Population genetics, Landscape genetics, Biogeography, Global change biology

• Aberystwyth University,  IBERS, UK Academic visitor  | 2016.09-2017.09

• Queen's University Belfast School of Biological Sciences, UK Research fellow | 2013.08-2013.12

• Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences  College of Life Sciences, Doctor | 2006.8-2011.6

• Yunnan University  School of Life Sciences, Bachelor | 2002.8-2006.6

 1. Fu CN, Wu CS, Ye LJ, Mo ZQ, Liu J, Chang YW, Li DZ, Chaw SM, Gao LM. 2019. Prevalence of isomeric plastomes and effectiveness of plastome super-barcodes in yews (Taxus) worldwide. Scientific Reports 9, 2773.

 2. Khan R, Zain Ul Abidin S, Ahmad M, Zafar M, Liu J, Lubna, Jamshed S, Kiliç Ö. 2019. Taxonomic importance of SEM and LM foliar epidermal micro-morphology: A tool for robust identification of gymnosperms. Flora 255, 42-68.

 3. Khan R, Ul Abidin SZ, Ahmad M, Zafar M, Liu J, Amina H. 2018. Palyno-morphological characteristics of gymnosperm flora of pakistan and its taxonomic implications with LM and SEM methods. Microscopy Research and Technique 81, 74-87.

 4. Liu J, Milne RI, Cadotte MW, Wu ZY, Provan J, Zhu GF, Gao LM, Li DZ. 2018a. Protect Third Pole's fragile ecosystem. Science 362, 1368.

 5. Liu J, Milne RI, Möller M, et al. 2018b. Integrating a comprehensive DNA barcode reference library with a global map of yews (Taxus L.) for forensic identification. Molecular Ecology Resources 18, 1115-1131.

 6. Meegahakumbura MK, Wambulwa MC, Li MM, et al. 2018. Domestication origin and breeding history of the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) in China and India based on nuclear microsatellites and cpDNA sequence data. Frontiers in Plant Science 8.

 7. Wu ZY, Du XY, Milne RI, Liu J, Li DZ. 2018a. Complete chloroplast genome sequences of two Boehmeria species (Urticaceae). Mitochondrial DNA Part B 3, 939-940.

 8. Wu ZY, Liu J, Provan J, et al. 2018b. Testing Darwin's transoceanic dispersal hypothesis for the inland nettle family (Urticaceae). Ecology Letters 21, 1515-1529.

 9. Ye LJ, Fu CN, Wang YH, Liu J, Gao LM. 2018. Characterization of the complete plastid genome of a Chinese endemic species Carya kweichowensis. Mitochondrial DNA Part B 3, 492-493.

 10. Liu J, Luo YH, Li DZ, Gao LM. 2017. Evolution and maintenance mechanisms of plant diversity in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and adjacent regions: Retrospect and prospect. Biodiversity Science 25, 163-174.

 11. Qin HT, Yang GQ, Provan J, Liu J, Gao LM. 2017. Using MiddRAD-seq data to develop polymorphic microsatellite markers for an endangered yew species. Plant Diversity 39, 294-299.

 12. Wambulwa MC, Meegahakumbura MK, Kamunya S, Muchugi A, Möller M, Liu J, Xu JC, Li DZ, Gao LM. 2017. Multiple origins and a narrow genepool characterise the African tea germplasm: Concordant patterns revealed by nuclear and plastid DNA markers. Scientific Reports 7, 4053.

 13. Wu ZY, Du XY, Milne RI, Liu J, Li DZ. 2017. Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome sequence of Cecropia pachystachya. Mitochondrial DNA Part B 2, 735-737.

 14. Luo YH, Liu J, Tan SL, Cadotte MW, Wang YH, Xu K, Li DZ, Gao LM. 2016a. Trait-based community assembly along an elevational gradient in subalpine forests: Quantifying the roles of environmental factors in inter- and intraspecific variability. PLoS ONE 11, e0155749.

 15. Luo YH, Liu J, Tan SL, Cadotte MW, Xu K, Gao LM, Li DZ. 2016b. Trait variation and functional diversity maintenance of understory herbaceous species coexisting along an elevational gradient in Yulong Mountain, Southwest China. Plant Diversity 38, 303-311.

 16. Meegahakumbura MK, Wambulwa MC, Thapa KK, et al. 2016. Indications for three independent domestication events for the tea plant (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) and new insights into the origin of tea germplasm in China and India revealed by nuclear microsatellites. PLoS ONE 11, e0155369.

 17. Wambulwa MC, Meegahakumbura MK, Chalo R, Kamunya S, Muchugi A, Xu JC, Liu J, Li DZ, Gao LM. 2016a. Nuclear microsatellites reveal the genetic architecture and breeding history of tea germplasm of East Africa. Tree Genetics & Genomes 12, 1-10.

 18. Wambulwa MC, Meegahakumbura MK, Kamunya S, et al. 2016b. Insights into the genetic relationships and breeding patterns of the African tea germplasm based on nSSR markers and cpDNA sequences. Frontiers in Plant Science 7, 1244.

 19. Li MM, Meegahakumbura MK, Yan LJ, Liu J, Gao LM. 2015a. Genetic involvement of Camellia taliensis in the domestication of C. sinensis var. assamica (Assimica Tea) revealed by nuclear microsatellite markers. Plant Diversity and Resources 37, 29-37.

 20. Li ZH, Yang C, Mao KS, Ma YZ, Liu J, Liu ZL, Deng TT, Zhao GF. 2015b. Molecular identification and allopatric divergence of the white pine species in China based on the cytoplasmic DNA variation. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 61, 161-168.

 21. Wu ZY, Milne RI, Chen CJ, Liu J, Wang H, Li DZ. 2015. Ancestral state reconstruction reveals rampant homoplasy of diagnostic morphological characters in Urticaceae, conflicting with current classification schemes. PLoS ONE 10, e0141821.

 22. Yan LJ, Liu J, Möller M, Zhang L, Zhang XM, Li DZ, Gao LM. 2015. DNA barcoding of Rhododendron (Ericaceae), the largest Chinese plant genus in biodiversity hotspots of the Himalaya–Hengduan Mountains. Molecular Ecology Resources 15, 932-944.

 23. Poudel RC, Möller M, Liu J, Gao LM, Baral SR, Li DZ. 2014. Low genetic diversity and high inbreeding of the endangered yews in Central Himalaya: Implications for conservation of their highly fragmented populations. Diversity and Distributions 20, 1270-1284.

 24. Liu J, Möller M, Provan J, Gao LM, Poudel RC, Li DZ. 2013. Geological and ecological factors drive cryptic speciation of yews in a biodiversity hotspot. New Phytologist 199, 1093-1108.

 25. Luo YH, Liu J, Gao LM, Li DZ. 2013. Applications and advances of DNA barcoding in ecological studies. Plant Diversity and Resources 35 761-768.

 26. Möller M, Gao LM, Mill RR, Liu J, Zhang DQ, Poudel RC, Li DZ. 2013. A multidisciplinary approach reveals hidden taxonomic diversity in the morphologically challenging Taxus wallichiana complex. Taxon 62, 1161-1177.

 27. Poudel RC, Gao LM, Möller M, Baral SR, Uprety Y, Liu J, Li DZ. 2013. Yews (Taxus) along the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region: Exploring the ethnopharmacological relevance among communities of Mongol and Caucasian origins. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 147, 190-203.

 28. Wu ZY, Monro AK, Milne RI, Wang H, Yi TS, Liu J, Li DZ. 2013. Molecular phylogeny of the nettle family (Urticaceae) inferred from multiple loci of three genomes and extensive generic sampling. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 69, 814-827.

 29. Gao LM, Liu J, Cai J, Yang JB, Zhang T, Li DZ. 2012. A synopsis of technical notes on the standards for plant DNA barcoding. Plant Diversity and Resources 34, 592-606.

 30. Liu J, Provan J, Gao LM, Li DZ. 2012. Sampling strategy and potential utility of indels for DNA barcoding of closely related plant species: A case study in Taxus. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 13, 8740-8751.

 31. Poudel RC, Möller M, Gao LM, Ahrends A, Baral SR, Liu J, Thomas P, Li DZ. 2012. Using morphological, molecular and climatic data to delimitate yews along the Hindu Kush-Himalaya and adjacent regions. PLoS ONE 7, e46873.

 32. Li DZ, Gao LM, Li HT, et al. 2011. Comparative analysis of a large dataset indicates that internal transcribed spacer (ITS) should be incorporated into the core barcode for seed plants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 108, 19641-19646.

 33. Liu J, Gao LM. 2011. Comparative analysis of three different methods of total DNA extraction used in Taxus. Guihaia 31, 244-249.

 34. Liu J, Gao LM, Li DZ, Zhang DQ, Möller M. 2011a. Cross-species amplification and development of new microsatellite loci for Taxus wallichiana (Taxaceae). American Journal of Botany 98, e70-73.

 35. Liu J, Möller M, Gao LM, Zhang DQ, Li DZ. 2011b. DNA barcoding for the discrimination of Eurasian yews (Taxus L., Taxaceae) and the discovery of cryptic species. Molecular Ecology Resources 11, 89-100.

 36. Yang JB, Li HT, Li DZ, Liu J, Gao LM. 2009. Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in the endangered species Taxus wallichiana using the FIASCO method. Hortscience 44, 2043-2045.

 37. Gao LM, Möller M, Zhang XM, Hollingsworth ML, Liu J, Mill RR, Gibby M, Li DZ. 2007. High variation and strong phylogeographic pattern among cpDNA haplotypes in Taxus wallichiana (Taxaceae) in China and North Vietnam. Molecular Ecology 16, 4684-4698.

Speciation and phylogeography

Crop domestication

Plant DNA barcoding

Ecophylogenetics

1. Liu J., D. Z. Li, and L. M. Gao. The molecular identification of the Eurasian yews using DNA barcoding. The Symposium of Biodiversity and Harmonious Society, 2008, Manshi, China (Presentation)

2. Gao L. M., Liu J., and D. Z. Li. Genetic structure and phylogeography of Taxus wallichiana in Sino-Himalayan region. The symposium on “East Asian Plant Diversity and Conservation”, 2010 Korea (Presentation)

3. Liu J., D. Z. Li, and L. M. Gao. DNA barcoding for the discrimination of Eurasian yews (Taxus L., Taxaceae) and the discovery of cryptic species. The symposium on “East Asian Plant Diversity and Conservation”, 2010 Korea (Poster)

4. Liu J., D. Z. Li, and L. M. Gao. Phylogeography and conservation genetics of Taxus wallichiana. The Annual Meeting of Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Biogeography Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2011 China (Presentation)

5. Liu J.. D. Z. Li, and L. M. Gao. Species delimitation and phylogeography of Taxus wallichiana. 2012, Endemic Species Research Institute, Taiwan, China (Presentation)

6. Liu J.. D. Z. Li, and L. M. Gao. Geological and ecological factors drive cryptic speciation of yews in a biodiversity hotspot. 2013, Lijiang Teachers College, Lijiang, China (Presentation)

7. Liu J.. The effect of climate change on range shift of Taxus based on specimens’ record. The symposium on “Biodiversity and Bioinformatics”, 2015 Nanning, China (Presentation)

8. Gao L. M. and Liu J.. Homoploid speciation of Taxus in the Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains region. “International Biogeography Society Special Meeting”, 2016 Beijing, China (Presentation)

9. Liu J, D. Z. Li, and L. M. Gao. DNA barcoding of Taxus: From theory to application, “16th National Congress of Botanical Society of China and the 85th Anniversary Academic Conference”, 2018 Kunming, China (Presentation)

Prof. Jim Provan Aberystwyth University, UK, Evolutionary genetics

Dr. Michael Möller Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, UK, Speciation and taxonomy

Prof. Alistair Jump University of Stirling, UK, Climate change biology

Dr. Marc Cadotte University of Toronto, Canada, Ecology

已指导学生

朱光福  硕士研究生  085238-生物工程  

现指导学生

吴红宇  硕士研究生  086000-生物与医药  

孔星  硕士研究生  071001-植物学  

2002-2006: Yunnan Provincial Government Scholarship (1), Yunnan Provincial Merit Student (1), First-class Scholarship of Yunnan University (3), Wudaguan Scholarship (1), Merit Student of Yunnan University (4), Excellent Student Cadre (4).

2006-2010: Merit Student of Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (1), Excellent Presentation (2), Zhu Li yuehua outstanding doctoral scholarship (1).

2015: Gao LM, Li DZ, Liu J, Yang JB, Zhang XM, Zhang DQ. "Taxonomy, phylogeography and conservation genetics of Eurasian Yews". Second class of award of natural science research in Yunnan Province.

2018: Liu J, Top-notch Young Talents Project of Yunnan Provincial "Ten Thousand Talents Program".

1. Liu J, 2018. Top-notch Young Talents Project of Yunnan Provincial “Ten Thousand Talents Program”. 2019.1-2024.12, 500 000 RMB ¥, (PI), The origin and evolutionary history of Juglans sigillata

2. National Natural Science Foundation of China (31770367), 2018.1-2021.12, 720 000 RMB ¥, (PI), “The drivers of germplasm patterns and cultivation history of an endemic and economic tree (Juglans sigillata) in Mountains of Southwestern China and adjacent regions”

3. The Interdisciplinary Research Project of Kunming Institute of Botany (KIB2017003), 2017.1-2019.12, 700 000 RMB ¥, (PI), “The evolutionary mechanisms of Taxol and its derivatives in Taxus”

4. Natural Science Foundation of Yunnan (2017FB027), 2017.6-2020.5, 100 000 RMB ¥, (PI). Germplasm evaluation and molecular identification of Juglans sigillata in Yunnan

5. National Natural Science Foundation of China (41571059), 2016.1-2019.12, 836 000 RMB ¥, (PI), “The origin and maintenance of plant genetic pattern in Longitudinal Range-Gorge Region, Southwestern China”

6. Forestry Department of Yunnan Province Foundation, 2016.7-2017.12, 700 000 RMB ¥, (PI), “DNA barcoding and fingerprinting of Juglans germplasm in Yunnan”

7. China Scholarship Council for one year study at the Aberystwyth University, 2016.9-2017.9, 120 000 RMB ¥, (PI), “Potential impacts of climate change on the plant intraspecific genetic diversity in the Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains biodiversity hotspots”

8. National Key Project for Basic Research (2014CB954100), 2014.01-2018.08, 600 000 RMB ¥, (head of sub-project); “The responses of plant diversity to climate change in Southwest China”.

9. The Ministry of Science and Technology, China, Basic Research Project (No. 2013FY112600), 2013.01-2017.08, 82 000 RMB ¥, (head of sub-project). “The iFlora of Debregesia (Urticaceae)”

10. National Natural Science Foundation of China (31200182), 2013.1-2015.12, 220 000 RMB ¥, (PI), “Homoploid Hybrid Speciation of Taxus in Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains region”