Research Interests

The research interests of our group in soil microbial ecology include:

Microbial interactions and pathogen/disease suppression. We want to know whether and how the structure, diversity and activities of soil microbial communities influence the population dynamics and activities of soilborne pathogenic fungi, Pythium spp. and Rhizoctonia spp. in particular.

Microbial mediation of ecosystem response to global changes. We are currently investigating the mechanisms through which soil microorganisms control plant response to elevated atmospheric CO₂. Our major focus is on how microorganisms respond to enhanced C input under elevated CO₂, and what are the implications of resulting changes in terms of ecosystem C storage.

Effects of disturbance on the structure and activities of soil microbial communities. We are interested in how disturbance such as conventional farming and elevated atmospheric CO₂ affects the microbial community structure and activities and its consequences on soil food web interactions.

Selected Publications

Hu, S., F. S. Chapin, III, M. K. Firestone, C. B. Field and N. R. Chiariello. 2001 Nitrogen limitation of microbial decomposition in a grassland under elevated CO2. Nature 409: 188-191.

Yang, Y.H., Yao, J., Hu, S. and Qi, Y. 2000. Effects of agricultural chemicals on DNA sequence diversity of soil microbial community: A study with RAPD marker. Microbial Ecology 39: 72-79 .

Grünwald, N. J., S. Hu and A. H. C. van Bruggen, 2000. Characterization of soil C, N, microbial dynamics associated with plant pathogen dynamics during short-term cover crop decomposition in organic and conventional soils. European Journal of Plant Pathology 106: 37-50.

Grünwald, N. J., S. Hu and A. H. C. van Bruggen, 2000. Microbial and nutrient variables associated with different levels of Pythium aphanidermatum growth in organic and conventional soils. European Journal of Plant Pathology 106: 51-65.

Hu, S., M. K. Firestone and F. S. Chapin III. 1999. Soil microbial feedbacks to atmospheric CO2 enrichment. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 14: 433-437

Hu, S., M. K. Firestone and F. S. Chapin III. 1998. Elevated atmospheric CO2 and soil biota. Science 281: 518.