Professor

Ecology and Evolution of Plant Reproduction

 

1996-2000, BSc, Beijing Normal University, China

2000-2005, Ph.D., Beijing Normal University, China

2005-2007, Postdoc., Beijing Normal University, China

2007-2009, Assistant Professor, Beijing Normal University, China

2009-2015, Associated Professor, Beijing Normal University, China

2015-present, Professor, Beijing Normal University, China

 

Research Interests

Research in my lab focuses on the ecology and evolution of plant mating system and coevolution between figs and their pollinating and non-pollinating wasps to understand the diversity of plant reproductive strategies and evolution of mutualism between plants and associated insects. We use a combination of field experiment and genetic marker analysis to conduct theory-motivated projects. We are also interested in plant invasions as a studying system for contemporary evolution in plants and applying invasive genetics to the potential management of invasive plants. Current projects include the evolution of clonality in plants, evolution of gynodioecy, ecology of geitonogamy, coevolution between figs and associated insects, and conservation of endangered woody plants.

 

Selected Publications

♦ Research Articles

1. Wang AY, Peng YQ, Harder LD, Huang JF, Yang DR, Zhang DY, Liao WJ*. 2019. The nature of interspecific interactions and co-diversification patterns, as illustrated by the fig microcosm. New Phytologist, 224: 1304-1315. 

2. Liao WJ*, Zhu BR, Li YF, Li XM, Zeng YF, Zhang DY*. (2019). A comparison of reproductive isolation between two closely related oak species in zones of recent and ancient secondary contact. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 19: 70.

3. Zhu BR, Barrett SCH, Zhang DY, Liao WJ*. (2017). Invasion genetics of Senecio vulgaris : loss of genetic diversity characterizes the invasion of a selfing annual, despite multiple introductions. Biological Invasions, 19: 255-267. 

4. Yang LY, Machado, CA, Dang XD, Peng YQ, Yang DR, Zhang DY, Liao WJ*. (2015). The incidence and pattern of copollinator diversification in dioecious and monoecious figs. Evolution, 69: 294-304.

5. Li XM, She DY, Zhang DY, Liao WJ*. (2015). Life history trait differentiation and local adaptation in invasive populations of Ambrosia artemisiifolia in China. Oecologia, 177: 669-677.

6. Liao WJ, Harder LD. (2014). Consequences of multiple inflorescences and clonality for pollinator behavior and plant mating. American Naturalist, 184: 580 -592.

 

Contact Information

College of Life Sciences,

Beijing Normal University,

Beijing 100875,

P. R. China

Tel. : +86-10-58802936

E-mail: liaowj@bnu.edu.cn