Faculty & Staff Directory

FACULTY PROFILE

Dr. Chen earned his BA in Forestry and MA in Forest Ecology from the Central South University of Forestry and Technology in China. He received his PhD in Plant Ecophysiology from Charles Darwin University in Australia in 2001. Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Chen held postdoctoral research positions at the University of Toronto (2001–2003) and the University of British Columbia (2003–2006). He joined the faculty of the Biology Program at Governors State University in September 2006.

His research focuses on forest structure, function, and productivity, with a particular emphasis on how forests efficiently utilize carbon, water, and energy. His work also explores the carbon storage potential of forests and terrestrial soils. The results from his research improve our understanding of how environmental changes and land management practices influence biomass productivity, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and carbon stabilization processes. Dr. Chen is the author of over 130 peer-reviewed journal articles and has received several university awards for his research contributions. He also serves as an Associate Editor for Pedosphere, a significant journal in soil science.

In addition to his research, Dr. Chen teaches a range of undergraduate and graduate courses in the biology program at Governors State University. His undergraduate courses include BIOL 1100/1101 (Human Biology and Lab), BIOL 4460/4461 (Plant Physiology and Lab), and BIOL 4990/4992 (Undergraduate Research I and II). At the graduate level, he teaches BIOL 6536/6537 (Environmental Hydrology Lecture and Lab), BIOL 7110 (Graduate Seminar), and BIOL 8860/8861 (Ecosystem Ecology Lecture and Lab).

RECENT PUBLICATIONS IN PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS

• • Wang, Q., Wu, Y., Yao, T., Peng, Y., Chen, X., Yang, P., Nie, S., Li, J., Farooq, T.H., Wang, G. & Wu, X., 2025. Assessment of water quality and microbial diversity across different land use areas in the Taojia River, China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 523, 146377.
• • Fang, J., Feng, X., Peng, Y., Wang, J., Wu, X., Yan, W. & *Chen, X., 2025. Variation patterns of fine root biomass, production, and turnover rates in four subtropical forests of China. Forests, 16(2), 220.
• • *Chen, X., Gsell, T., Yunger, J., Randa, L., Peng, Y. & Carrington, M., 2025. Soil aggregation, aggregate stability, and associated soil organic carbon in Huron Mountains forests, Michigan, USA. Forests, 16(2), 219.
• • Lei, J., Peng, Y., Dang, P., Gao, X., Chen, X. & Yan, W., 2025. Microbial necromass nitrogen accumulation and its response to soil multifunctionality following plantation restoration in a subtropical karst region. Land Degradation & Development, 36(7), 2504-2514.
• • He, T., Lei, J., Peng, Y., Wang, R., Chen, X., Liu, Z., Gao, X., Dang, P. & Yan, W., 2025. Thinning intensity enhances soil multifunctionality and microbial residue contributions to organic carbon sequestration in Chinese fir plantations. Plants, 14(4), 579.
• • Wang, J., Jiang, Y., Peng, Y., Chen, X., Yan, W., Liang, X., Wu, Q. & Fang, J., 2025. Influence of Miscanthus floridulus on heavy metal distribution and phytoremediation in coal gangue dump soils: Implications for ecological risk mitigation. Plants, 14(6), 836.
• • Wu, Q., Rao, C., Yan, W., Peng, Y., Wang, E. & *Chen, X., 2025. Microclimatic influences on soil nitrogen dynamics and plant diversity across rocky desertification gradients in southwest China. Plants, 14(8), 1251.
• • Huang, X., Peng, Y., Yan, W., Yan, T., Liang, X., Lei, J., *Chen, X. & Qi, Y., 2025. Aboveground and belowground input effects on soil health in urban Camphor tree forests. Sustainability, 17(14), 6358.
• • Yang, H., Fan, S., Jiang, M., Hu, Y., Chen, X., Chen, C., Liu, W., Zeng, Y., Peng, K., Wang, Y. & Wang, G., 2025. Biochar-organic fertilizer synergy drives microbial-mediated C-sequestration and N-cycling in mixed forests toward sustainability. Journal of Environmental Management, 392, 126892.
• • Zhong, P., Wei, S., Wang, Z., Ou, H., Wang, Y., He, H., Lu, W., Chen, X., Liu, S., Li, S. & Wang, G., 2025. Impact of seasonal drought on soil multifunctionality in dry-hot valley forests. Plant and Soil, 14, 1-21.
• • Gu, Y.; Jiao, J.; Xu, H.; Chen, Y.; He, X.; Wu, X.; Wang, J.; Chen, X.; He, H. & Yan, W. 2025. Intercropping improves the yield by increasing nutrient metabolism capacity and crucial microbial abundance in root of Camellia oleifera in purple soil. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 219, 109318.
• • Liu, Y.; Zhang, L.; Yan, W.; Peng, Y.; Sun, H. & *Chen, X. 2024. Drought-induced alterations in carbon and water dynamics of Chinese fir plantations at the trunk wood stage. Plants, 13, 2937.
• • Tang, Y.; Yang, H.; Hu, Y.; Zeng, Y.; Wang, Y.; Zhao, Y.; Chen, X.; Wu, Y. & Wang, G. 2024. Effects of fertilization and planting modes on soil organic carbon and microbial community formation of tree seedlings. Plants, 13, 2665.
• • Yan, T.; Liu, X.; Yan, W.; Lei, J.; Peng, Y.; Wang, J.; Zhang, X. & *Chen, X. 2024. Effects of litter removal and biochar application on soil properties in urban forests of southern China. Forests, 15, 1745.
• • Li, Z.; Mao, C.; Wu, Q.; Peng, Y.; Wang, J.; Zhang, B.; Zhang, S.; Liang, X.; Yan, W. & *Chen, X. 2024. Temporal variations in aboveground biomass, nutrient content, and ecological stoichiometry in young and middle aged stands of Chinese Fir forests. Plants, 13, 1877.
• • Zhang, Y.; Lei, J.; Peng, Y.; Chen, X.; Li, B.; Chen, Y.; Xu, Y.; Farooq, T.H.; Wu X.; Wang, J. & Yan, W. 2024. Impact of intercropping on nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient loss in Camellia oleifera forests on Entisol soil. Forests, 15, 461.
• • Li, Z.; Wu, Q.; Peng, Y.; Lei, J.; Liu, S.; Mao, C.; Liu, X.; Wang, J.; Yan, W. & Chen, X. 2024. Diurnal, Seasonal, and Vertical Changes in Photosynthetic Rates in Cinamomum camphora Forests in Subtropical China. Forests, 15, 183.
• • Wang, J.; Zhao, J.; Yang, R.; Liu, X.; Zhang, X.; Zhang, W.; Chen, X.; Yan, W. & Wang, K. 2024. Interplanting leguminous shrubs boosts the trophic interactions of soil micro-food web in a karst grassland. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 188, 109224.
• • Wang, J.; Zhang, X.; Wang, H.; Liu, T.; Fayyaz, A.; Gonzalez, N.; Wang, J.; Chen, X.; Zhao, J. & Yan, W. 2024. Leguminous crop restores the carbon flow attenuation from nitrogen loading within soil nematode food web in a Camellia oleifera plantation. Journal of Environmental Management, 349, 119580.

Curriculum Vitae