Research Team
Center for Evolution and Conservation Biology
Group Profile
The Center for Evolution and Conservation Biology was established in November 2020. It has formed an innovative research team led by an Academician and comprised of nationally recognized young talents, including recipients of the National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholars and Young Talents Support Program awardees. As of November 2024, the team consists of a total of 38 scientific researchers of various types, including full-time scientific research staffs, research assistants, postdoctoral fellows, doctoral and master's degree candidates. The team is dedicated to research on marine organism evolution and conservation biology, employing cutting-edge macro- and micro-scale approaches and technologies. The team’s work focuses on unraveling the mechanisms underlying the formation, maintenance, and evolution of biodiversity in typical marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs. The team investigates the origins, adaptive evolution, and endangerment processes of marine species, including corals, fish, cetaceans, and sea turtles, while exploring how species and community dynamics influence ecosystem stability under global change scenarios. The team’s research supports national strategies such as the stabilization of South China Sea islands and reefs, marine ecological civilization, and the Maritime Silk Road initiative, positioning it at the forefront of marine organism evolution and conservation biology both nationally and internationally.
Research Directions
2.2.1 Conservation of Marine Biodiversity and Construction of Marine Ecological Civilization:
Focusing on the typical ecosystems of the South China Sea coral reefs and deep sea in China, the team conducts scientific research on the mechanisms of marine biodiversity conservation to explore the impacts of global warming, intensified human activities, and biological invasions on marine ecosystem biodiversity. By integrating palaeogeology changes, the team elucidates the formation, maintenance, and evolution mechanisms of biodiversity patterns in marine ecosystems. They develop theoretical frameworks and key technologies for the protection and restoration of typical fragile ecosystems, which support the delineation of ecological red lines and priority conservation areas for biodiversity conservation in the South China Sea, and promote the construction of national marine parks. This work contributes to international biodiversity agreements and the national strategy for ecological civilization construction.
2.2.2 Evolution of Key Biological Groups and Conservation of Flagship Species in the South China Sea
Focusing on flagship species such as marine mammals, sea turtles and other key functional organisms such as corals and coral reef fishes, the team carries out research on the species and their histological diversity in typical marine ecosystems in the South China Sea under the stress of global change and human activities, reveal the mechanisms of key organisms' evolution, symbiosis and endangerment, assess the status of key species in stress and the umbrella effect of the flagship species, determine the priority species for protection, and construct the theory and method of typical ecosystems conservation based on the protection of the flagship species. By determining priority species for conservation, the team seeks to establish theoretical frameworks and methodologies for ecosystem protection based on flagship species, laying the foundation for biodiversity conservation projects in the South China Sea.
2.2.3 Marine Biological Resource Exploitation and High-Value Utilization:
Focusing on the significant demands of the economic frontline and public health, the team initiates research on the survival adaptation strategies of marine animals in special habitats, such as deep-sea cold seeps and hydrothermal vents, and those with unique life habits, such as efficient predation and defense mechanisms. The team investigates the physiological mechanisms and material bases enabling these strategies, develops high-throughput and precise screening platforms, and identifies high-efficiency bioactive molecules and functional genes derived from marine organisms. The ultimate goal is to establish a resource library of functional molecules, including active peptides and complex secondary metabolites.
3. Research Achievements
(1) WL Zhou, M Wang, GP Huang, Wei F. 2021. A marine biodiversity plan for China and beyond. Science. 371, 685–686.
(2) YS Hu, ZW Zhang, SY Sun et al. 2024. Toward the generation of pure coral genomes with experimental and bioinformatic improvements. Innovation. 5(4): 100643.
(3) HZ Fan, MP Huang, YH Chen et al. 2022. Conservation priorities for global marine biodiversity across multiple dimensions. National Science Review. 10(6):nwac241.
(4) YS Hu, M Wang,TX Ma et al. 2022. Integrated index-based assessment reveals long-term conservation progress in implementation of Convention on Biological Diversity. Science Advances. 8, eabj8093;
(5) MP Huang, YT Chen, WL Zhou et al. 2024. Assessing the response of marine fish communities to climate change and fishing. Conservation Biology. 15:e14291.
(6) X Huang, GX Dong, HZ Fan et al. 2024. The genome of African manatee Trichechussenegalensis reveals secondary adaptation to theaquatic environment. iScience. 27(7):110394.
(7) SC Wei, WL Zhou*, HZ Fan et al. 2023. Chromosome-level genome assembly of the yellow boxfish (Ostracion cubicus) provides insights into the evolution of bone plates and ostracitoxin secretion. Frontiers in Marine Science. 10：1170704.
(8) MP Huang, SC Wei, Q Li et al. 2023. Degradation of coral reefs altered the community trophic structure and reduced the shoaling size of fish. Frontiers in Conservation Science. 4: 1229513.
(9) XN Fu, WJ Guo, ZW Ding et al. 2024. A new species of the genus Glossobalanus (Hemichordata,Enteropneusta, Ptychoderidae) from China. ZooKeys. 1202: 343–358.
(10) ZW Zhang, Q Li, H Li, et al. 2024. Integrative multi-omics analysis reveals the contribuction of neoVTX genes to venom diversity of Synanceia verrucosa. BMC Genomics.
Research Team
Wenliang Zhou
Distinguished Researcher, Director Assistant of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou).
