Nutrient cycling is critical for the sustenance of ecosystems. Benthic animals are an important component of the aquatic ecosystem, which have significant effects on nutrient cycling. They could supply nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) at rates comparable to major nutrient sources and could support a substantial proportion of the nutrient demands of primary producers. In order to achieve ecological restoration of freshwater water to the clear - water state, research on how the benthic animals affect nutrient cycling in the water column after the external nutrient sources are effectively diminished is needed.
Since September 2017,I start my Phd project at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO–KNAW) in Wageningen. Our main goals are:(1) Elucidate the importance of benthic animals for nutrient cycling in the water column. (2) Quantify how the importance of nutrient cycling mediated by benthic animals varies among taxa.
Education:
2014-2017 MSc Environmental Engineering at Jiangnan University, China
2009-2013 BSc Environmental Engineering at South-central University for Nationalities, China
Effects of benthic animals on nutrient cycling in the water column
Nutrient cycling is critical for the sustenance of ecosystems. Benthic animals are an important component of the aquatic ecosystem, which have significant effects on nutrient cycling. They could supply nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) at rates comparable to major nutrient sources and could support a substantial proportion of the nutrient demands of primary producers. In order to achieve ecological restoration of freshwater water to the clear - water state, research on how the benthic animals affect nutrient cycling in the water column after the external nutrient sources are effectively diminished is needed.
The project will focus on two main goals, i.e. (1) Elucidate the importance of benthic animals for nutrient cycling in the water column. (2) Quantify how the importance of nutrient cycling mediated by benthic animals varies among taxa.
