EDUCATION

Ph.D. Dec. 2000, Biogeochemical Cycles/Ecosystem Modeling, University of California at Berkeley

M. S. July 1990, Biometeorology/ Forest Ecology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China

B. S. July 1987, Forest Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China

EMPLOYMENT

September 2002 to present, Assistant Professor, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis, Rutgers University.

January - August, 2002, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley.

Aug. 1992 – Aug. 1994, Research Scientist, Agro-meteorological Research Center, Beijing, China

Aug. 1990 – July 1992, Research Scientist, Beijing Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China

AWARDS

1999–2000, Graduate School Fellowship, University of California at Berkeley

1998–99, Arthur H. and Karen Nelson Fellowship, University of California at Berkeley

1997–98, Research Assistantship, University of California at Berkeley

1994–97, Fellowship, Michigan Technological University

1994, Outstanding Scientific Research Achievement, Beijing Science and Technology Commission

1983-87, Fellowship, Outstanding Student Awards, Henan Agricultural University

RESEARCH INTERESTS

1. Ecosystem and climate interaction, especially energy, water, carbon and nitrogen exchange among soil, vegetation, and atmosphere

2. Biogeochemical cycles in terrestrial ecosystems and their responses/feedbacks to global climate change, particularly the temperature sensitivity of ecosystem respiration

3. Historical climate change and its impacts on environment and ecosystems

4. Applying remote sensing and GIS techniques in coupled climate-ecosystem modeling.

5. Environmental instrumentation development, especially for field measurements.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Fall 2006, Introduction to Ecological and Environmental Modeling, Rutgers University

Landscape Ecology, Rutgers University

Fall 2005, Introduction to Ecological and Environmental Modeling, Rutgers University

Spring 2005, Ecosystem Modeling (16:215:586), Rutgers University

Fall 2004, Introduction to Ecological & Environmental Modeling (16:215:585), Rutgers University

Spring 2004, Ecosystem Modeling (16:215:586), Rutgers University

Fall 2003, Introduction to Ecological & Environmental Modeling (16:215:585), Rutgers University

Fall 2001, Ecosystem Modeling, UC Berkeley (Co-Instructor).

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

August 2005 – Present, Development and Field Validation of Innovative Instrumentation for Measurement and Partitioning of Ecosystem Carbon Exchange Using Isotopic Fluxes of CO₂ Species

v Measuring total ecosystem flux alone is insufficient to resolve the mechanisms controlling ecosystem/atmospheric gas exchange. Partitioning contributions of distinct ecological processes in net ecosystem exchange (NEE) is essential to basic understanding of ecosystem function and formulating environmentally sound management practices. A critical need to understanding ecosystem carbon cycling is partitioning NEE of CO2 into the two opposing processes of gross primary productivity (GPP), primarily affected by photosynthetic activity, and respiration; furthermore, respiration needs to be decomposed into its autotrophic and heterotrophic components. An ability to quantify and distinguish between GPP and ecosystem respiration is needed because environmental and physiological controls over these mechanisms differ, thereby differentially affecting ecosystem carbon cycling and its response to natural environmental variation and global climate change.

v This project will develop and validate field-capable instrumentation capable of high frequency (10 Hz) sampling of isotopic fluxes of carbon dioxide (¹²CO2 and ¹³CO2). Current, state-of-the-art studies of atmospheric gases, atmospheric chemistry, and global carbon cycle would greatly benefit from accurate, precise, and high-speed measurements of isotopic fluxes. This instrumentation will enable long-term measurement of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of carbon with concurrent, real-time partitioning of NEE into its photosynthetic and respiratory components when coupled to existing high frequency eddy covariance (EC) micrometeorological techniques. Real-time partitioning of carbon flux, not now feasible using current stable isotope measurement technology, is critical for understanding the mechanisms controlling ecosystem carbon cycling. Successful development of this instrumentation would enable more accurate monitoring and forecasting of changes in atmospheric greenhouse gases, and to develop predictive, mechanistic models to better assess the large-scale climatic and ecological impacts of these atmospheric changes.

v Using a new Laser Assisted Isotope Ratio Analysis (LARA) techniques we have achieved an accuracy of 0.5ppmv on CO2 concentration and 0.1δ on ¹³C/¹²C ratio at a frequency of 1 Hz. Currently, we are close to the finishing of our phase I model, which will soon be coupled to our automatic soil respiration system for real-time continuous measurements of isotopic (¹³C) flux. We expect our phase II model, simultaneous measurement with tower-based flux, will be in full operation in the spring of 2007. The major role I play in this collaborative project is to couple the LARA system with the tower-based EC system and validate the LARA partition of NEE by scaling up chamber-based measurements of respiration and photosynthesis to ecosystem level.

January 2002 – Present, Historical Climate Change in China in the Past 50/100 Years

v Analyzed the daily climate data for 305 weather stations over China and found: (1) South China has been cooling in the past 50 years while the overall temperature in China has increased significantly during the same period; (2) Diurnal temperature range (DTR), global solar radiation, and pan evaporation have declined dramatically; (3) The hydrological cycle in China (except Northwest China) did not enhanced with global warming as evidenced in North America because the total precipitation amount barely increased in south China and significantly decreased in North China; and (4) The Eastern Asia (EA) monsoon has weakened as evidenced by the significant decline of surface wind speed in the area. The decline of the EA summer monsoon might have contributed to the flooding in south China and the drought in north China as seen in recent decades.

v A regional climate model (RegCM3) is being fully coupled with an ecosystem model (Biome-BGC) to estimate the human contribution, such as green-house gas and aerosol emissions and land use change, to the observed trends in the climate signal. Air pollution, especially aerosols, may play a critical role in shifting China’s rainfall pattern in the past decades. Remote sensing and historical land use data are used to parameterize the ecosystem model.

Sept. 2004 – Present, Climate Change, Vegetation Dynamics, and Dust Storms in Northwest China

v The main goal of the project is to provide scientific evidences on the causation of the more frequent dust storms since late 1990s in northwest China. It is widely believed within China that vegetation degradation resulting from deforestation and over-grazing is responsible for the recent dust storm events in northwest China. Surprisingly, I found that the overall vegetation cover in northwest China has increased rather than decreased in the past 20 years using remote sensing (AVHRR data) and spatial analysis techniques. Wind is also excluded from the picture because the wind speed actually decreased substantially in the past decades. By carefully examining the historical climate data, I found that the global warming, especially the warming in early spring, is closely related to the dust storm events in the region. This is because the spring warming makes the soils thaw earlier in spring, so the surface soil dries up rapidly and serves as a source of mobile dusts.

v I hope our coupled climate-ecosystem model will help to identify more critical mechanisms in the interactions among the regional climate, vegetation, and soils. The responses of the vegetation and the ecosystem functions to future climate change in the semiarid regions may be mirrored by their past and present responses.

Sept. 2004 – Present, Ecosystem Carbon/Nitrogen Cycles in an Oak Forest in New Jersey Pinelands

v Developed a new automatic chamber system for long-term continuous measurement of soil surface CO₂ efflux. 16 pairs of chambers (30 cm in diameter and 15 cm in height) are installed at the site to sequentially measure CO₂/NOx effluxes every 2 hours. Soil moisture is controlled at 3 different levels to separate the interaction effect between soil moisture and temperature on soil CO₂ production. Trenching method was applied to separate root and soil heterotrophic/microbial respiration.

v Simultaneous measurements of CO₂, NO, and NO₂ fluxes using the same chamber system by diverting air samples to a CO₂ and a NOx analyzer respectively.

v Developed a new system for long-term continuous measurement of stem and branch respiration. 21 trees are currently measured at the site. Both systems have been patented by Rutgers University.

v Leaf level physiological measurements, such as A-Ci curve and light response curve, are periodically conducted on different species to scale up leaf level measurements to ecosystem level through process-based photosynthetic models.

v Net ecosystem exchange and energy balance at different heights are monitored on 2 towers at the site (collaborate with USDA Forest Service).

Sept. 2002 – Present, Modeling Ecosystem Carbon and Water Dynamics in the State of New Jersey

v Modifying current ecosystem models (Biome-BGC and CASA models) to improve the estimation of carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles in the major ecosystems in NJ. We run the model at a spatial resolution of 30m by 30m.

v A new submodel was developed to estimate evapotranspiration (ET) based on stomatal controls of CO2 and water molecules at leaf level. Remote sensing data can be directly used to drive the model.

v Using historical land use/cover maps and fire maps to refine the estimation of carbon pools.

v The outputs from a regional climate model (MM5) are used to drive the ecosystem model.

v Intensive field measurements, such as tower-based flux data (eddy covariance) and plot level inventory data, will be used to validate the model.

May 2000 – December 2004, Modeling the Carbon Dynamics of the Terrestrial Ecosystems in China from 1982 to 1999 Using Remote Sensing, GIS, and Ground Measurements

v Examine the carbon balance of the terrestrial ecosystems in China from 1982 to 1999 by comparing different ecosystem models. Remote sensing data are used to drive the models and GIS provides a platform to run the models.

v Vegetation/ecosystem types are based on a China vegetation map published in 1982.

v Vegetation/landuse change is detected using remote sensing (AVHRR) data and calibrated using ground maps.

v Climate variables are obtained by interpolating ground weather station data (> 500 stations) and processed to 8km * 8km grids in GIS (Arc/Info).

v Soil carbon pools are estimated based on about 2000 soil profiles conducted in 1980s. Soil profile data are spatially interpolated according to soil types and topography.

v Forest inventory data (about 25,000 plots) are used to independently calibrate the models, especially for NPP.

v Developed a new method to estimate heterotrophic respiration.

v All the model components are implemented in Arc/Info AML programming.

June 1997 – August 2002, Carbon Measurement, Modeling, and Management in a Forest Ecosystem in Northern California

v Measured soil respiration, microbial biomass, soil physical and chemical properties, and fine root biomass in a young ponderosa pine plantation.

v Developed a new technique to measure stem and branch respiration easily and accurately.

v Monitored microclimate from soil to canopy.

v Measured ecosystem biomass and productivity using allometric methods.

v Examined plant phenology, litter decomposition, and the dynamics of the leaf area index (LAI).

v Developed an ecosystem carbon management model, based on the frame of MAESTRA, for ecosystem carbon management considering different potential global warming scenarios.

v Applied the ecosystem carbon management model to landscape management using remote sensing, GIS, and spatial statistics techniques.

Aug. 1994 – May 1997, Landscape Ecology and Microclimate in Southeastern Missouri Ozarks

v The main objective of my work was to examine the effects of different ecosystem management practices on landscape carbon sequestration, microclimate, and biodiversity. I measured microclimate, litter decomposition rate, and plant diversity from stand to landscape scales in Southeast Missouri Ozarks. Microclimate was measured using mobile weather stations and litter decomposition was measured using the cotton strip method.

v Mapped major microclimate variables in a forested landscape in Southeast Missouri using remote sensing (Landsat TM) and 21 mobile weather stations representing different landscape patch types. A semi-empirical model was developed to estimate air and soil temperatures in different elements of the landscape using remote sensing and GIS techniques.

v Made a 10km transect across the landscape and measured microclimate and biodiversity every 10m along the transect. I used the transect to calibrate our empirical temperature model. The transect data were also used to examine the scale effect on the relationship between microclimate and landscape structure and to test the “species richness-energy” theory at landscape scales.

v Examined the effects of different forest harvesting treatments (e.g. clear-cut, group opening, and selecting cut) on major ecological processes and functions, such as microclimate, carbon sequestration, decomposition, productivity, and biodiversity.

v Applied spatial modeling in landscape structure analysis using remote sensing and GIS techniques.

v Collaborated with foresters, climatologists, wildlife managers, soil scientists, hydrologists, and botanists.

May 1991 – Aug. 1994, Research on the Structure, Function, Stability and Optimization of Pu-Wa Ecosystem, Beijing, China

v Diagnosed ecosystem problems by examining nutrient cycling, energy flow, and major disturbances, detected “bottleneck” factors which limited ecosystem functions, such as productivity and energy-use efficiency, and prescribed improvements in the structure and function of the ecosystem.

v Modeled major ecological processes such as soil erosion, water production, primary productivity, secondary productivity, and nutrient (N, P, and K) cycling in agriculture, forest, and grassland ecosystems.

v Analyzed and optimized ecosystem structure and function using multiple objective programming and dynamic programming in terms of ecological and economic principles.

v Landscape planning and spatial arrangements of woodland, grassland, shrubland, cropland, and riparian areas to enhance the ecosystem productivity, especially fodder production to reduce soil erosion due to overgrazing across the landscape.

May 1991 – Aug. 1994, Measurement and Utilization of Climatic Resources in Pu-Wa Ecosystem, Beijing, China

v Measured and modeled the potential climatic resources in the ecosystem to increase land use efficiency and direct agricultural activities. The model was used to map major climatic variables in the ecosystem, such as active accumulated temperature, solar radiation, and soil water and nutrient dynamics.

v Created microclimatic databases and GIS databases of the ecosystem which are critical to managing natural resources in the watershed, especially at landscape scale.

v Monitored extreme climatic events and natural disasters in the ecosystem.

Aug. 1990 – Oct. 1993, The Effects of Elevated CO₂ Concentration in the Atmosphere on Climate, Agriculture, and Forestry in China (sponsored by the United Nations and the Chinese government)

v Studied the future possible climatic change in China due to elevated CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere.

v Conducted field experiments on winter wheat with different CO₂ concentrations by pumping CO₂ into experimentally controlled fields.

v Evaluated the potential impacts of future climatic change on agriculture, forestry, and environment in China.

v Recommended the Chinese government a number of strategies and measures to avoid or reduce the possible negative influences from global warming.

v Proposed possible government policies to respond to future anthropogenic climate change.

Sept. 1987 - July 1990, Using Bowen-ratio and Aerodynamic Methods to Study Energy and Water Balance over 5 Different Vegetation Types on the Loess Plateau, Shanxi Province, China (sponsored by the Japanese and Chinese governments)

v The major goal of the project was to examine the effects of different vegetation types (forest, shrub, grass, and crop) on partitioning energy, sequestering carbon, and extracting water in a semi-arid area.

v Measured solar radiation, reflectance, air temperature and humidity gradients at different heights along 30m towers in each vegetation type. Measured bole temperature, soil temperature and soil moisture at different depths in the soil, and soil heat flux at surface. Sampled ecological parameters, such as leaf area index, biomass, productivity, and nutrient content in vegetation and soil at each site.

v Studied solar spectral radiation above, within, and under the canopy utilizing a spectrometer to examine the spectral characteristics of different vegetation types.

v Built an evapotranspiration model for each vegetation type in terms of climate and soil variables.

v Created and calibrated a water balance model at watershed scales.

v Examined the effects of different silvicultural treatments and management practices on soil erosion and water production using the above models.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

v Member, American Geophysical Union

v Member, American Meteorological Society

v Member, the Society of American Foresters

v Member, Ecological Society of America

v Member, Soil Science Society of America

GRANTS

v Development and Field Validation of Innovative Instrumentation for Measurement and Partitioning of Ecosystem Carbon Exchange Using Isotopic Fluxes of CO₂ Species, funded by National Science Foundation, $768,838, 2005-2008 (Co-PI).

v Modeling Vegetation and Landscape Fire Dynamics in Mapping Zone60, funded by the US Department of Agriculture, $195,000, 2005-2006 (PI).

v Field Validation of Ground Penetrating Radar in Measuring Root Biomass in New Jersey Pinelands, funded by USDA, $20,800, 2006-2008 (PI).

v Effects of Land Use Change on the Energy and Water Balance of the Semi-arid Region of Inner Mongolia, funded by NASA, $605,000, 2005-2008 (Co-PI).

v Physiological Response of Indicator Species to Water Stress in NJ Pinelands, NJ Pinelands Commission, 2004-06, $98,649 (PI).

v Biogenic Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) from a Forest Ecosystem in New Jersey Pinelands, funded by Busch Foundation, $19,900, 2003-05 (PI).

v Quantifying the Respiration, Photosynthesis, and Transpiration in the Luquillo Forest Ecosystem in Puerto Rico, funded by National Science Foundation, $63,000, 2001-2003 (Co-PI).

v Ecological Response of the Tibetan Plateau to Future Climate Change, funded by the National Science Foundation of China, Ұ650,000, 2000-2005 (Co-PI).

v Climate and Ecological Similarity Analysis for Introducing Guayule to Northwestern China, funded by the National Forestry Bureau of China, $188,000, 2001-2004(Co-PI).

SERVICES

Manuscript Review:

I review >20 manuscripts each year for various journals, including Global Change Biology, Journal of Geophysical Research, Geophysical Research Letter, Biogeochemical Cycles, Journal of Climate, International Journal of Climate, International Journal of Remote Sensing, Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, Climatic Change, Climate Research, Landscape Ecology, and Forest Science.

Proposal Review:

I have reviewed proposals for multiple government and non-government agencies, such as USDA, NASA, DOE, NSF, and Kearney Foundation. I also served on panels on reviewing proposals organized by different government agencies, such as NASA, DOE, and USDA.

Committees:

2002 – Present, Admissions Committee, Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution, Rutgers University

2005 – Present, Affirmative Action, Diversity and Equal Opportunity Committee, Cook College, Rutgers University

2005 – Present, New Brunswick Faculty Council, Rutgers University.

CONFERENCE AND INVITATED PRESENTATIONS

v 2006, Aug. 15-18, International Conference on Regional Carbon Budgets, Global Carbon Project, Beijing, China

v 2005, Sept. 27, Ecosystem Response to Climate Change: Results from Field Experiments and Model Simulation, Department of Biology, Rutgers University, Newark Campus.

v 2005, Aug. 2-11, Precipitation change in China from 1960 to 2000, International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences, Beijing, China.

v 2005, Aug. 16-18, Climate change and carbon cycle in China’s terrestrial ecosystems, Association of Chinese Geographers, Beijing, China.

v 2004, Oct. 28, Climate Change in China in the Past Half Century, Department of Geography, Rutgers University, New Brunswick.

v 2004, Nov. 12, Global Warming in China: Evidences from Historical Records, Department of Environmental Science, Rutgers University.

v 2002, December 9, Climate change, vegetation, and dust storms in Northwest China: Who is to blame, humans or nature? Invited presentation at the Institute of Agroenvironment and Sustainable Development, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.

v 2002, December 8, Terrestrial ecosystem response to global climate change, invited presentation at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.

v 2002, May 30-June 3, Carbon balance in China’s terrestrial ecosystem (1982-1998), presented at Geoinformatics 2002, Nanjing, China.

v 2002, Feb 14-15, Ecosystem Respiration: Measurement and Modeling in a Young Ponderosa Pine Plantation in Northern California, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

v 2002, Feb 5-6, Ecosystem Carbon Dynamics: Measurement and Modeling in Northern California, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

v 2001, December 18-19, Measurement and Modeling of Ecosystem Processes for Forest Management: A Case Study in Sierra Nevada, California, University of Toronto, Canada

v 2001, December 10-14, Q10 and its variation in a forest ecosystem in Sierra Nevada, California, presented at America Geophysical Union annual meeting, San Francisco.

v 2001, December 3-5, Measuring and Modeling Ecosystem Processes at Multiple Scales, University of Wyoming, Laramie

v 2000, December 15-19, Ecosystem respiration in a young ponderosa pine plantation in northern California, presented at America Geophysical Union annual meeting, San Francisco.

v 2000, March 21-22, Topics on “Ecosystem/landscape modeling and management through integrated ecosystem measurements”, University of Wisconsin, Madison.

v 1999, December 13-17, Soil surface CO2 efflux and its variation in a forest ecosystem in Northern California, presented at America Geophysical Union annual meeting, San Francisco.

v 1999, July 29 – August 3, Scale effects on the hierarchical relationships between landscape structure and microclimate, presented at the 5^th World Congress of International Association for Landscape Ecology, Snowmass Village, Colorado, USA.

PATENTS

1. US patent: Smart chamber system in measuring gas exchanges between atmosphere and porous media (2005, owned by Rutgers University).

2. US patent: Automatic chamber system in measuring woody tissue gas exchange with the atmosphere (in processing, owned by Rutgers University).

PUBLICATIONS

Peer-reviewed Papers:

Xu, M., Chang, C-P, Fu, C., Qi, Y., Robock, A., Robinson, D., and Zhang, H-M. 2006. Steady Decline of East Asian Monsoon Winds, 1969 - 2000: Evidence from Direct Ground Measurements of Wind Speed, Journal of Geophysical Research, 111, D24111, doi:10.1029/2006JD007337. PDF

Rangwala, I., Miller, J., Russell, G., and Xu, M. 2006. Analysis of global climate model experiments to elucidate past and future changes in surface insolation and warming in China, Geophysical Research Letters 33. L20709, doi:10.1029/2006GL027778. PDF

Matsushita, B., Xu, M., Fukushima, T. 2006. Characterizing the Changes in Landscape Structure in the Lake Kasumigaura Basin, Japan Using a High-quality GIS Dataset, Landscape and Urban Planning 78: 241-250. PDF

Li, Y., Xu, M., Zou, X. 2006. Heterotrophic soil respiration in relation to environmental factors and microbial biomass in two wet tropical forests, Plant and Soil 281: 193-201. PDF

Qian, Y., Kaiser, D.P., Leung, L.R., Xu, M. 2006. More frequent cloud-free sky and less surface solar radiation in China from 1955 to 2000, Geophysical Research Letter, VOL. 33, L01812, doi:10.1029/2005GL024586. PDF

6. Li, Y., Xu, M., Zou, X. 2006. Effects of nutrient additions on ecosystem carbon cycle in a Puerto Rican tropical wet forest, Global Change Biology 12, 284–293, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2005.01096.x. PDF

7. Misson, L., Tang, J., Xu, M., McKay, M. and Goldstein, A. 2005. Influences of recovery from clear-cut, climate variability, and thinning on the carbon balance of a young ponderosa pine plantation, Agriculture and Forest Meteorology 130: 207-222. PDF

8. Liu, B., Xu, M., Henderson M. 2005. Observed trends of precipitation amount, frequency, and intensity in China, 1960-2000, Journal of Geophysical Research 110, D08103, doi:10.1029/2004JD004864. PDF

Fisher, J. B., DeBiase, T. A., Qi, Y. Xu, M. Goldstein, A. H. 2005. Evapotranspiration models compared on a Sierra Nevada forest ecosystem. Environmental Modelling & Software 20: 783-796. PDF

Li, Y., Xu, M., Zou, X., Sun, O. J. 2005. Comparing soil organic carbon dynamics in plantation and secondary forest in wet tropics in Puerto Rico, Global Change Biology 11: 239-248. PDF

Y. Li, M. Xu, X. Zou, W. C. Cui. 2004. Effects of root and litter exclusion on soil respiration and microbial biomass in wet tropical forests. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 36: 2111-2114. PDF

Tang, J., Qi, Y., Xu, M., Misson, L., and Goldstein A. H. 2005. Effects of forest thinning on soil respiration in a ponderosa pine plantation in the Sierra Nevada, Tree Physiology 25: 57-66. PDF

Matsushita, B., Xu, M., Chen, J., ^{Kameyama,
S., Tamura, M. 2004.}Estimation of regional net primary productivity (NPP) using a process-based ecosystem model: How important is the accuracy of climate data? Ecological Modeling 178: 371-388. PDF

Li, Y., Xu, M., Zou, X. 2004. Soil CO₂ efflux and fungal and bacterial biomass in a plantation and a secondary forest in wet tropics in Puerto Rico, Plant and Soil 268: 151-160. PDF

Liu, B., Xu M., HendersonM., Qi, Y. and Li, Y. 2004. Taking China’s temperature: daily range, warming trends, and regional variations, 1955-2000. Journal of Climate 17: 4453-4462. PDF

Liu, B., Xu, M., Henderson, M., Gong, W. 2004. A spatial analysis of pan evaporation trends in China, 1955-2000, Journal of Geophysical Research, 109, D15102, doi:10.1029/2004JD004511. PDF

Qi, Y., Henderson, M., Xu, M. 2004. Evolving core-periphery interactions in urban landscape: Beijing, Landscape Ecology 19: 375-388. PDF

Xu, M., Qi, Y., Chen, J., Song, B. 2004. Scale-dependent relationships between landscape structure and microclimate. Plant Ecology 173: 39-57. PDF

Reichstein M, Rey A, Freibauer A, Tenhunen J, Valentini R, Banza J, Casals P, Cheng YF, Grunzweig JM, Irvine J, Joffre R, Law BE, Loustau D, Miglietta F, Oechel W, Ourcival JM, Pereira JS, Peressotti A, Ponti F, Qi Y, Rambal S, Rayment M, Romanya J, Rossi F, Tedeschi V, Tirone G, Xu M, Yakir D. 2003. Modeling temporal and large-scale spatial variability of soil respiration from soil water availability, temperature and vegetation productivity indices, Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 17(4): Art. No. 1104. PDF

Yang, X., Xu, M. 2003. Biodiversity conservation in Changbai Mountain Biosphere Reserve, northeastern China: status, problem, and strategy. Biodiversity and Conservation 12: 883-903. PDF

Gong, P., M. Xu, Jin Chen, Jing M. Chen, Ye Qi, Greg Biging, Jiyuan Liu, Shaoqiang Wang, 2002. A preliminary study on the carbon dynamics of China’s terrestrial ecosystems in the past 20 years, Earth Science Frontiers, 9(1):55-61.

Xu, M., Chen, J., and Y. Qi. 2002. Microclimate along a 10km transect across a forested landscape. Climate Research 22: 57-72. PDF

Qi, Y. and M. Xu. 2002. Temperature sensitivity of soil respiration and its impact on ecosystem carbon flux: Measurement and modeling. Ecological Modeling 153: 131-142. PDF

Xu, M., and Y. Qi. 2001. Soil surface CO₂ efflux and its variation in a young ponderosa pine plantation in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California. Global Change Biology 7: 667-677. PDF

Xu, M., and Y. Qi. 2001. Spatial and seasonal variations of Q₁₀ determined by soil respiration measurements at a Sierra Nevadan forest. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 15: 687-696. PDF

Qi, Y. and M. Xu. 2001. Separating the effects of moisture and temperature on soil CO2 efflux in a coniferous forest in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Plant and Soil 237: 15-23. PDF

Xu, M., DeBiase, T., Qi, Y., Goldstein, A. and Z. Liu. 2001. Ecosystem respiration in a young ponderosa pine plantation in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California. Tree Physiology 21: 309-318. PDF

Yi, C., Gong, P., Xu, M. and Y. Qi. 2001. The effects of buffer and temperature feedback on the oceanic uptake of CO₂. Geophysical Research Letters 28: 751-754.

Xu, M., Qi, Y. and P. Gong. 2000. China’s new forest policy. Science 289: 2049-2050. PDF

Xu, M., DeBiase, T., and Y. Qi. 2000. A simple technique using a horizontally-oriented soil chamber to measure stem respiration. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 30: 1555-1560. PDF

Goldstein, A.H., Hultman, N.E., Fracheboud, J.M., Bauer, M.R., Panek, J.A., Xu, M., Qi, Y., Guenther, A.B., and W. Baugh. 2000, Effects of climate variability on the carbon dioxide, water, and sensible heat fluxes above a ponderosa pine plantation in the Sierra Nevada (CA). Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 101: 113-129. PDF

Zheng, D., J. Chen, B. Song, M. Xu, P. Sneed, and R. Jensen. 2000. Effects of silvicultural treatments on forest microclimate in southeastern Missouri Ozarks. Climate Research 15: 45-59. PDF

Xu, M., and Y. Qi. 2000. Effects of spatial heterogeneity of microenvironment on plant biodiversity in the Southeastern Missouri Ozarks. Geographic Information Science 6: 38-47.

Xu, M. and Y. Qi. 2000. Effects of spatial scale on the relationships between plant species richness and microclimate in the Southeastern Missouri Ozarks, USA. Polish Journal of Ecology 48: 77-88.

Xu, M. and J. Chen. 1997. Temperature and its variability in oak forest in Southeast Missouri Ozarks. Climate Research 8(3): 209-233.

Xu, M. and X. Pan. 1995. Stability and dynamics of the energy flow in Pu-Wa ecosystem. Acta Ecologica Sinica 15(1): 72-78 (in Chinese).

Xu, M., Zheng, D. and Z. Liu. 1994. Nutrient cycling and energy flow in Pu-Wa ecosystem. Acta Beijing Forestry University 16(3): 1-7 (in Chinese).

Xu, M. 1994. Design and Optimization of Pu-Wa ecosystem. Chinese Journal of Ecology 13(2): 76-79 (in Chinese).

Xu, M. 1994. Comparison of energy balance over different vegetation types on the Loess Plateau in China. Acta Agriculturac Boreali-Sinica 9(2): 81-87 (in Chinese).

Book Chapters:

Gong, P., Chen, J., Xu, M. 2004. A preliminary study on the carbon dynamics of China’s forest ecosystems in the past 20 years. In: Shiyomi, M., Kawahata, H., Koizumi, H., Tsuda, A., Awaya, Y. (eds.), Global Environmental Change in the Ocean and on Land, TERRAPUB, Tokyo.

Qi, Y., J. Tang, M. Xu, 2000. Modeling the biosphere in climate change studies: respiration and decomposition, in: Modern Ecological Lectures (II), China Science Press. (in Chinese).

He, Q. and M. Xu. 1994. Effects of climatic change on forest production in China. In: Deng, G. and Yu, H. (eds.), Impacts of Climatic Change on Agriculture and Forestry in China, Meteorological Sciences Press, Beijing (in Chinese).

Conference Papers:

Xu, M., Liu, B., Henderson, M. and Qi, Y. Precipitation change in China from 1960 to 2000, International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences, Beijing, China, Aug. 2-11, 2005.

Xu, M. Climate change and carbon cycle in China’s terrestrial ecosystems, Association of Chinese Geographers, Beijing, China, Aug. 16-18, 2005.

3. Xu, M., Guo, Q., Qi, Y. Application of high-resolution remote sensing to detect soil temperature and soil respiration. The 16th Annual Symposium of the US Regional Chapter of the International Association of Landscape Ecology, Arizona, April, 2001.

4. Fisher, J. B., DeBiase, T. A., Qi, Y., Xu, M., Goldstein, A. Evapotranspiration methods compared on a Sierra Nevada forest ecosystem, American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA, December 2001.

Xu, M., Qi, Y., Guo, Q., Tang, DeBiase, T., Henderson, M. Soil surface CO2 efflux and its variation in a forest ecosystem in Northern California, America Geophysical Union annual meeting, San Francisco, December 2000.

Guo, Q., Qi, Y., Xu, M. The relationship between temperature, precipitation and NDVI in China. AGU conference. San Francisco, December, 1999.

7. Xu, M., Qi, Y., Debiase, T., Guo, Q., Tang, J, Henderson, M. Soil CO2 Efflux in a Young Ponderosa Pine Plantation in Sierra Nevada, California. AGU conference. San Francisco, December, 1999.

Xu, M., Qi, Y., Chen, J. Scale effects on the hierarchical relationships between landscape structure and microclimate, presented at the 5th World Congress of International Association for Landscape Ecology, Snowmass Village, Colorado, USA, July 29 – August 3, 1999.

Xu, M., Saunders, S.C., and J. Chen. 1997. Analysis of landscape structure in Southeast Missouri Ozarks using remote sensing and GIS techniques. General Technical Report, USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report NC-193: 41-53.

Chen, J., Xu, M. and K. Brosofske. 1997. Microclimate characteristics in Southeast Missouri Ozarks. General Technical Report, USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report NC-193: 120-133.