Personal Profile

Name: Keliang Zhang

Title: Associate Professor | Ph.D. in Ecology | Graduate Advisor

Affiliation: College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University

Email: zhangkeliang@yzu.edu.cn

Research Interests

My research primary focuses on the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms underlying plant adaptation across environmental gradients. I am particularly interested in how evolutionary history, functional traits, and life history strategies influence species coexistence, community assembly, and ecosystem functioning in the context of global change. My work integrates experimental ecology, phylogenetics, seed biology, and plant functional strategies, with three major research directions:

Research Direction 1: Phylogenetic Ecology

I investigate how evolutionary relatedness among neighbouring plants influences their ecological interactions and ecosystem-level outcomes. Phylogenetic relationships can shape competition, facilitation, trait convergence/divergence, and ultimately, biodiversity patterns. As climate change and habitat fragmentation alter community compositions, it becomes increasingly important to understand whether closely related species constrain or promote each other's success. Key questions include:

• Can plants recognize their neighbors based on phylogenetic relatedness? Is this recognition ability shaped by their own evolutionary history?

• How does the phylogenetic proximity within neighborhoods affect plant growth and defense through various biotic interactions?

• Does phylogenetic proximity within neighborhoods select for distinct functional traits?

• Under climate change stress, do good neighbors compensate for the negative effects of bad climate?

By integrating phylogenetics, evolutionary ecology, and community assembly, we aim to understand how lineage history affects present-day species interactions and ecological outcomes.

Research Direction 2: Seed Ecology

Seeds play a central role in plant persistence, dispersal, and population regeneration. My work explores the ecological and evolutionary significance of seed traits such as dormancy, germination timing, and heteromorphism in unpredictable environments. Climate variability increases the need to understand how seeds respond to both maternal and immediate environmental cues. Key questions include:

• How do maternal environments influence seed traits and offspring fitness?

• How is dormancy status dynamically regulated in heterogeneous environments?

• What role do persistent soil seed banks play in buffering population fluctuations?

• How do bet-hedging strategies contribute to long-term persistence and community stability?

Through field experiments, trait surveys, and controlled germination trials, I aim to link seed-stage processes with broader questions in population dynamics and ecosystem resilience.

Research Direction 3: Life History Strategies

Life history traits govern how plants allocate resources among survival, growth, and reproduction across environmental gradients. This direction addresses how plants modulate phenological and allocation strategies to maintain fitness under environmental uncertainty. My research examines:

• How do plants adjust germination timing and resource allocation to balance trade-offs (e.g., growth vs. defence)?

• To what extent do anticipatory responses to environmental cues impose fitness costs due to mismatches ("false alarms")?

• Do populations from contrasting geographic regions exhibit convergent or divergent life history syndromes?

• Can variation in life history strategies promote long-term species coexistence in plant communities?

I integrate plant physiology, morphology, molecular ecology, and biogeography to understand adaptive variation in plant life cycles and its implications for species survival and ecological stability.

Recent Publications

• Yang, J., Luo, Y., Baskin, J. M., Baskin, C. C., Prinzing, A., Liu, L., Xu, C., & Zhang, K*. (2025). Seed dormancy cycling: A driver of germination timing in a facultative winter annual. Plant Diversity, PLD575. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pld.2025.05.007

• Prinzing, A., Bartish, I. V., Zhang, K., & Yguel, B. (2025). Why some habitat types are locally much more species‐rich than others: Ongoing assembly of species produced by long and rapid macroevolutionary diversification. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 34(4), e70037. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.70037

• Santonja, M., Pan, X., Courty, P.-E., Butenschoen, O., Berg, M. P., Murray, P., Yguel, B., Brule, D., Zhang, K., & Prinzing, A. (2025). Why oaks should stay with their close relatives: Growing in a distantly related neighbourhood delays and reorganizes nutrient recycling during litter decomposition. Oikos, 2025(4), e10567. https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.10567

• Zhang, K., Deniau, M., Jung, V., Bechade, B., Gousbet, V., Brunelliere, M., Yguel, B., & Prinzing, A. (2024). Offspring may succeed well next to their relatives, but it needs particular traits. Annals of Botany, 135(3), 495–514. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcae177

• Zhang, K., Ji, Y., Yao, L., Liu, H., Zhang, Y., Baskin, J. M., Baskin, C. C., Zhang, L., Xu, C., Tao, J., & Prinzing, A. (2024). Paternal intergenerational plasticity in the plant species Paeonia ostii: Implications for parental fitness and offspring performance. Functional Ecology, 38(4), 832–847. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.14506

• Song, X., Guo, N., Yu, R., Huang, R., Zhang, K., Chen, Q., & Tao, J. (2023). Assessment of the capability of cadmium accumulation and translocation among 31 willows: Four patterns of willow biomass variation response to cadmium. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(31), 76735–76745. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-27393-4

• Zhang, L., Xu, C., Liu, H., Tao, J., & Zhang, K*. (2023). Seed dormancy and germination requirements of Torilis scabra (Apiaceae). Agronomy, 13(5), 1250. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13051250

• Zhang, L., Xu, C., Liu, H., Wu, Q., Tao, J., & Zhang, K*. (2023). Intermediate complex morphophysiological dormancy in seeds of Aconitum barbatum (Ranunculaceae). BMC Plant Biology, 23(1), 350. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-023-04357-x

• Zhang, K., Pan, H., Baskin, C. C., Baskin, J. M., Xiong, Z., Cao, W., Yao, L., Tang, B., Zhang, C., & Tao, J. (2022). Epicotyl morphophysiological dormancy in seeds of Paeonia ostii (Paeoniaceae): Seasonal temperature regulation of germination phenology. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 194, 104742. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2021.104742

• Meng, J., Cheng, M., Zhang, K., El Hadi, M. A. M., Zhao, D., & Tao, J. (2021). Beneficial effects of Paeonia ostii stamen tea in extending the lifespan and inducing stress resistance on Caenorhabditis elegans. Food Science and Technology, 42, e76521. https://doi.org/10.1590/fst.76521

• Meng, J., Li, M., Zhang, K., Zhao, D., & Tao, J. (2021). Kinetics of seed reserve compounds during the maturation of herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) seeds. Journal of Seed Science, 43, e202143041. https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1545v43255168

• Xiong, Z., Yang, J., & Zhang, K. (2021). Effects of lead pollution on germination and seedling growth of turfgrass, Cynodon dactylon. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 53(6), 2003–2009. https://doi.org/10.30848/PJB2021-6(6)

• Zhang, K., Ji, Y., Fu, G., Yao, L., Liu, H., & Tao, J. (2021). Dormancy-breaking and germination requirements of Thalictrum squarrosum Stephan ex Willd. seeds with underdeveloped embryos. Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 24, 100311. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jarmap.2021.100311

• Zhang, K., Ji, Y., Fu, G., Yao, L., Liu, H., Tao, J., & Walck, J. L. (2021). Dormancy cycles in Aquilegia oxysepala Trautv. et Mey. (Ranunculaceae), a species with non-deep simple morphophysiological dormancy. Plant and Soil, 464(1), 223–235. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-04951-8

• Zhang, K., Zhang, Y., Sun, J., Meng, J., & Tao, J. (2021). Deterioration of orthodox seeds during ageing: Influencing factors, physiological alterations and the role of reactive oxygen species. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 158, 475–485. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.11.031

• Zhang, K., Ji, Y., Song, X., Yao, L., Liu, H., & Tao, J. (2021). Deep complex morphophysiological dormancy in seeds of Clematis hexapetala Pall. (Ranunculaceae). Scientia Horticulturae, 286, 110247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2021.110247

• Zhang, K., Cao, W., Baskin, J. M., Baskin, C. C., Sun, J., Yao, L., & Tao, J. (2021). Seed development in Paeonia ostii (Paeoniaceae), with particular reference to embryogeny. BMC Plant Biology, 21(1), 603. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-021-03373-z

• Zhang, K., Zhang, Y., Sun, J., Meng, J., & Tao, J. (2021). Deterioration of orthodox seeds during ageing: Influencing factors, physiological alterations and the role of reactive oxygen species. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 158, 475–485. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.11.031

• Zhang, K., Ji, Y., Song, X., Yao, L., Liu, H., & Tao, J. (2021). Deep complex morphophysiological dormancy in seeds of Clematis hexapetala Pall. (Ranunculaceae). Scientia Horticulturae, 286, 110247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2021.110247

• Xiong, Z., Yang, J., & Zhang, K. (2020). The role of seed morph and water availability in the growth and reproduction of amphicarpic plant Amphicarpaea edgeworthii (Fabaceae). Pakistan Journal of Botany, 53(6), 2003-9. https://doi.org/10.30848/PJB2021-6(6)

• Zhang, K., Liu, H., Pan, H., Shi, W., Zhao, Y., Li, S., Liu, J., & Tao, J. (2020). Shifts in potential geographical distribution of Pterocarya stenoptera under climate change scenarios in China. Ecology and Evolution, 10(11), 4828–4837. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6236

• Zhang, K., Zhang, Y., Ji, Y., Walck, J. L., & Tao, J. (2020). Seed biology of Lepidium apetalum (Brassicaceae), with particular reference to dormancy and mucilage development. Plants, 9(3), 333. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9030333

• Zhang, Y., Zhang, K*., Ji, Y., & Tao, J. (2020). Physical dormancy and soil seed bank dynamics in seeds of Melilotus albus (Fabaceae). Flora, 266, 151600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.flora.2020.151600

• Zhang, K., Sun, L., & Tao, J. (2020). Impact of climate change on the distribution of Euscaphis japonica (Staphyleaceae) trees. Forests, 11(5), 525. https://doi.org/10.3390/f11050525

• Zhang, K., Baskin, J. M., Baskin, C. C., Cheplick, G. P., Yang, X., & Huang, Z. (2020). Amphicarpic plants: Definition, ecology, geographic distribution, systematics, life history, evolution and use in agriculture. Biological Reviews, 95(5), 1442–1466. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12623

• Yao, L., Zhang, Y., Zhang, K., & Tao, J. (2019). Reproductive and pollination biology of Sorbus alnifolia, an ornamental species. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 51(5), 1797–1802. https://doi.org/10.30848/PJB2019-5(21)

• Zhang, K., Zhang, Y., Walck, J. L., & Tao, J. (2019). Non-deep simple morphophysiological dormancy in seeds of Angelica keiskei (Apiaceae). Scientia Horticulturae, 255, 202–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2019.05.039

• Zhang, K., Zhang, Y., Zhou, C., Meng, J., Sun, J., Zhou, T., & Tao, J. (2019). Impact of climate factors on future distributions of Paeonia ostii across China estimated by MaxEnt. Ecological Informatics, 50, 62–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2019.01.004

• Tang, Y., Zhang, K., Zhang, Y., & Tao, J. (2019). Dormancy-breaking and germination requirements for seeds of Sorbus alnifolia (Siebold & Zucc.) K. Koch (Rosaceae), a mesic forest tree with high ornamental potential. Forests, 10(4), 319. https://doi.org/10.3390/f10040319

• Zhang, K., Yao, L., Zhang, Y., & Tao, J. (2019). Achene heteromorphism in Bidens pilosa (Asteraceae): Differences in germination and possible adaptive significance. AoB Plants, 11(3), plz026. https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plz026

• Zhang, K., Yao, L., Zhang, Y., Baskin, J. M., Baskin, C. C., Xiong, Z., & Tao, J. (2019). A review of the seed biology of Paeonia species (Paeoniaceae), with particular reference to dormancy and germination. Planta, 249(2), 291–303. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-018-3017-4

• Zhang, K., Yao, L., Meng, J., & Tao, J. (2018). MaxEnt modeling for predicting the potential geographical distribution of two peony species under climate change. Science of the Total Environment, 634, 1326–1334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.112

• Yang, X., Huang, Z., Zhang, K., & Cornelissen, J. H. C. (2017). Taxonomic effect on plant base concentrations and stoichiometry at the tips of the phylogeny prevails over environmental effect along a large-scale gradient. Oikos, 126(9), 1241–1249. https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.04129

• Zhang, K., Baskin, J. M., Baskin, C. C., Yang, X., & Huang, Z. (2017). Effect of seed morph and light level on growth and reproduction of the amphicarpic plant Amphicarpaea edgeworthii (Fabaceae). Scientific Reports, 7(1), 39886. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep39886

• Yang, X., Huang, Z., Venable, D. L., Wang, L., Zhang, K., Baskin, J. M., Baskin, C. C., & Cornelissen, J. H. C. (2016). Linking performance trait stability with species distribution: The case of Artemisia and its close relatives in northern China. Journal of Vegetation Science, 27(1), 123–132. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12334

• Zhang, K., Baskin, J. M., Baskin, C. C., Yang, X., & Huang, Z. (2015). Lack of divergence in seed ecology of two Amphicarpaea (Fabaceae) species disjunct between eastern Asia and eastern North America. American Journal of Botany, 102(6), 860–869. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.1500069

• Yang, X., Huang, Z., Zhang, K., & Cornelissen, J. H. C. (2015). Geographic pattern and effects of climate and taxonomy on nonstructural carbohydrates of Artemisia species and their close relatives across northern China. Biogeochemistry, 125(3), 337–348. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-015-0128-x

• Yang, X., Huang, Z., Zhang, K., & Cornelissen, J. H. C. (2015). C:N:P stoichiometry of Artemisia species and close relatives across northern China: Unravelling effects of climate, soil and taxonomy. Journal of Ecology, 103(4), 1020–1031. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12409