Shuijin Hu

Bio

Research:

Microbial mediation of plant and ecosystem responses to global change components. We are currently investigating the mechanisms through which soil microorganisms mediate plant and ecosystem responses to elevated atmospheric CO2, O3 and N inputs. Our major focus is on how microorganisms respond to alterations in C and N availability under these global change components, and what are the implications of the resulting changes in terms of ecosystem C storage.

Microbial interactions and pathogen/disease suppression. We want to know whether and how the structure, diversity and activities of soil microbial and mesofaunal communities influence the population dynamics and activities of soilborne pathogenic fungi, Pythium spp. and Rhizoctonia spp. in particular.

Microbial mediation of plant interactions. We are interested in understanding how microbes, mycorrhizal and endophytic fungi in particular, modulate the interactions among coexisting plant species. Effects of disturbance on the structure and activities of soil organisms. Our current research examines how disturbance such as conventional farming and elevated atmospheric CO2 affects soil microbes and soil food web interactions and how the resulting alterations in soil organisms influence C and N cycling.

Focused Areas:

• Soil Microbial Ecology
• Ecosystem Ecology

Current Projects:

• Greenhouse gas emissions from agroecosystems
• Mycorrhizal effects on soil C and N dynamics under elevated CO2 and climate
  warming
• Endophytic bacteria in switchgrass and their effects on soil C and N cycling

Teaching:

• Soil/Ecosystem Ecology, PP590/790E
• Ecology, Evolution & Biodiversity, BO 595E (co-teaching)
• Climate Chang and Agriculture. PP590/PP790 (Special Topics)
• New and re-emerging plant diseases in the US (Discussion group) (PP610Y/810Y)

Area(s) of Expertise

Plant-microbial interactions; Microbial controls over global biogeochemical cycles; Climate change effects on plant-microbe interactions; Ecosystem C sequestration; Organic farming and greenhouse gas emissions from agroecosystems.

Publications

• Deepened snow promotes temporal stability of semi-arid grasslands via improving water acquisition-and-use strategies , ECOLOGY (2025)
• Genetic potential of soil microbial nitrogen cycling affected by human activities and climate factors , SOIL ECOLOGY LETTERS (2025)
• Mycorrhiza increases plant diversity and soil carbon storage in grasslands , PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (2025)
• Soil pH and precipitation controls on organic carbon retention from organic amendments across soil orders: A meta-analysis , SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY (2025)
• Temporal dynamics of climate sensitivity of litter decomposition in a semi-arid grassland , GEODERMA (2025)
• Variation in a single allele drives divergent yield responses to elevated CO₂ between rice subspecies , NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2025)
• Canopy and understory nitrogen additions differently affect soil microbial residual carbon in a temperate forest , GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY (2024)
• Deciphering the Intricate Control of Minerals on Deep Soil Carbon Stability and Persistence in Alaskan Permafrost , GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY (2024)
• Inhibition of autotrophic nitrifiers in a nitrogen-rich paddy soil by elevated CO₂ , NATURE GEOSCIENCE (2024)
• Intermediate soil acidification induces highest nitrous oxide emissions , NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2024)

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