Chao Dong ZHU

Prof. Chao Dong ZHU is a leading researcher in ecology and biodiversity conservation, affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He serves as Principal Investigator for multiple projects including MultiTroph (2022-2026), analyzing biodiversity mechanisms across trophic levels. His work focuses on plant-insect interactions, phylogenetic signals in ecological communities, and the impacts of tree diversity on herbivore-parasitoid networks.

Key projects include SP09c1 Phylogenetic signals in plant-insect interactions and P4C: Associational effects mediated by parasitoids, examining how tree diversity influences herbivore communities and parasitoid dynamics. He has contributed to large-scale biodiversity experiments in subtropical forests, such as BEF-China, investigating species coexistence and turnover patterns.

• Education: Not explicitly stated in provided texts
• Research Themes: Trophic interactions, biodiversity gradients, DNA barcoding applications, spatial ecology

Publications emphasize data-driven analyses of herbivore community structure, leveraging phylogenetic and functional trait approaches. His work bridges observational ecology with experimental design, contributing to understanding ecosystem resilience under biodiversity loss scenarios.