-167.

Wang, Z. –S., H. Liu, W. –X. Xu, N. Wei, S. –Q. An. 2010. Genetic diversity in young and mature cohorts of cultivated and wild populations of Picea asperata Mast (Pinaceae), a spruce endemic in western China. European Journal of Forest Research 129: 719-728.

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 76: 174-192.

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 76: 241-262 (*corresponding author).

Liu, H. and Y. –B. Luo. 2010. Protecting orchids in nature reserves: research and restoration needs. Botanical Review 76: 137-139.

Francisco-Ortega, J., F.-G. Wang, Z. -S. Wang, F. -W. Xing, H. Liu, H. Xu, W. -X. Xu, Y. –B. Luo, X. -Q. Song, S. Gale, D. E. Boufford, M. Maunder, and S.-Q. An. 2010. Endemic seed plant species from Hainan Island: A checklist. Botanical Review 76: 295-345.

Francisco-Ortega, J., Z. -S. Wang, F.-G. Wang, F. -W. Xing, H. Liu, H. Xu, W. -X. Xu, Y. –B. Luo, X. -Q. Song, S. Gale, D. E. Boufford, M. Maunder, and S.-Q. An. 2010. Seed plant endemism on Hainan Island: A framework for conservation actions. Botanical Review 76: 346-376.

Liu, F. –D., W. –J. Yang, Z. –S. Wang, Z. Xu, H. Liu, M. Zhang, Y. –H. Liu, S. –Q. An, S. –C. Sun. 2010. Plant size effects on the relationships among specific leaf area, leaf nutrientcontent, and photosynthetic capacity in tropical woody species. Acta Oecologica 36: 149-159.

Platt, S. G., H. Liu*, and C. K. Borg. 2010. Fire mortality among Florida Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina bauri) on National Key Deer Wildlife Refuge, Florida. Natural Areas Journal 30: 254-260 (*corresponding author).

Wang Z. –S., S. –Q. An, H. Liu* , J. Feng , F. Zhang, Y. Liu, Z.-F. Deng, N. Wei , C. Yan, S. Chen , S.-Y. Liu. 2009. Effects of stand regeneration management regimes and age on genetic structure of Quercus aquifolioides (sclerophyllous oak) in southwestern China. Forest Science 52:142-148 (*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: 69-80. (*corresponding author).

Platt, S. G., C. Hall, H. Liu, and C. K. Borg. 2009. Wet season food habits and intersexual dietary overlap of Florida Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina bauri) on National Key Deer Wildlife Refuge, Florida. Southeastern Naturalist 8: 335-346.

Liu, H. and R. W. Pemberton. 2008. Pollination of an invasive and rewardless orchid (Cyrtopodium polyphyllum) by an invasive oil-collecting bee in natural and residential areas in Florida. Botany 88: 290-295.

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 R. W. Pemberton. 2008. Differential soil seed bank longevity of an invasive woody vine (Paederia foetida L) across three habitats in Florida. Journal of Torrey Botanical Society. 135: 391-496.

Pemberton, R. W. and H. Liu. 2008. A naturalized orchid bee pollinates resin reward flowers in southern Florida; novel and known mutualism. Biotropica 40: 714-718.

Pemberton, R. W. and H. Liu. 2008. The naturalization of the oil collecting bee Centris nitida (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Centrini), a potential pollinator of selected native, ornamental, and invasive plants in Florida. Florida Entomologist 91: 101-109.

Pemberton, R. W. and H. Liu. 2008. Naturalization of Dalechampia scandens in southern Florida. Caribbean Journal of Science 44: 417-419.

 

Recent Grants and Awards 

  • Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Funds. January 2012-Dec 2014. In-situ and ex-situ conservation and restoration of the endemic and endangered Guizhou Georodum orchid in Southwestern China. $15,000. PI: Hong Liu.
  • 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).  PI: Hong Liu.
  • Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Funds. July 2009-Dec 2010. Habitat analyses of selected endangered orchids in Southwestern China. $17,000. PI: Hong Liu..
  • 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. coPI: Hong Liu.
  • 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. PI: Hong Liu.

Current Students

  • Jason Downing, Ph.D. student. Project: "Impacts of invasive, specialist bee on native mutualism"
  • Melissa Abdo, Ph.D. student. Project: "Endemic bird and palm interactions on Halmahera Island, Indonesia"
  • 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 

 

Updated June 17, 2012