Research Areas
Coral reefs:
Ecology and long-term dynamics of coral reefs;
Biology of individual corals and its Zooxanthellae
Coral reef conservation and management;
Mathematical modeling of coral reef ecosystem
Experience
l 2008, Ph.D., in Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China (Advisors: Profs. Kefu Yu & Qiaomin Zhang)
l 2003, B.Sc., in Computer Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang Army Command College, China
Work Experience
l 2012-present, Associate Professor, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
l 2014/10-2015/10, Visiting Scholar, Nova Southeastern University, National Coral Reef Institute, Florida, USA
l 2008-2011, Research Assistant, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Publications
Papers
1. M.X. Zhao, B. Riegl, K.F. Yu, Q. Shi, Q.M. Zhang, G.H. Liu, H.Q. Yang, H.Q. Yan. Model suggests potential for Porites coral population recovery after removal of anthropogenic disturbance (Luhuitou, Hainan, South China Sea). Scientific Reports, 2016, 6: 33324.
2. M.X. Zhao, K.F. Yu, Q. Shi, H.Q. Yang, B. Riegl, Q.M. Zhang, H.Q. Yan, T.R. Chen. The coral communities of Yongle atoll: status, threats and conservation significance for coral reefs in South China Sea. Marine & Freshwater Research, 2016, 67：1888-1896.
3. M.X. Zhao, K.F. Yu, Q. Shi, H.Q. Yang, B. Riegl, Q.M. Zhang, H.Q. Yan, T.R. Chen, G.H. Liu, Z.Y. Lin. Comparison of coral diversity between big and small atolls: A case study of Yongle atoll and Lingyang reef, Xisha Islands, central of South China Sea, Biodiversity and Conservation, 2017, 26(5): 1143-1159.
4. M.X. Zhao, K.F. Yu, Q. M. Zhang, Q. Shi, G. Roff. Age structure of massive Porites lutea corals at Luhuitou Fringing Reef (northern South China Sea) indicates recovery following severe anthropogenic disturbance. Coral Reefs. 2014, 33: 39-44.
5. M.X. Zhao, K.F. Yu. Application of chlorophyll fluorescence technique in the study of coral symbiotic zooxanthellae micro-ecology. Acta Ecologica Sinica. 2014, 34:165–169.
6. M.X. Zhao, K.F. Yu, Q. Shi, T.R Chen, H.L. Zhang, T.G. Chen. Coral communities on the remote atoll reefs in the Nansha Islands, southern South China Sea. Environmental Monitoring and Assessments. 2013, 185: 7381-7392.
7. M.X. Zhao, K.F. Yu, Q.M. Zhang, Q. Shi, G.J. Price. Long-term decline of a fringing coral reef in the northern South China Sea. Journal of Coastal Research, 2012, 28(5): 1088-1099.
8. M.X. Zhao, K.F. Yu, Q. Shi. Spatial pattern of coral diversity in Luhuitou Fringing Reef, Sanya. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2008, 28(4): 1419-1428.