Direction:
	Forest Ecology, Biodiversity Conservation, Vegetation Ecology

Achievements:
	In 1997, Dr. Cao Min won the Fang Shuquan Young Scientist Prize of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. ．In 2004, the research project of “Study on Dynamics of Tropical Forest in Southwestern China” was awarded the second-grade “Prize of Natural Sciences” by Yunnan province. (first contributor) ．In 2007, awarded “Government Special Subsidy” by the State Council

Article:

Guoyu Lan, Yuehua Hua, Min Cao*, Hua Zhu. Topography related spatial distribution of dominant tree species in a tropical seasonal rain forest in China. Forest Ecology and Management.262(8): 1507-1513, doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2011.06.052    Tang Y,Yang XF, Cao M , Baskin CC, Baskin JM .2011. Buttress trees elevate soil heterogeneity and regulate seedling diversity in a tropical rainforest. PLANT AND SOIL 338 (1-2): 301-309.   Tang JW , Cao M , Zhang JH, Li MH. 2010. Litterfall production, decomposition and nutrient use efficiency varies with tropical forest types in Xishuangbanna, SW China: a 10-year study  .PLANT AND SOIL   335 (1-2):271-278.   Lin H, Cao M*, , Stoy PC, Zhang YP. 2009. Assessing self-organization of plant communities-A thermodynamic approach.ECOLOGICAL MODELLING 220 (6): 784-790.   Lin H , Cao M*,  2008.Plant energy storage strategy and caloric value. ECOLOGICAL MODELLING 217 (1-2): 132-139. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2008.06.012   Yu Y, Baskin JM , Baskin CC , Tang Y , Cao M*, 2008. Ecology of seed germination of eight non-pioneer tree species from a tropical seasonal rain forest in southwest China. PLANT ECOLOGY .197(1): 1-16. DOI: 10.1007/s11258-007-9355-0   Yan XF , Cao M*, Xu HL , 2007. Effects of desiccation and temperature on the germination of Shorea chinensis (Dipterocarpaceae) seeds. SEED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY . 35(1):232-236.   Cao, Min, Tang, Yong, Sheng, Caiyu and Zhang, Jianhou. 2000. Viable seeds buried in the tropical forest soils of Xishuangbanna, SW China. Seed Science Research 10: 255-264. Cao, Min, Zou, Xiaoming*, Warren, Matthew and Zhu, Hua. 2006. Tropical forests of Xishuangbanna, China. Biotropica, 38(3): 306-309.  Zhu, Hua*, Cao, Min, Hu, Huabin. 2006. Geological history, flora and vegetation of Xishuangbanna, Southern Yunnan. Biotropica, 38(3): 310-317. Zheng, Zheng*, Feng, Zhili, Cao, Min, Li, Zhongfei and Zhang, Jianhou. 2006. Forest structure and biomass of a tropical seasonal rain forest in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China. Biotropica, 38(3): 318-327. Tang, Yong, Cao, Min* and Fu, Xianhui. 2006.Soil seed bank in a dipterocarp rain forest in Xishuangbanna, SW China. Biotropica, 38(3): 328-333.  Zheng, Zheng*, Shanmughavel, P., Sha, Liqing, Cao, Min and Warren, Mathew. 2006. Litter decomposition and nutrient release in a tropical seasonal rain forest of Xishuangbanna, Southwest China. Biotropica, 38(3): 342-347. Min CAO, Kevin WOODS, Huabin HU, Liming LI, 2003. Biodiversity Management and Sustainable Development: Lancang-Mekong River in the New Millennium. Beijing: China Forestry Publishing House. Luxiang Lin, Min Cao, Yongtao He, Jerry M. Baskin, and Carol C. Baskin Nonconstituent species in soil seed banks as indicators of anthropogenic disturbance in forest fragments. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 36(9): 2300–2316 (2006). doi:10.1139/X06-137 Luxiang Lin, Min Cao* Edge effects on soil seed banks and understory vegetation in subtropical and tropical forests in Yunnan, SW China. Forest Ecology and Management, 257(4):1344-1352 (2009). doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2008.12.004

Community service:
	Memeber of the Steering Committee of Global Canopy Programme

Commitment to research the situation:

Prof. Dr. Cao Min focused his major research activities on forest ecology. So far, he has published more than 80 research papers both home and abroad, 15 of which are listed as SCI papers. He has presided or participated in over 20 research projects. ．Directed and managed the construction of the 20-ha Xishuangbanna Tropical Rainforest Biodiversity Monitoring Plot, which is the biggest whole-forest observation plot in China. ．Determined the diversity measurements of forest types in Xishuangbanna for the first time. ．Conducted studies on the dynamic ecology in tropical rainforest, and applied relevant research achievements to the restoration of degraded vegetations. ．Directed and established an observation plot of 1 ha for Xishuangbanna tropical wet seasonal rainforest. ．Presided to accomplish the systematic research on tropical forest gap, soil seed bank, and seed rain ecology in China.