Wu Bo

Prof.  Wu Bo

Organization: Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry

Research category: Ecology

Research field: Forest and climate change; forest landscape restoration

E-mail: zyd@caf.ac.cn

Main work

Prof. Wu Bo is the director of the Institute of Desertification Studies, Chinese Academy of Forestry, and the head of the Key Laboratory of Desert Ecosystem and Global Change, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China. His primary research is focused on the responses and acclimation of desert ecosystem to global change, desertification process, desertification monitoring. In this regard, his study's applications cover dryland ecosystems, desertification control and vegetation restoration. He has experiences in land-use and land-cover change of drylands, desertification monitoring system, and the estimation of the carbon storage of desert ecosystems and the carbon sequestration potential by desertification control.

Key research projects

  • The State Key Research and Development Program from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Near-natural Ecological Restoration and Security Enhancement Technology for Desertified Land in Beijing-Tianjin Sandstorm Source Zone, 2023-2027, team leader.

  • The Key Special Projection "Science and Technology Promoting the Development of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region", Desertification dynamics and optimization model of desertification control in the Mu Us Sandy Land, 2020-2023, team leader.

  • The project from the State Forestry Administration of China, Estimation of biomass and carbon storage in desert ecosystem, 2021-2022, team leader

  • The tState Key Research and Development Program from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Demonstration of Pivotal Technology on Desertified Land Restoration in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Sandstorm Source Zone, 2016-2021, team leader.

  • The project from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Comprehensive Scientific Expedition of Kumtag Desert, 2012-2017, team leader.

  • The project from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Desertification Monitoring and Early Warning and the National Implementation Strategy of UNCCD, 2008-2010, team leader of a sub-project.

  • The project from PRC-GEF OP12 Capacity Building to Combat Land Degradation Project, Component 5.1: Development of An Operational National Land Degradation Monitoring and Assessment Network Mechanism for Coordinating and Sharing the Collection and Analysis of National Level Data Sets, 2005.12-2007.3, team leader.

  • The project from TNC-China EAG programme: National-level terrestrial protected area gap analysis, 2006.9-2007.4, technical consultant.

  • The project from WWF-China: Identification and Mapping of High Conservation Value Forests (HCVF) in Northeast China and Inner Mongolia, 2002-2005, as the coordinator and team leader.

  • The project from WWF-China: Systematic Conservation Planning of the Forests of the Upper Yangtze Ecoregion (FUY), 2001-2002, as the coordinator and team leader.

  • "Tenth-five-year" project from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Vegetation Restoration Technology in Drylands, Northern China, 2005-2007, as the team leader.

  • Developed the Benchmark & Indicator System for Desertification Monitoring and Assessment in Asian Region, during 2001-2003 for UNCCD TPN1 Ad Hoc Group of Asian Regional Thematic Programme Network (TPN) on Desertification Monitoring and Assessment.

  • China Environmental Sector Update Thematic Paper of the World Bank, 2001.2-3, completed the branch report-III. Land Degradation: Desertification, as a technical consultant.

Awards & achievements

  • Development Law and Comprehensive Prevention and Control Model of Desertification. National Scientific and Technological Progress Award, Second Prize, 2006.

  • Comprehensive Scientific Expedition of the Kumtag Desert. Chinese Academy of Forestry Science and Technology Prize, Second Prize, 2010

  • Comprehensive Scientific Expedition of the Kumtag Desert and the Key Scientific Discoveries. Liangxi Science and Technology Award for Forestry. Second Prize, 2011

  • Disturbance Recovery Mechanism and Regulation Technologies of Pinus Sylvestris Forest in Sandy Land. Liangxi Forestry Science and Technology Award, Second Prize, 2018

  • Functional Assessment and Service Value Accounting of Desert Ecosystem. Liangxi Forestry Science and Technology Award, Second Prize, 2020

  • Desertification Combating Research in China. Dr. Y. S. Rao Forestry Research Prize (Asia Pacific) of APAFRI, 2000

Published articles & books

  • Bao, F.; Xin, Z.; Liu, M.;   Li, J.; Gao, Y.; Lu, Q.; Wu, B*. Contrasting Regulators of the Onset and End of the Seed Release Phenology of a Temperate Desert Shrub Nitraria tangutorum. Plants, 2023, 12, 88, doi: 10.3390/ plants12010088.

  • Xu, X.; Wu, B*.; Bao, F.; Gao, Y.; Li, X.; Cao, Y.; Lu, Q.; Gao, J.; Xin, Z.; Liu, M. Different   Responses of Growing Season Ecosystem CO2 Fluxes to Rain Addition in a Desert Ecosystem. Plants, 2023, 12, 1158, doi: 10.3390/ plants12051158.

  • Cheng H, Jiang N, Zhang K D, Zou X Y, Wu B, Jiang L M, Zhang K D, He W W. Dust emissions in the Beijing-Tianjin sandstorm source and their regional differentiation (in Chinese). Chin Sci Bull, 2022, 67, doi: 10.1360/TB-2022-0476.

  • Zhao X M, Cheng H, Jiang N, et al. Spatial and temporal evolution of soil wind erosion in the Beijing-Tianjin sandstorm sources. Chin Sci Bull, 2023, 68: 238–253, doi: 10.1360/TB-2022-0300.

  • Cheng H, Zhang K D, Jiang N, Zou X Y, Wu B, He W W. Dust amount reaching typical cities from dust emissions due to soil wind erosion in Beijing-Tianjin sandstorm source regions and its source analysis. Chin Sci Bull, 2023, 67: 1–16, doi: 10.1360/TB-2022-0477.

  • Jia Xiaohong, Li Jia, Ye Jingyun, Fei Bingqiang, Bao Fang, Xu Xiaotian, Zhang Lingguang & Wu Bo*. Estimating carbon storage of desert ecosystems in China. International Journal of Digital Earth, 2023, 16:2, 4113-4125, doi: 10.1080/17538947.2023.2263415.

  • Xiao Y, Bao F, Xu X, Ke Yu, Bo Wu, Ying Gao*, Junzhong Zhang*. The influence of precipitation timing and amount on soil microbial community in a temperate desert ecosystem. Frontiers in Microbiology, 2023, 14:1249036, doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1249036

  • Xiaoting Wei, Bing Han, Bo Wu, Xinqing Shao, Yongqiang Qian. Stronger effects of simultaneous warming and precipitation increase than the individual factor on soil bacterial community composition and assembly processes in an alpine grassland. Frontiers in Microbiology, 2023,14:1237850, doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1237850.

  • Long Cheng, Yanpeng Yue, Hong Zhou, Bingqiang Fei, Xiaomin Xiu, Yingtao Sun, Lingguang Zhang, Bo Wu, Yuanshou Li, Xuebin Zhao, Xiuben Yang, Xiaohong Jia. Biological soil crusts enhance the role of non-rainfall water in the water input in alpine sandy land ecosystems. Journal of Hydrology, 2022, 610, 127966.

  • Bao, F., Xin, Z., Liu, M., Li, J., Gao, Y., Lu, Q., Wu, B*. Preceding phenological events rather than climate drive the variation of fruiting phenology in a desert shrub Nitraria tangutorum. Plants, 2022, 11, 1578, doi.org/10.3390/plants11121578.

  • Jia Li, Yadong Xue, Charlotte Hacker, Yu Zhang, Ye Li, Wei Cong, Lixiao Jin, Gang Li, Bo Wu, Diqiang Li, Yuguang Zhang. Projected impacts of climate change on snow leopard habitat in Qinghai Province, China. Ecology and Evolution, 2021, doi: 10.1002/ece3.8358.

  • Jia Li, Diqiang Li, Charlotte Hacker, Wei Dong, Bo Wu, Yadong Xue. Spatial co-occurrence and temporal activity patterns of sympatric mesocarnivores guild in Qinling Mountains. Global Ecology and Conservation, 2022, 36, doi:   10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02129.

  • Pang Yingjun*, Li Yonghua, Wu Bo, Xiao Jianhua, Xie Shengbo. Emission, deposition and geochemical characteristics of aeolian dust in the eastern Kumtag Desert, China. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 2021, 143, 1129-1143.

  • Yao X, Yang G*, Wu B, Jiang L, Wang F. Biomass Estimation Models for Six Shrub Species in Hunshandake Sandy Land in Inner Mongolia, Northern China. Forests. 2021, 12(2):167.

  • Gao, Y.*, Xu, X., Ding, J., Bao, F., De Costa, Y.G., Zhuang, W., Wu, B.* The Responses to Long-Term Water Addition of Soil Bacterial, Archaeal and Fungal Communities in A Desert Ecosystem. Microorganisms, 2021, 9, 981, doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9050981.

  • Bao, F.*; Xin, Z.; Li, J.; Liu, M.; Cao, Y.; Lu, Q.; Gao, Y.; Wu, B*. Effects of the Simulated Enhancement of Precipitation on the Phenology of Nitraria tangutorum under Extremely Dry and Wet Years. Plants, 2021, 10, 1474, doi: 10.3390/plants10071474.

  • Yang Junting, Li Xiaosong*, Wu Bo, Wu Junjun, Sun Bin, Yan Changzhen, Gao Zhihai. High spatial resolution topsoil organic matter content mapping across desertified land in Northern China. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 2021, doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2021.668912.

  • Aimin Liang, Zhibao Dong*, Zhizhu Su*, Jianjun Qu, Zhengcai Zhang, Guangqiang Qian, Bo Wu, Junliang Gao, Zhuanling Yang, Caixia Zhang. Provenance and transport process for interdune sands in the Kumtagh Sand Sea, Northwest China. Geomorphology, 2020, doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2020. 107310.

  • Aimin Liang, Zhibao Dong*, Jianjun Qu*, Zhizhu Su, Bo Wu, Zhengcai Zhang, Guangqiang Qian, Junliang Gao, Yingjun Pang, Zhuanling Yang. Using spatial variations of grain size to reveal sediment transport in the Kumtagh Sand Sea, Northwest China. Aeolian Research, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.aeolia. 2020.100599.

  • Bao F, Liu M, Cao Y, Li J, Yao B, Xin Z, Lu Q and Wu B*. Water Addition Prolonged the Length of the Growing Season of the Desert Shrub Nitraria tangutorum in a Temperate Desert. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2020, 11:1099, doi: 10.3389/fpls.2020.01099.

  • Pang Yingjun*, Wu Bo, Li Yonghua, Xie Shengbo. Morphological   characteristics and dynamic changes of seif dunes in the eastern margin of   the Kumtagh Desert, China. Journal of Arid Land, 2020, 12 (5): 887-902.

  • Pang Yingjun*, Wu Bo, Cao Yanping, Jia Xiaohong. Spatio-temporal changes in terrestrial water storage in the Beijing-Tianjin Sandstorm Source Region from GRACE satellites. International Soil and Water Conservation Research, 2020, 8 (3): 295-307.

  • Zhou, H., Gao, Y.*, Jia, X., Wang, M., Ding, J., Cheng, L., Bao, F., Wu, B.*. Network analysis reveals the strengthening of microbial interaction in biological soil crust development in the Mu Us Sandy Land, northwestern China, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio. 2020.107782.

  • Xiaohong Jia, Yuanshou Li, Bo Wu, Qi Lu, Xinrong Li. Plant Restoration Leads to Divergent Sequestration of   Soil Carbon and Nitrogen in Different Fractions in An Arid Desert Region. Land Degradation and Development, 2019, doi: 10.1002/ldr.3416.

  • Jia Xiaohong, Li Yuanshou, Wu Bo, Zhou Yuyan, Li Xinrong.2017. Effects of plant restoration on soil microbial biomass in an arid desert in northern China. Journal of Arid Environments, 2017, 144: 192-200.

  • Leilei Cheng, Qi Lu, Bo Wu, Changbin Yin, Yingshuang Bao and Liyan Gong. Estimation of the Costs of Desertification in China: A Critical Review. Land Degradation & Development, 2016, doi: 10.1002/ ldr.2562.

  • Haixia Wei, Tianxiang Luo and Bo Wu*. Optimal balance of water use efficiency and leaf construction cost with a link to the drought threshold of the desert steppe ecotone in northern China. Annals of Botany, Annals of Botany, 2016, doi: 10.1093/aob/mcw127.

  • J. Zhang, L. Gu, J. Zhang, R. Wu, F. Wang, G. Lin, B. Wu, Q. Lu, and P. Meng. The interaction between nitrogen and phosphorous is a strong predictor of intra-plant variation in nitrogen isotope composition in a desert species. Biogeosciences, 2016, doi:10.5194/bg-2016-231.

  • Weimin Song, Shiping Chen, Bo   Wu, Yajuan Zhu, Yadan Zhou, Qi Lu, Guanghui Lin. Simulated rain addition modifies diurnal patterns and temperature sensitivities of autotrophic and heterotrophic soil respiration in an arid desert ecosystem. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2015, 82: 143–152.

  • Weimin Song, Shiping Chen, Yadan Zhou, Bo Wu, Yajuan Zhu, Qi Lu, Guanghui Lin. Contrasting diel hysteresis between soil autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration in a desert ecosystem under different rainfall scenarios. Scientific Reports, 2015, doi: 10.1038/srep16779.

  • Arnon Karnieli, Zhihao Qin, Bo Wu, Natalya Panov, Feng Yan. Spatio-temporal dynamics of land-use and land-cover in the Mu Us Sandy Land, China, using the Change Vector Analysis technique. Remote Sensing, 2014, 6: 9316-9339.

  • Bo Wu, Haiyan Han, Ji He, Junhong Zhang, Liqiang Cui, Ziyi Jia, and Wenbin Yang. Field-Specific Calibration and Evaluation of ECH2O EC-5 Sensor for Sandy Soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 2014, 78: 70-78.

  • Feng Yan, Bo Wu and Yanjiao Wang. Estimating spatiotemporal patterns of aboveground biomass using Landsat TM and MODIS images in the Mu Us Sandy Land, China. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 2014, 200: 119-128.

  • Bo Wu, Hongxiao Yang. Spatial Patterns and Natural Recruitment of Native Shrubs in a Semi-arid Sandy Land. PLOS One, 2013, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0058331.

  • JunHong Zhang, Bo Wu*, YongHua Li, WenBin Yang, YaKai Lei, HaiYan Han, Ji He. Biological soil crust distribution in Artemisia ordosica communities along a grazing pressure gradient in Mu Us Sandy Land, Northern China. Journal of Arid Land, 2013, 5(2):172−179.

  • Zhang Jinxin, Wu Bo, Zhu Yajuan, Li Yonghua, Lu Qi, Yao Bin. Responses of Nitraria tangutorum to water and photosynthetic physiology in rain enrichment scenario. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2013, 33:172-177.

  • Yan Feng, Wu Bo*, Wang Yanjiao. Estimating aboveground biomass in Mu Us Sandy Land using Landsat spectral derived vegetation indices over the past 30 years. J Arid Land, 2013, 5(4): 521- 530.

  • DianJun Liu, Bo Wu, YongHua Li, GuanHui Lin, ShiPing Chen, YaJuan Zhu, Qi Lu, Bin Yao. Effect of rain enrichment on soil respiration of Nitraria sphaerocarpa community in a hyperarid area. Science in Cold and arid Regions. 2013, 5(6): 0722-0732.

  • Weimin Song, Shiping Chen, Bo Wu, Yajuan Zhu, Yadan Zhou, Yonghua Li, Yanli Cao, Qi Lu, Guanghui Lin. Vegetation cover and rain timing co-regulate the responses of soil CO2 efflux to rain increase in an arid desert ecosystem. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 2012, 49:114-123.

  • Hongxiao Yang, Qi Lu, Bo Wu, Jintun Zhang. Seed dispersal of East Asian coastal dune plants via seawater–short and long distance dispersal. Flora, 2012, 207: 701-706.

  • Wang Feng, Chu Jianmin, Wang Xuequan, Cui Xianghui, Wu Bo, Yang Wenbin and Lu Qi. A study of Kumtag Desert: progresses and achievements. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 2011, (3):289-299.

  • Yiming Feng,Qi Lu,Bo Wu et al. Land-use dynamics of alpine-cold desertified area in the Qinhai-Tibetan Plateau in the last 30 years: a case study in Guinan County, Qinghai Province, China. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 2011, 18(4): 357-365.

  • Wei Haixia, Wu Bo, Yang Wenbin, Luo Tianxiang. Low-rainfall induced shift in leaf trait relationship across and within species in the Mu Us sandy land. Plant Biology, 2010, 13:   85-92.

  • Qi Lu, Xuequan Wand, Bo Wu, Hongxiao Yang. Can mobile sandy land be vegetated in the cold and dry Tibetan Plateau in China. Front. Biol. China, 2009, doi: 10.1007/s11515-008- 0101-3.

  • Lu Q., Wang X. and Wu B. An analysis of the effects of Climate Variability in Northern China over the past five decades on People, livestock and plants in the focus areas. In Victor R.S, Lu X, Lu Q, Wang T and Yang Y. eds., Rangeland Degradation and Recovery in China's Pastoral Lands, 33-44. London: CAB International, 2009.

  • Yang Hongxiao, Zhang Jintun, Li Zhendong, Wu Bo*, Zhang Zhongshan, Wang Yan. Comparative study on spatial patterns of the Artemisia ordosica population in the Mu Us sandy land. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2008, 28(5):1901-1910.

  • Lu Q., Wang G.Q., Yang Y.L., Wang S., Su Z.Z., Jiao M.Y., Wu B., Wang X.Q. Impacts of Climate Change and Human-Induced Activities on Desertification and Its Mitigation Strategy in China. In: Global Change, Environment and Development: Asia-Pacific Perspectives (Pak Sum Low ed.), Oxford Press, 2008.

  • H. Yang, Q. Lu, B. Wu, H. Yang, J. Zhang, Y. Lin. Vegetation diversity and its application in sandy desert revegetation on Tibetan Plateau. Journal of Arid Environments, 2006, 65(4): 619–631.

  • Ci Longjun, Wu Bo. Division of Desertification Climate Types and Determination of Potential Range of Desertification in China. The Journal of Chinese Geography, 1998, 8(2): 186-191.

  • Wu Bo, Ci Longjun. Developing stages and causes of desertification in the Mu Us sandy land, Chinese Science Bulletin, 1999,44(9): 845-849.

  • Wu Bo, Ci Longjun. Landscape Change and Desertification Development in the Mu Us Sandland, Northern China. Journal of Arid Environments. 2002, 50: 429-444.

Other results

Patent and Standard

  • Bao Fang, Li Jiazhu, Wu Bo. Plant root respiration gas collection device. ZL202121499422. X, 2021.12

  • Bao Fang, Li Jiazhu, Wu Bo, Yao Bin. Automatic monitoring device for plant carbon dioxide flux. ZL2021.11834021.25. 2022.02

  • Yang Deren, Wu Bo, Hu Xiaolong, et al. Forestry industry standard of the People's Republic of China: Technical regulations for setting up sand barriers in mobile sandy areas. LY/T 2986-2018.