I am a full time researcher (Associated Professor) in the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and currently work as a visiting scholar in the lab of Dr. Susan Schwinning at Texas State University. My main research interest centers on the ecohydrology of soil-limited karst ecosystems, which including the water storage capacities and hydrological processes of karst aquifer, water use and adaptive strategies of native karst species, the responses of karst vegetation to the increased precipitation and drought extremes under climate change, as well as the effects of water restriction on the forward succession of shrub-grassland community on karst hillslope. To reveal the underlying mechanisms, I draw on tools from the fields of soil science, hydrology, ecophysiology, ecology, and stable isotope biogeochemistry. Currently, I and our team conduct field research in karst regions of Subtropical China, based on a National Field Station located in Southwest China. I can be contacted through the email: nyp@isa.ac.cn

[1] Li Huang, Jinjiao Lian*, Yunpeng Nie*, Xingyu Ma, Wenna Liu, Zhongyun Wang, Hongsong Chen, 2022. Selective removal of non-woody species released water limitation on vegetation community stagnated at early successional stages in a humid karst region. Journal of Hydrology, 615, 128714.

[2] Nannan Jiang, Zhongcheng Wang, Xingyu Ma, Wenna Liu, Hongsong Chen, Yunpeng Nie*, 2022. Isotopic deviations of water extracted from carbonate soil by cryogenic vacuum extraction: implication for root water uptake analysis. Plant and Soil, 475, 79-89.

[3] Zidong Luo, Yunpeng Nie, Huade Guan, Hongsong Chen*, Xinping Zhang, Kelin Wang, 2022. Widespread root-zone water bypass for various climates and species: Implications for the ecohydrological separation understanding. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 324, 109107.

[4] Fa Wang, Jun Zhang, Jinjiao Lian, Zhiyong Fu, Zidong Luo, Yunpeng Nie, Hongsong Chen, 2022. Spatial variability of epikarst thickness and its controlling factors in a dolomite catchment. Geoderma, 428, 116213.

[5] Wenna Liu, Hongsong Chen, Qiaoyun Zou, Yunpeng Nie*, 2021. Divergent root water uptake depth and coordinated hydraulic traits among typical karst plantations of subtropical China: Implication for plant water adaptation under precipitation changes. Agriculture Water Management, 249, 106798.

[6] Yali Ding, Yunpeng Nie*, Hongsong Chen*, Kelin Wang, José I. Querejeta, 2021. Water uptake depth is coordinated with leaf water potential, water use efficiency and drought vulnerability in karst vegetation. New Phytologist, 229, 1339-1353

[7] Zidong Luo; Yunpeng Nie; Yali Ding; Hongsong Chen*, 2021. Replenishment and mean residence time of root-zone water for woody plants growing on rocky outcrops in a subtropical karst critical zone. Journal of Hydrology, 2021, 127136.

[8] Xingyu Ma, Hongsong Chen, Yunpeng Nie*, 2020. Common Species Maintain a Large Root Radial Extent and a Stable Resource Use Status in Soil-Limited Environments: A Case Study in Subtropical China. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, 1260.

[9] Teng Feng, Hongsong Chen*, Kelin Wang, Yunpeng Nie, Xinbao Zhang, Hongwei Mo, 2020. Assessment of underground soil loss via the tapering grikes on limestone hillslopes. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 297, 106935.

[10] Sheng Wang, Zhiyong Fu*, Hongsong Chen*, Yunpeng Nie, Qinxue Xu, 2020. Mechanisms of surface and subsurface runoff generation in subtropical soil-epikarst systems: Implications of rainfall simulation experiments on karst slope. Journal of Hydrology, 580, 124370.

[11] Fa Wang, Hongsong Chen*, Jinjiao Lian, Zhiyong Fu, Yunpeng Nie, 2020. Seasonal recharge of spring and stream waters in a karst catchment revealed by isotopic and hydrochemical analyses. Journal of Hydrology, 591, 125595.

[12] Fa Wang, Hongsong Chen*, Jinjiao Lian, Zhiyong Fu, Yunpeng Nie, 2020. Hydrological response of karst stream to precipitation variation recognized through the quantitative separation of runoff components. Science of the Total Environment, 748, 142483.

[13] Yunpeng Nie, Hongsong Chen*, Yali Ding, Qiaoyun Zou, Xingyu Ma, Kelin Wang, 2019. Qualitative identification of hydrologically different water sources used by plants in rock-dominated environments. Journal of Hydrology, 573, 386-394.

[14] Yunpeng Nie#, Yali Ding#, Huilin Zhang, Hongsong Chen*, 2019. Comparison in woody species composition between rocky outcrop and nearby matrix vegetation on degraded karst hillslope of Southwest China. Journal of Forestry Research, 30: 911-920.

[15] Jing Yang, Hongsong Chen*, Yunpeng Nie, Kelin Wang, 2019. Dynamic variations in profile soil water on karst hillslopes in Southwest China. Catena, 172, 655-663.

[16] Yunpeng Nie, Hongsong Chen*, Yali Ding, Kelin Wang, 2018. Water source segregation along successional stages in a degraded karst region in subtropical China. Journal of Vegetation Science, 29, 933-942.

[17] Yali Ding#, Yunpeng Nie #, Susanne Schwinning, Hongsong Chen*, Jing Yang, Wei Zhang, Kelin Wang, 2018. A novel approach for estimating groundwater use by plants in rock-dominated habitats. Journal of Hydrology, 565, 760-769.

[18] Fa Wang; Hongsong Chen*; Jinjiao Lian; Zhiyong Fu; Yunpeng Nie, 2018. Preferential Flow in Different Soil Architectures of a Small Karst Catchment. Vadose Zone Journal, 17, 1-10.

[19] Yunpeng Nie, Hongsong Chen*, Yali Ding, Jing Yang, Kelin Wang, 2017. Comparison of rooting strategies to explore rock fractures for shallow soil-adapted tree species with contrasting aboveground growth rates: A greenhouse microcosm experiment. Frontiers in Plant Science, 8: 1651 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2017.01651

[20] Hongsong Chen*, Ke Hu, Yunpeng Nie, Kelin Wang, 2017. Analysis of soil water movement inside a footslope and a depression in a karst catchment, Southwest China. Scientific Reports, 7: 2544 doi:10.1038/s41598-017-02619-x

[21] Jing Yang#, Yunpeng Nie#, Hongsong Chen*, Sheng Wang, Ke-lin Wang, 2016. Hydraulic properties of karst fractures filled with soils and regolith materials: Implication for their ecohydrological functions. Geoderma, 276: 93-101.

[22] Jing Yang, Hong-song Chen*, Yun-peng Nie, Wei Zhang, Ke-lin Wang, 2016. Spatial variability of shallow soil moisture and its stable isotope values on a karst hillslope. Geoderma, 264: 61-70.

[23] Ke Hu, Hong-song Chen*, Yun-peng Nie, Ke-lin Wang, 2014. Seasonal recharge and mean residence times of soil and epikarst water in a small karst catchment of southwest China. Scientific Reports, 5:10215 doi: 10.1038/srep10215

[24] Yun-peng Nie, Hong-song Chen*, Kelin Wang, Ya-li Ding, 2014. Rooting characteristics of two widely distributed woody plant species growing in different karst habitats of southwest China. Plant Ecology, 215: 1099-1109.

[25] Yun-peng Nie, Hong-song Chen*, Kelin Wang, Ya-li Ding, 2014. Seasonal variations in leaf δ13C values: implications for different water-use strategies among species growing on continuous dolomite outcrops in subtropical China. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, 36: 2571-2579.

[26] Yun-peng Nie, Hong-song Chen*, Kelin Wang, Jing Yang, 2012. Water source utilization by woody plants growing on dolomite outcrops and nearby soils during dry seasons in karst region of Southwest China. Journal of Hydrology 420-421: 264-274.

[27] Yun-peng Nie, Hong-song Chen*, Kelin Wang, Wei Tan, Peng-yan Deng, Jing Yang, 2011. Seasonal water use patterns of woody species growing on the continuous dolostone outcrops and nearby thin soils in subtropical China. Plant and Soil, 341: 399-412.