GAO Lei

Bio

Lei GAO

Professional address:

Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Institut de Recherche sur les Forêts
445 Bd de l’Université, Rouyn-Noranda, QC J9X 5E4
lei.gao@uqat.ca

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND:

    •  2020-ongoing – Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences, Forest ecology,
      Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Forest Research Institute, Canada
    • 2017-2020 – M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences,
      Inner Mongolia University, School of Ecology and Environment, China

Current research topics:

During my doctoral studies, I focused on the study of forest productivity dynamics in eastern boreal Canada, and on the linkages between bryophyte and lichen cover and state transitions at the forest ecosystem scale, including: (1) their impacts on soil conditions (moisture, temperature, nutrients), tree growth, and leaf nutrient status (article published in Plant and Soil in 2023); (2) their relationship with soil microbial diversity, composition and function (article published in Forest Ecology and Management 2023) ; and (3) how the quantity and quality of charcoal resulting from fire dynamics in boreal forests can influence vegetation conditions such as regeneration rate, canopy closure, and moss and lichen biomass.

Doctoral Thesis Title: Ecosystem transition mechanisms between open-canopy lichen and closed-canopy moss forests, and their linkages to fire legacy in the eastern Canadian boreal forest
Supervisors: Yves Bergeron and David Paré

Keywords: Forest ecology and management, Forest soils, Soil microbiology, Natural disturbances

Website :