Yiqi Luo

Our laboratory uses both modeling and experimental approaches. With respect of modeling, we focus on development and testing of predictive models at scales from leaf to globe. In the past, we have developed (1) a novel approach to extrapolate leaf-level study to predict global terrestrial carbon influx (Luo et al. 1996b) and (2) a model to explain plant acclimation to rising atmospheric [CO2] (Luo et al. 1994). Our current efforts are on development of an inverse modeling approach to derive predictive understanding from results of manipulative experiments (Luo and Reynolds 1999, In press).

We are taking advantage of unique experimental facilities for our research. These facilities include the Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) facility at Duke University Forest, Mesonet (115 automated meteorological towers distributed in the whole state of Oklahoma), and the environment-controlled megacosms at the Desert Research Institute.

Our research is highly multidisciplinary, employing techniques from plant physiology, ecology, soil sciences, modeling, mathematics, and biogeochemistry. We are encouraging students with diverse background to join our endeavor.

Selected Publications:

• Luo, Y. and J.F. Reynolds. Validity of extrapolating field CO2 experiments to predict carbon sequestration in natural ecosystems. Ecology. In press.
• Luo, Y. and H.A. Mooney. (Eds.) 1999. Carbon Dioxide and Environmental Stress. Academic Press, San Diego. Pp 418.
• Luo, Y. 1999. Scaling against environmental and biological variability: General Principles and A case study. Pp. 309-331. In: Luo, Y. and H.A. Mooney. (Eds.) Carbon Dioxide and Environmental Stress. Academic Press, San Diego.
• Peterson, A.G., J.T. Ball, Y. Luo, C.B. Field, P.B. Reich, P.S. Curtis, K.L. Griffin, C.A. Gunderson, R.J. Norby, D.T. Tissue, M. Forstreuter, A. Rey, C.S. Vogel, and CMEAL participants. 1999. The photosynthesis-leaf nitrogen relationship at ambient and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide: A meta-analysis. Global Change Biology 5:331-346.
• Luo, Y., J.F. Reynolds, Y.P. Wang, and D. Wolfe. 1999. A search for predictive understanding of plant responses to elevated CO2. Global Change Biology 5:143-156.
• Sims, D.A., J. Seemann, and Y. Luo. 1998. Elevated CO2 concentration has independent effects on expansion rates and thickness of soybean leaves across light and nitrogen gradients. Journal of Experimental Botany 49:583-591.
• Luo, Y, D.A. Sims, K.L. Griffin. 1998. Nonlinearity of photosynthetic responses to growth in rising atmospheric CO2: An experimental and modeling study. Global Change Biology 4:173-183.
• Griffin, K.L., P.D. Ross, D.A. Sims, Y. Luo, J.R. Seemann, C.A. Fox, and J.T. Ball. 1996. EcoCELLs: Tools for mesocosm scale measurements of gas exchange. Plant, Cell and Environment 19:1210-1221.
• Luo, Y. and H.A. Mooney. 1996. Stimulation of global photosynthetic carbon influx by an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration. pp. 381-397. In G.W. Koch and H.A. Mooney (eds.) Carbon Dioxide and Terrestrial Ecosystems. Academic Press, San Diego.
• Luo, Y., R.B. Jackson, C.B. Field, and H.A. Mooney. 1996a. Elevated CO2 increases belowground respiration in California grasslands. Oecologia 108:130-137.
• Luo, Y., D. Sims, R. Thomas, D. Tissue, and J.T. Ball. 1996b. Sensitivity of leaf photosynthesis to CO2 concentration is an invariant function for C3 plants: A test with experimental data and global applications. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 10:209-222.
• Luo, Y., C.B. Field, and H.A. Mooney. 1994. Predicting responses of photosynthesis and root fraction to elevated CO2: Interaction among carbon, nitrogen and growth. Plant, Cell and Environment 17:1195-1204.

For more information about this program, contact the Department or Dr. Yiqi Luo.

Other related web pages:

• Department of Botany & Microbiology
• Ecosystems Ecology Laboratory
• OU Faculty in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology