Qingqing Hou | Ecology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Qingqing Hou | Ecology | Best Researcher Award

postdoctor at Lanzhou University , China

A dedicated researcher specializing in ecology, currently serving as a postdoctoral researcher at Lanzhou University since March 2023. 💡 Committed to understanding plant-soil interactions and desertification restoration processes. 🌍 Passionate about contributing to environmental conservation and ecological balance.

Publication Profile

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Education📚 

PhD in Ecology, Lanzhou University, 2016-2022. 🎓 Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Lanzhou University, 2012-2016. 🌱 Focused on ecosystem restoration and environmental processes during both academic degrees, building a strong foundation in ecological research.

Experience💼 

Postdoctoral researcher at Lanzhou University, 2023-Present. 🌿 Host of Gansu Provincial Basic Research Office on-site postdoctoral project (2023-2025) researching desertification ecosystem restoration. 🔬 Skilled in ecological data collection, analysis, and modeling.

Awards & Honors🏅

Host of the Gansu Provincial Basic Research Office postdoctoral project (23JRRA1157). 💎 Recognized for contributions to desertification restoration research and plant-soil microbial community studies. 🌟 Awarded the 60,000 yuan research funding for ongoing research.

Research Focus🔬 

Focused on plant and soil microbial community interactions during desertification ecosystem restoration. 🌱 Investigates the succession processes of ecological systems. 🌍 Contributes to sustainable environmental practices for ecosystem restoration and climate resilience.

Other Scientific Research Projects🌿 

Gansu Provincial Basic Research Office, on-site postdoctoral project (2023-2025) on desertification restoration (23JRRA1157). 💰 Research funding: 60,000 yuan. 📅 Ongoing from July 2023.

Representative Research Results & Academic Awards🏆 

Representative achievements in plant and soil community restoration during desertification ecosystem recovery. 🌱 Publication in major ecology journals. 🌍 Honored for significant contributions to ecological science and sustainable ecosystem research.

Publications 📖

Interannual Variations in Grassland Carbon Fluxes
Authors: Hou, Q., Ma, K., Yu, X.
Journal: Science of the Total Environment, 2024
Summary: The study explores variations in carbon fluxes across grasslands in the Qilian Mountains, identifying key factors influencing these fluctuations.

Inorganic Carbon Pools and Their Drivers in Grassland and Desert Soils
Authors: Dong, L., Ran, J., Luo, J., Kuzyakov, Y., Deng, J.
Journal: Global Change Biology, 2024
Summary: This research looks into the drivers of inorganic carbon pools in grassland and desert soils, providing insights into carbon storage mechanisms in arid ecosystems.

Short-term Effects of Restoration Measures on Vegetation and Soil Characteristics
Authors: Chen, Y., Xu, J., Xu, C., Yang, C., Yu, X.
Journal: Global Ecology and Conservation, 2024
Summary: The paper examines how different restoration measures impact vegetation communities and soil properties in degraded alpine grasslands.

Screening and Evaluation of Chenopodiaceae Plants for Saline-Alkali Land Improvement
Authors: Xu, N., Yu, X., Di, D., Luo, X., Ma, K.
Journal: Chinese Journal of Grassland, 2024
Summary: This article focuses on selecting suitable Chenopodiaceae plants for improving saline-alkali land in Central Gansu Province.

Response of Soil Microbial α-Diversity to Grazing in Grassland Ecosystems
Authors: Yang, H., Song, J., Hou, Q., Yu, X.
Journal: Land Degradation and Development, 2024
Summary: A meta-analysis that reviews the effect of grazing on soil microbial diversity in various grassland ecosystems.

Active Restoration Efforts Drive Community Succession and Assembly in a Desert
Authors: Hou, Q., Hu, W., Sun, Y., Ran, J., Deng, J.
Journal: Ecological Applications, 2024
Summary: This study investigates how active restoration efforts over the past 53 years have shaped plant and community succession in desert environments.

Distribution, Species Richness, and Relative Importance of Different Plant Life Forms across Drylands in China
Authors: Yao, S., Hu, W., Ji, M., Niklas, K.J., Deng, J.
Journal: Plant Diversity, 2024
Summary: The research explores plant diversity across dryland ecosystems in China, focusing on the distribution and relative importance of different life forms.

Initiation of Rest-Grazing During Soil Thawing Improves Plant Community Stability
Authors: Ma, K., Hou, Q., Xu, C., Xu, J., Yu, X.
Journal: Frontiers in Plant Science, 2024
Summary: Investigates the effects of rest-grazing on plant communities during soil thawing in alpine grasslands, emphasizing improved stability and interspecific relationships.

The Response of Alfalfa Production to Water and Air Temperature in Jinzhong Basin
Authors: Zhu, M., Niu, S.-S., Hou, Q.-Q., Yang, X., Xu, H.-Y.
Journal: Acta Agrestia Sinica, 2024
Summary: This study explores how environmental factors like water and air temperature affect alfalfa production in the Jinzhong Basin, Shanxi Province.

Conclusion

Given their substantial contributions to ecological restoration and ecosystem sustainability, particularly through cutting-edge research on desertification and microbial communities, this individual is highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award. With further international collaborations and a broader dissemination of their findings, they could achieve even greater recognition in global environmental research.

Alain Dejean | paper in Ecology | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Alain Dejean | paper in Ecology | Best Researcher Award

Professor emeritus at University Toulouse, France

Alain Roger Jean Dejean, born on October 10, 1945, in Toulouse, is a renowned entomologist and professor emeritus at Université Toulouse 3 since September 1, 2014. He has had an outstanding academic career specializing in animal biology, with a focus on the behavior and ecology of ants. Dejean has played significant roles in various research projects and served in multiple academic institutions, including Université Paris 13 and the Université des Antilles et de la Guyane. Known for his extensive research contributions, he continues to be an active figure in entomological studies and environmental research. Dejean has directed numerous theses and mentored many students throughout his career, leaving a legacy of scientific curiosity and passion for animal behavior and ecological interactions. His work has taken him globally, from Africa to South America, earning him respect and recognition in the scientific community.

Publication Profile

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Education🎓

Alain Dejean holds two prestigious doctoral degrees from Université Toulouse 3. His Doctorat de Spécialité in Animal Biology with an entomology option, obtained in 1974, marked the beginning of his career focusing on ant ecology and behavior. He then pursued a Doctorat d’État in Animal Biology, which he completed in 1982. This advanced research further honed his expertise, and he remained closely associated with academic life, mentoring and teaching future scientists. Dejean has consistently engaged with scientific research and doctoral supervision since 1994, with a contractual agreement renewed regularly, contributing immensely to his field. His dedication to academic excellence earned him recognition and awards, including the prestigious Prime d’Excellence Scientifique in 2011. His honorary doctorate from the Université de Montréal in 2013 further exemplifies his global influence in the field of entomology and animal behavior, particularly in the study of complex ant systems.

Experience🧑‍🏫

Alain Dejean’s career spans decades of distinguished academic service, starting as a professor at Université Toulouse 3, where he attained the highest academic rank of Professeur Classe Exceptionnelle. His leadership extended to roles in research supervision, having guided 99 undergraduate and graduate students and 16 doctoral theses. Dejean has served as secretary of the Faculty of Medicine in Bujumbura and contributed to scientific committees at multiple institutions, including Université Paris 13 and the Université des Antilles et de la Guyane. He led the “Biologie des interactions” team at Université Toulouse 3 and represented CNRS in Guyana. As a prolific researcher, Dejean secured funding for 15 research projects and contributed to several editorial boards. His dedication to research and academia culminated in his emeritus status in 2014, marking a prolific career of over four decades. His influence continues through his participation in major international conferences and collaborations.

Awards and Honors 🏆 

Alain Dejean has been the recipient of numerous awards, reflecting his outstanding contributions to science and education. He was awarded the prestigious Grand Prix Foulon from the French Academy of Sciences in 2011 alongside Jérôme Orivel, for his remarkable work in entomology. Dejean’s scientific excellence was further recognized with the Prime d’Excellence Scientifique in 2011, awarded after his return from a CNRS secondment. In 2013, he received the honorary degree of Docteur Honoris Causa from the Université de Montréal, highlighting his international impact in the field of animal behavior and ecology. Dejean has also been honored as an invited speaker at esteemed institutions and international conferences, including the bicentennial of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris and the XXII Simpósio de Mirmecologia in Brazil. His contributions have left a lasting mark on the scientific community, both in France and globally.

Research Focus 🔬 

Alain Dejean’s research centers on the behavior, ecology, and interactions of ants, particularly arboreal species. His work has explored how ants build traps, protect host plants, and capture prey using innovative methods like the “Velcro® principle.” Dejean has published extensively on ant predation, aggressiveness, and the mutualistic relationships between ants and plants. His research also addresses the impact of environmental changes on ant communities, such as habitat disturbance and climate change. He has been a pioneer in studying myrmecotrophy, where plants shelter ants in exchange for protection and nutrients. His work in French Guiana has revealed invasive ant presence in urban areas and the complex dynamics between ants and their environment. Dejean’s collaborative projects, such as venom studies in Pseudomyrmex ants, have broadened the understanding of venom composition and toxicity, advancing knowledge on insect-plant interactions and ecological resilience.

Publication  Top Notes

Rainfall during multiyear La Niñas and its impact on social wasps
This study, published in Ecology (2024), discusses how multiyear La Niñas caused a decline in social wasps in Northeastern Amazonia. It sheds light on climatic impacts on local biodiversity.
DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4433

Adaptive trade-offs driving ant venom evolution
A preprint (2024) exploring how adaptive trade-offs between vertebrate defense and insect predation have influenced the evolution of ant venom, providing insights into evolutionary biology.
DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.06.583705

Biological interactions in myrmecophyte Hirtella physophora
Published in Biological Journal of the Linnean Society (2024), this research covers the mutualistic relationships between ants and plants, specifically focusing on the myrmecophyte Hirtella physophora.
DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blad061

Influence of urbanization on mosquito communities
A recent study from Neotropical Entomology (2023) that looks at how urban water containers impact mosquito populations, with implications for Aedes aegypti, a vector of dengue and other diseases.
DOI: 10.1007/s13744-023-01091-9

Mutualistic interactions between ants and fungi
This review, published in Ecology and Evolution (2023), delves into the symbiotic relationships between ants and fungi, highlighting their ecological importance.
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10386

Conclusion

Alain Dejean is a highly accomplished and pioneering ecologist with an exemplary record in both research and mentorship. His innovative work on ant behavior, particularly in tropical ecosystems, and his extensive publication record and international reputation make him an outstanding candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His leadership in research projects, contributions to advancing ecological understanding, and commitment to scientific education are clear strengths that position him as a strong contender. While further interdisciplinary collaborations and public engagement could elevate his profile even more, his contributions to the field of ecology are remarkable, making him well-deserving of recognition.