Applied Ecology Sub-Laboratory,The Applied Ecology Sub-Laboratory is one of the six sub-laboratories under the national-level Key Laboratory of Human Settlements Environment Science and Technology, funded by the Shenzhen Municipal Government. Focusing on the teaching and research needs of the School, this sub-laboratory prioritizes capacity and team building to address macro-regional ecological challenges in rapidly urbanizing areas. Key research directions include theoretical studies on regional ecological security pattern planning, restoration technologies for degraded ecosystems, global environmental change and its ecosystem effects, evolution mechanisms of ecological elements in urbanized areas, and ecological-environmental impacts of human activities. The laboratory integrates indoor experiments, field observations, data analysis, and 3S technologies (Remote Sensing, GIS, and GPS) to elucidate the evolution of ecological issues in urbanized regions from both micro and macro perspectives, providing robust support for academic and research endeavors.
Over three years of development, the Applied Ecology Sub-Laboratory has acquired over 20 sets of advanced experimental and observational equipment. It has achieved nationally leading technical capabilities in areas such as field CO2 interfacial exchange flux monitoring, underground root system ecological observation, elemental analysis of biological samples, and plant photosynthetic physiology measurement. Additionally, the sub-laboratory operates four field observation stations capable of meeting all indoor experimental and instrumental analysis requirements in the fields of resources and environment. Future capacity-building efforts will focus on applied research and educational needs, particularly in ecosystem damage assessment and restoration technologies, to align with the School’s interdisciplinary development goals.
Currently, the sub-laboratory has effectively integrated full-time faculty, part-time faculty from Peking University’s main campus, and globally renowned experts serving as Principal Investigator (PI) professors. Two research teams have been established: the Global Environmental Change and Ecosystem Effects Research Team and the Ecosystem Damage Assessment and Restoration Technologies Research Team. The teams comprise one Academician, over 10 senior researchers, multiple postdoctoral fellows, and more than 50 doctoral and master’s students. To date, the sub-laboratory has undertaken nearly 70 research projects with a total funding exceeding 40 million CNY, producing nearly 300 academic publications, of which over 50% are indexed in SCI.
