Prof. Zang Runguo has been engaged in basic and applied basic research of forest ecology, including forest dynamics theory, biodiversity conservation, restoration ecology and sustainable forest management. He has obtained innovative theoretical results in terms of natural disturbance and biodiversity maintenance. He has made significant breakthroughs in the technology of rapidly enhancing functional diversity in degraded forestss. By focusing on a combination of selective cutting and replanting species with key ecological functions, he has successfully addressed the technical challenges of targeted removal and retention of species in secondary and young forests. He also has established technical system and demonstration model for the germplasm resource evaluation, propagation, habitat restoration, in-situ conservation, ex-situ conservation, and reintroduction of wild plant with extremely small populations.
National Key Research and Development Program of China, "Integrative forest management for multiple ecosystem services and enhanced biodiversity", 2023-2027;
National Natural Science Foundation of China, "The periodic table of forest plant niche based on functional traits and its geographical differentiation", 2018-2021;
National Key Research and Development Program of China, "Research on conservation and restoration technology of typical wild plant with extremely small populations", 2016-2020;
Special Fund on Foundational Scientific and Technological Work, "Forest vegetation survey in central China and xinjiang", 2013-2018;
Scientific Research Projects on Public Welfare Industry, "Assessment of ecological benefits of forestry programs such as natural forest protection", 2013-2015;
National "11th Five-Year Plan" Science and Technology Support project, "Research on function zoning technology of nature reserve", 2008-2010;
Key project of National Natural Science Foundation, "The ecological basis of protection and restoration of functional groups in the tropical natural forests of Hainan Island", 2005-2008;
National Natural Science Foundation, "Studies on the dynamics of seed and seedling banks in gaps of tropical mountain rainforest in Hainan Island", 2001-2003;
National Natural Science Foundation, "Studies on the dynamics of forest gap related to lianas in tropical mountain rainforest in Hainan Island", 2003;
National Natural Science Foundation, "Forest cycle and tree species diversity dynamics of tropical montane rain forest in Hainan Island", 1999-2001.
Li, X., Zhang, Z., Long, W., & Zang R.* (2023). Identifying hotspots of woody plant diversity and their relevance with home ranges of the critically endangered gibbon (Nomascus hainanus) across forest landscapes within a tropical nature reserve. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14, 1283037.
Fan, K., Liu, P., Mao, P., Yao, J., & Zang, R.* (2023). The turnover dynamics of woody plants in a tropical lowland rain forest during recovery following anthropogenic disturbances. Journal of Environmental Management, 342, 118371.
Huang, J., Yu, R., & Zang, R.* (2023). Differences in functional niche hypervolume among four types of forest vegetation and their environmental determinants across various climatic regions in China. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14, 1243209.
Xu, Y., & Zang, R.* (2023). Conservation of rare and endangered plant species in China. iScience, 26, 106008.
Liu, B., Bu, W., & Zang, R.* (2023). Improved allometric models to estimate the aboveground biomass of younger secondary tropical forests. Global Ecology and Conservation, 41, e02359.
Huang, C., Xu, Y., & Zang, R.* (2023). Environmental correlates of tree functional diversity with different leaf habits across subtropical evergreen broadleaved forests. Journal of Vegetation Science, 34(2), e13183.
Yao, J., Huang, J., & Zang, R.* (2023). Alpha and beta diversity jointly drive the aboveground biomass in temperate and tropical forests. Ecology and Evolution, 13(9), e10487.
Zhou, C., Ding, Y., & Zang, R.* (2023). Assessing the recovery in species, size and location diversities of a lowland tropical rainforest after shifting cultivation by multiple indices at stand and neighborhood scales. Journal of Environmental Management, 341, 118089.
Feng, G., Huang, J., Long, W., Ai, X., Li, J., & Zang, R.* (2022). The species richness pattern and its component dependence of two typical secondary forests in central China. Ecological Indicators, 143, 109370.
Zhang, S., Zang, R.*, & Sheil, D. (2022). Rare and common species contribute disproportionately to the functional variation within tropical forests. Journal of Environmental Management, 304, 114332.
Huang, C., Xu, Y., & Zang, R.* (2022). Variations in functional richness and assembly mechanisms of the subtropical evergreen broadleaved forest communities along geographical and environmental gradients. Forests, 13(8), 1206.
Han, ,X. Huang, J., Zang, R.*. (2022). Soil nutrients and climate seasonality drive differentiation of ecological strategies of species in forests across four climatic zones. Plant and Soil, 473(1-2), 517-531.
Zhang, S., Zang, R.*, Sheil, D. (2022). Rare and common species contribute disproportionately to the functional variation within tropical forests. Journal of Environmental Management, 304, 114332.
Zhang, S., Zang, R.* (2021). Tropical forests are vulnerable in terms of functional redundancy. Biological Conservation, 262, 109326.
Ding, Y., Zang, R.*. (2021). Effects of thinning on the demography and functional community structure of a secondary tropical lowland rain forest. Journal of Environmental Management, 279, 111805.
Ding, Y., Zang, R.* (2021). Determinants of aboveground biomass in forests across three climatic zones in China. Forest Ecology and Management, 482, 118805.
Yao, J., Huang, J., Ding, Y., Xu, Y., Xu, H., Zang, R.*. (2021). Ecological uniqueness of species assemblages and their determinants in forest communities. Diversity and Distributions, 27, 454-462.
Zang Runguo, Zhang Shuzi, Zang Lipeng, Fan Kexin, Yao Jie, Ding Yi, Tian Lixin. Patterns and mechanisms of tropical natural forest biodiversity based on dynamic monitoring. Beijing: China Forestry Publishing House, 2024.
Zang Runguo, Lu Xinghui, Ding Yi, Liu Wande, Liu Guangfu, Xu Han, Long Wenxing, Huang Yunfeng, Bu Wensheng, Zhang Junyan, Jiang Yong. Biodiversity and community assembly of the main types of tropical natural forests in Hainan Island. Beijing: Higher Education Press, 2019.
Zang Runguo, Jing Xuehui, Liu Hua, Liu Guifeng, Ding Yi, Cheng Kewu, Zhang Jun, Wu Xiaocheng, Zhang Xinping, Liu Ping, Zhang Zhidong, Wang Jiping. Ecological characteristics of forest vegetation in northern Xinjiang. Beijing: Modern Education Press, 2011.
Zang Runguo, Ding Yi, Zhang Zhidong, Deng Fuying, Mao Peili. Ecological basis for conservation and restoration of major functional groups of tropical natural forests in Hainan Island. Beijing: Science Press, 2010.
Zang Runguo, Cheng Kewu, Li Junqing, Zhang Weiyin, Chen Xuefeng, TAO Jianping. Natural forest biodiversity conservation and restoration. Beijing: China Science and Technology Press, 2005.
Zang Runguo, An Shuqing, Tao Jianping, Jiang Youxu, Wang Bosun. Maintenance mechanism of tropical forest biodiversity in Hainan Island. Beijing: Science Press, 2004.
Zang Runguo, Liu Jingyan, Dong Dafang. Gap dynamics and forest biodiversity. Beijing: China Forestry Publishing House, 1999.
