Opportunities:

We have several MS and PhD positions available immediately. Funding oppurtunities are also available for postdoctoral and visiting researchers who have a record of peer-reviewed publications. Strong candidates, particularly Chinese, are encouraged to apply. Excellent international students (MS and PhD) through CSC, APFNet and other schoalrships are encouraged to contact Professor Arshad Ali (arshadforester@njfu.edu.cn). We thank all applicants for your interest in advance, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. We are also looking for full-time Chinese Research Assistant, having MS degree in Ecology/Forestry or related fields with strong hold on English language.

Click here to visit my personal website for more details: https://www.arshadforester.info/

Education

Employment

Teaching experience

Fall semester 2019 Forest Ecology and Management

Master’s and PhD students in Forestry (international/APFNet)

Nanjing Forestry University

Language of instruction: English

Fall semester 2019    Introduction to Forestry

Bachelor’s students in forestry (Chinese)

Nanjing Forestry University

Language of instruction: English

Course code: 0101305A

Teaching assistant: Mrs. Yang Lu

Professional services, and affiliations

1 August-present Editorial Board Member

Section: Forest Diversity, Structure and Functioning

Forest Ecology and Management

Elsevier Publishers

Netherlands

26 May, 2018-present Editor

Section: Forest Management and Silviculture – Tropical

Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research

Institute of Chartered Foresters, UK

Oxford University Press

26 April, 2018-present Associate Subject Editor

Section: Forest Ecology and Management

Journal of Forestry Research, Springer Publishers

Northeast Forestry University, Chin 

15  July 2012-30 Dec 2017 Pre-doctoral Research Fellow

Tiantong National Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Ningbo, PR China;

Forest Ecosystem Research and Observation Station in Putuo Island, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, PR China

Research interest

 My broad-scale research interests are in the area of forest or plant ecology, particularly related to multiple abiotic and biotic controls on ecosystem functions and processes. I am interested in to evaluate the underlying ecological mechanisms for explaining biodiversity – ecosystem functioning relationship in a changing environment. Plant functional traits, demography, and trees' size variation across space and time, as well as across forest biomes, are the main characteristics of my research. Using the multivariate statistical modeling (such as structural equation modeling) approach, I evaluate the multivariate relationships amongst environmental factors, multiple metrics of biodiversity and species/functional composition, and ecosystem functioning particularly aboveground biomass, carbon storage, and productivity in natural (subtropical, tropical, and temperate) forests, agroforestry systems, rangelands, and alpine plant communities. Most of my previous studies have focused on the biodiversity – ecosystem functioning relationship at both local and regional scales. Currently, I evaluate the macro-ecological mechanisms underpinning biodiversity – ecosystem functioning at global and/ or pantropical scales. I am also leading the Global Forest Diversity, Structure and Function (i.e. GlobalFDSF) research network.

 我的研究领域为森林和植物生态学，特别是森林生态系统功能和过程的多种非生物和生物的控制机理。我的研究兴趣主要是森林生物多样性与生态系统功能之间的关系在环境变化背景下的潜在生态机制。过去几年中，我在植物功能性状、森林统计学特征、树木大小随时间和空间的变化、以及森林生物群落变化的潜在影响机制上做了大量工作。其中，代表性科研成果有，利用多元统计建模(如结构方程建模)的方法评估了不同地带上(亚热带、热带和温带)自然森林、农林复合系统、牧场和高山植物群落中环境因子、生物多样性和物种/功能组成之间的多元关系，以及阐述了地上生物量、碳储量、生产力和生态系统功能之间的关系。目前，除延续之前工作重点区域尺度上生物多样性和生态系统功能之间关系外，我正在全球和/或泛热带区域尺度评估支撑生物多样性和生态系统功能的宏观生态机制，其研究水平已处在全球森林多样性、结构和功能研究的前沿，是Global FDSF的发起者和领导人。

 Research direction key words: Biodiversity – Ecosystem Functioning; Forest Multifunctionality; Forest Demographic Processes; Big-sized Trees Effect; Functional Traits; Forest Ecological Modeling; Rangeland Ecology; Plant Community Assembly

Forest Ecology and Management Lab (Team members)

 1. Ms. Liqiu Wang, Department of Forest Resources, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University

Status: Master’s in Forestry (2019-2021); Chinese student

2. Mr. Suwash Kanwar, Department of Forest Resources, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University

  Status: APFNet Master’s in Forestry (2019-2021); International student

3. Mr. Viseuy Indavong, Department of Forest Resources, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University

Status: APFNet Master’s in Forestry (2019-2021); International student

4. Ms. Maryam Kazempour Larsary, Department of Forestry, Natural Resource Faculty, University of Guilan, Somehsara, P. O. Box 1144, Guilan, Iran.

Supervisor: Co-advising with Professor Dr. Hassan Pourbabaei

Status: PhD studen 

5. Dr. Anvar Sanaei, Department of Reclamation of Arid and Mountainous Regions, Natural Resources Faculty, The University of Tehran, Iran.

Student No: 720192031; Duration, 2014-17. Co-advised in the last year of PhD (2017).

Supervisor: Co-advised with Professor Mohammad Ali Zare Chachouki

Status: Graduated; currently working through collaboration.

Research Projects / Grants

2019- Metasequoia Faculty Research Startup Funding at Nanjing Forestry University (Grant No. 163010230). Principal Investigator.

2019- Linking some environmental factors, plant diversity, stand structure, and aboveground biomass in temperate forests of west Guilan in Iran.

Iran National Science Foundation (INSF), Grant No: 97010593. (Key Member). Principal Investigator: Professor Hassan Pourbabaei (Natural Resource Faculty, Guilan University, Iran).

2018- 2019 Linking abiotic and biotic drivers of aboveground biomass productivity across forest strata in tropical forests of Hainan Island, Southern China. China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, Grant No: 2018M643117. (Principal Investigator). School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou.

Scholarships and Awards

2017

15. Excellent Student Scholarship for Foreigners at East China Normal University

14. Wisdom scholar award for academic performance by School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University - 2017

13. Wisdom scholar award for academic performance by School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University - 2016

12. Member of excellent young researchers by East China Normal University; National Excellent Society; and the Shanghai Star Community Local Construction Society

2016

11. Outstanding CSC foreigner Student award and scholarship (RMB 30,000), only two open merit positions at East China Normal University. Chinese National Award.

2015

10. Excellent Student Scholarship for Foreigners at East China Normal University

9. Wisdom scholarship at School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University.

8. Overseas PhD scholarship with offer of Lecturer (BS 18); Department of Environmental Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM), KPK, Pakistan (Declined)

2014

7. Shanghai Government Scholarship (Class- A, Full Funded) for Doctorate degree in Ecology at East China Normal University, Shanghai China

6. Certificate of Excellence from International student office

2013

5. Excellent Student Scholarship for Foreigners at East China Normal University

4. Excellent Master Student Award at Department of Environment Sciences, ECNU, China

2012

3. China Government Scholarship for Master’s degree in Ecology at East China Normal University, Shanghai China through the approval of China Scholarship Council (CSC)

2006-2011

2. Gold Medal; got the Top position in BS (Forestry), 4 Years in the entire Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University during Session 2006-2010, having 81% aggregate score.

1. Frontier Education Foundation (FEF) Scholarship, Pakistan, for talented students in 2008.

https://www.arshadforester.info/research-publications

Peer-Reviewed Publications

2020

49) Ali. A*., Sanaei, A., Li, M., Ahmadaali, K., Asadi, O., Javanmiri Pour, M., Valipour, A., Karami, J., Aminpour, M., Kaboli, H. & Askari, Y. (2019) Impacts of climatic and edaphic factors on the diversity, structure and biomass of species-poor and structurally-complex forests. Science of the Total Environment 706, 135719. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135719

2019

48) Sanaei, A.#, Li, M.S. & Ali. A.#* (2019) Topography, grazing, and textures control over rangelands' vegetation quantity and quality. Science of the Total Environment 697, 134153. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134153

47) Yuan, Z.Q., Ali, A., Wang, S.P., Lin, F., Wang, X.G., Ye, J., Hao, Z.Q., Loreau, M. & Lin, J. (2019) Temporal stability of aboveground biomass is governed by species asynchrony in temperate forests. Ecological Indicators 107, 105661. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105661

46) Ali, A., Lin, S.L., He, J.K., Kong, F.M., Yu, J.H. & Jiang, H.S. (2019) Big-sized trees overrule remaining trees' attributes and species richness as determinants of aboveground biomass in tropical forests. Global Change Biology 25(8), 2810-2824. DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14707

45) Villa, P.M., Martins, S.V., Rodrigues, A.C., Safar, N.V.H., Bonilla. M.A.C. & Ali A. (2019) Testing species abundance distribution models in tropical forest successions: Implications for fine-scale passive restoration. Ecological Engineering 135, 28-35. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.05.015

44) Alice, R., Pedro, P.M., Ali, A., Walnir, J. & Andreza, N. (2019) Fine-scale habitat differentiation shapes the composition, structure and aboveground biomass, but not species richness, of a tropical Atlantic forest. Journal of Forestry Research. DOI: 10.1007/s11676-019-00994-x (Early view). 

43) Yang, X.D., Qie, Y.D., Teng, D.X., Ali, A., Liu, Y., Bolan, N., Yang, S., Ma, L.G., Liu, W.G., Lv, G.H., Yang, S.T. & Simayi, Z. (2019) Prediction of groundwater depth in an arid region based on maximum tree height. Journal of Hydrology 574, 46-52. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.04.022

42) Yang, X.D., Ali, A., Xu, Y.L., Jiang, L.M. & Lv, G.H. (2019) Soil moisture and salinity as the main drivers for soil respiration across the natural forest and agricultural lands in an arid desert region. Catena 177, 126-133. DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2019.02.015

41) Ali, A., Lin, S.L., He, J.K., Kong, F.M., Yu, J.H. & Jiang, H.S. (2019) Elucidating space, climate, edaphic and biodiversity effects on aboveground biomass in tropical forests. 30(8), 918-927. Land Degradation & Development 30, 918–927. DOI: 10.1002/ldr.3278

40) Yuan, Z., Ali. A., Jucker, T., Ruiz-Benito, P., Wang, S., Jiang, L., Wang, X., Lin, F., Ye, J., Hao, Z. & Loreau, M. (2019) Multiple abiotic and biotic pathways shape biomass demographic processes in temperate forests. Ecology DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2650

39) Yang, X.D., Wang, J., Xu, M.S., Ali A., Xu, Y.L., Lamb, D., Duan, M.C., Yan, K.H. & Yang, S.T. (2019) Effects of the ephemeral stream on plant species diversity and distribution in an alluvial fan of arid desert region: an application of a low altitude UAV. PLoS ONE 14(2): e0212057. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212057

38) Ali, A., Chen, H.Y.H., You, W.H. & Yan, E.R. (2019) Multiple abiotic and biotic drivers of aboveground biomass shift with forest strata. Forest Ecology and Management 436, 1-10. DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2019.01.007

37) Yang, X.D. & Ali, A. (2019) "Biochar for Soil Water Conservation and Salinization Control in Arid Desert Regions" In Biochar from Biomass and Waste, pp. 161-168. Elsevier Publishers. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-811729-3.00009-1 (Book Chapter).

36) Ali, A., Lin, S.L., He, J.K., Kong, F.M., Yu, J.H. & Jiang, H.S. (2019) Tree crown complementarity links positive functional diversity and aboveground biomass in tropical forests. Science of the Total Environment 656, 45-54. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.342

35) Ali, A*. (2019) Forest stand structure and functioning: current knowledge and future challenges. Ecological Indicators 98, 665-677. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.11.017 (Review Paper).

34) Sanaei, A. & Ali, A*. (2019) What is the role of perennial plants in semi-steppe rangelands? Direct and indirect effects of perennial on annual plant species. Ecological Indicators 98, 389-396. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.11.012

33) Ali, A., Lin, S.L., He, J.K., Kong, F.M., Yu, J.H. & Jiang, H.S. (2019) Climate and soils determine aboveground biomass indirectly via species diversity and stand structural complexity in tropical forests. Forest Ecology and Management 432, 823-831. DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2018.10.024

32) Sanaei, A., Ali, A*., Ahmadaali, K. & Jahantab, E. (2019) Generalized and species-specific prediction models for aboveground biomass in semi-steppe rangelands. Journal of Plant Ecology. 12 (3), 428–437. DOI: 10.1093/jpe/rty037

31) Ali, A., Lin, S.L., He, J.K., Kong, F.M., Yu, J.H. & Jiang, H.S. (2019) Climatic water availability is the main limiting factor of biotic attributes across large-scale elevational gradients in tropical forests. Science of the Total Environment 647, 1211-1221. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.072

2018

30) Villa, P.M., Martins, S.V., de Oliveira Neto, S.N., Rodrigues, A.C., Safar, N.V.H., Delgado, L., Monsanto, Cancio, N.M. & Ali, A. (2018) Woody species diversity as an indicator of the forest recovery after shifting cultivation disturbance in the northern Amazon. Ecological Indicators 95(P1), 687-694. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.08.005

29) Ali, A. & Yan, E.R. (2018) Consequences of phylogenetic conservativeness and functional trait similarity on aboveground biomass vary across subtropical forest strata. Forest Ecology and Management 429, 28-35. DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2018.06.042

28) Yuan, Z.Q., Wang, S.P., Ali, A., Gazol, A., Ruiz-Benito, P., Wang, X.G., Lin, F., Ye, J., Hao, Z.Q. & Loreau, M. (2018) Aboveground carbon storage is driven by functional trait composition and stand structural attributes rather than biodiversity in temperate mixed forests recovering from disturbances. Annals of Forest Science 75 (3), 67. DOI: 10.1007/s13595-018-0745-3

27) Ali, A., Lohbeck, M. & Yan, E.R. (2018) Forest strata-dependent functional evenness explains whole-community aboveground biomass through opposing mechanisms. Forest Ecology and Management 424, 439–447. DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2018.05.015

26) Sanaei, A., Ali, A[ Corresponding author]., Chahouki, M.A.Z., Jafari, M. & Azarnivand, H. (2018) Plant coverage is a potential ecological indicator for species diversity and aboveground biomass in semi-steppe rangelands. Ecological Indicators 93, 256-266. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.05.011

25) Ali, A. & Mattsson, E. (2018) Wood density is a sustainability indicator for the management of dry zone homegarden agroforests: evidences from biodiversity - ecosystem function relationships. Special Issue (Climate and Agriculture) of Ecological Indicators (In Press). DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.04.024

24) Yuan, Z.Q., Ali, A., Wang, S.P., Gazol, A., Freckleton, R., Wang, X.G., Lin, F., Ye, J., Zhou, L., Hao, Z.Q. & Loreau, M. (2018) Abiotic and biotic determinants of coarse woody productivity in temperate mixed forests. Science of the Total Environment 630, 422-431. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.02.125

23) Ali, A. & Yan, E.R. (2018) The mediation roles of intraspecific and interspecific functional trait diversity for linking the response of aboveground biomass to species richness across forest strata in a subtropical forest. Ecological Indicators 85, 493-501. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.10.057

22) Sanaei, A., Chahouki, M.A.Z., Ali, A*., Jafari, M. & Azarnivand, H. (2018) Abiotic and biotic drivers of aboveground biomass in semi-steppe rangelands. Science of the Total Environment 615, 895-905. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.010

21) Sanaei, A., Ali, A*. & Chahouki, M.A.Z. (2018) The positive relationships between plant coverage, species richness, and aboveground biomass are ubiquitous across plant growth forms in semi-steppe rangelands. Journal of Environmental Management 205, 308-318. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.09.079

2017

20) Ali, A. & Yan, E.R. (2017) Functional identity of overstorey tree height and understorey conservative traits drive aboveground biomass in a subtropical forest. Ecological Indicators 83, 158-168. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.07

19) Ali, A. & Yan, E.R. (2017) The forest strata-dependent relationship between biodiversity and aboveground biomass within a subtropical forest. Forest Ecology and Management 401, 125-134. DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2017.06.056

18) Ali, A. & Mattsson, E. (2017) Disentangling the effects of species diversity, and intraspecific and interspecific tree size variation on aboveground biomass in dry zone homegarden agroforestry systems. Science of the Total Environment 598, 38-48. DOI:  10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.04.131

17) Yang, X.D., Lv, G.H., Ali, A., Ran, Q.Y., Gong, X.W., Wang, F., Liu, Z.D., Qin, L. & Liu, W.G. (2017) Variations in functional traits and population dynamics of an ephemeral plant Lappula semiglabra with dew amount gradients in Ebinur Desert in NW, China. Ecohydrology 10(6) e1858. DOI:10.1002/eco.1858

16) Ali, A. & Mattsson, E. (2017) Individual tree size inequality enhances aboveground biomass in homegarden agroforestry systems in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. Science of the Total Environment 575, 6-11. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.022 

15) Ali, A., Yan, E.R., Scott, X.C., Cheng, J.Y. & Liu, X.Y. (2017) Community-weighted mean of leaf traits and divergence of wood traits predict aboveground biomass in secondary subtropical forests. Science of the Total Environment 574, 654–662. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.09.022

14) Zhao, Y.T., Ali, A. & Yan, E.R. (2017) The plant economics spectrum is structured by leaf habits and growth forms across subtropical species. Tree Physiology 37 (2): 173-185. DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpw098

13) Ali, A. & Yan, E.R. (2017) Relationships between biodiversity and carbon stocks in forest ecosystems: a systematic literature review. Tropical Ecology 58(1), 1–14. (Review Paper).

2016 and earlier

12) Ali, A., Molau, U., Yang, B., Jägerbrand, A.K. & Alatalo, J.M. (2016) Diversity-productivity dependent resistance of an alpine plant community to different climate change scenarios. Ecological Research 31(6), 935–945. DOI: 10.1007/s11284-016-1403-6

11) Ali, A., Yan, E.R., Chen, H.Y.H., Chang, S.X., Zhao, Y.T., Yang, X.D. & Xu, M.S. (2016) Stand structural diversity rather than species diversity enhances aboveground carbon storage in secondary subtropical forests in Eastern China. Biogeosciences 13(16), 4627-4635. DOI:10.5194/bg-13-4627-2016, Biogeosciences Discussion., DOI:10.5194/bg-2016-6. Data from: Stand structural diversity rather than species diversity enhances aboveground carbon storage in secondary subtropical forests in Eastern China. Dryad Digital Repository. DOI:10.5061/dryad.8bp7m

10) Ali, A., Xu, M.S., Zhao, Y.T., Zhang, Q.Q., Zhou, L.L., Yang, X.D. & Yan, E.R. (2015) Allometric biomass equations for shrub and small tree species in subtropical China. Silva Fennica 49 (4), 1-10. DOI:10.14214/sf.1275

9) Ali, A. (2015) A review of strong evidence for the effect of functional dominance on carbon stocks in natural forest ecosystems. Research Journal of Forestry 9(3), 65-70. DOI:10.3923/rjf.2015.65.70 (Review Paper).

8) Yang, X.D., Zhang, X.N., Lv, G.H. & Ali, A. (2014) Linking Populus euphratica hydraulic redistribution to diversity assembly in the arid desert zone of Xinjiang, China. PLoS ONE, 9(10), e109071. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0109071

7) Ali, A., Ma, W.J., Yang, X.D., Sun, B.W., Shi, Q.R. & Xu, M.S. (2014) Biomass and carbon stocks in Schima superba dominated subtropical forests of eastern China. Journal of Forest Science, 60(5), 198-207. DOI: 10.17221/21/2014-JFS

6) Song, Y.J., Tian, W.B., Liu, X.Y., Ying, F., Cheng, J.Y., Zhu, D.N., A. Ali. & Yan, E.R. (2016) Associations between litterfall dynamics and micro-climate in forests of Putuoshan Island, Zhejiang, China. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 40 (11), 1154–1163. DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2016.0157

5) Xu. M.S., Zhao, Y.T., Yang, X.D., Shi, Q.R., Zhou, L.L., Zhang, Q.Q., Ali. A. & Yan. E.R. (2016) Geostatistical analysis of spatial variations in leaf traits of woody plants in Tiantong, Zhejiang Province. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 40 (1), 48-59. DOI:10.17521/cjpe.2015.0246

4) Zhao Y.T., Xu, M.S., Zhang, Z.H., Zhou, L.L., Zhang, Q.Q., Ali, A., Song, Y.J. & Yan, E.R. (2016) Characteristics of hydraulic architecture in woody plants across successional stages in evergreen broad-leaved forests in Tiantong, Zhejiang Province. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 40(2), 116-126. DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2015.0258

3) Ma, W.J., Zhao, Y.T., Zhang, Q.Q., Ali, A., Shi, Q.R. & Yan, E.R. (2014) C:N:P stoichiometry in forest floor litter of evergreen broad-leaved forests at different successional stages in Tiantong, Zhejiang, eastern China. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 38(8), 833-842. DOI:10.3724/SP.J.1258.2014.00078

2) Sun, B.W., Yang, X.D., Zhang, Z.H., Ma, W.J., Ali, A., Huang, H.X. & Yan, E.R. (2013) Relationships between soil carbon pool and vegetation carbon return through succession of evergreen broad-leaved forests in Tiantong region, Zhejiang Province, Eastern China. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 37(9), 803-810. DOI:10.3724/SP.J.1258.2013.00084

1) Yang, X.D., Yan, E.R., Zhang, Z.H., Sun, B.W., Huang, H.X., Ali, A., Ma, W.J. & Shi, Q.R. (2013) Tree architecture of overlapping species among successional stages in evergreen broad-leaved forests in Tiantong region, Zhejiang Province, China. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 37(7), 611-619. DOI:10.3724/SP.J.1258.2013.00063

Projects/Grants Reviewer

Swiss National Science Foundation

Journals Reviewer

Journal of Ecology; Global Change Biology; Forest Ecology and Management; Advances in Ecological Research; Journal of Applied Ecology; Journal of Vegetation Science; Scientific Reports; Science of the Total Environment; Ecological Indicators; Ecological Modeling; Ecology and Evolution; Journal of Environmental Management; Ecological Complexity; Frontiers in Plant Science; Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research; Journal of Cleaner Production; Journal of Forestry Research; Plant Ecology; Plant Ecology and Evolution; Journal of Forest Science; Pakistan Journal of Botany; Current Science; Energy, Ecology and Environment; Ecosystem Processes

Reviewer Recognition

Elsevier: https://www.reviewerrecognition.elsevier.com/recognition/index?key=A002F298890F30D85F7521154332F0C9B09CDBC6F48A1B81 

 Forestry: https://doi.org/10.1093/forestry/cpx050

Publons: https://publons.com/author/1522358/arshad-ali#profile 

Global Research Collaboration

Global Forest Diversity, Structure and Functioning (GlobalFDSF) Research Network: Currently I am leading the GlobalFDSF research network, and I have collected a potential forest inventory data across the globe. I am trying to explore the macro-ecological mechanisms (with some new insights) underlying the latitudinal global gradient in forest diversity, structure and functioning