The University of Western Australia

Asst/Prof Tianhua He

Research Assistant Professor
School of Plant Biology

Contact details

Address

School of Plant Biology
The University of Western Australia (M084)
35 Stirling Highway
CRAWLEY WA 6009
Australia

Phone

9480 3642

Fax

9480 3641

Email

thhe@bgpa.wa.gov.au / tianhua.he@uwa.edu.au

Biography

Grew up in a small village in central China, I was lucky enough to receive tertiary education at Central China Agriculture University (Wuhan, China) from 1991. I began postgraduate study in 1995 at Peking University (Beijing, China) on conservation of endangered plants in China and was awarded a PhD in 1999. From 1999 to 2001, I worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences on conservation genetics of rare dipterocarps in China. I came to Perth in early 2002, where I worked with Prof. Byron Lamont (Curtin University) and others as ARC-funded research fellow on Discovery projects focusing on long distance dispersal of seeds in species diverse Australian Kwongan heathland. In 2010, I joined Ecosystem Restoration Laboratory at UWA, headed by Australian Laureate Fellow, Professor Richard Hobbs.

Key research

1. Plants stand still, but their genes move. I use molecular tools to investigate the patterns and processes of gene movement (via pollen and seed) within and among plant populations, and further to explore the effects of potential changes in climate and environment on such gene movement.

2. Genetic diversity and species diversity are two fundamental components of biodiversity, and both have been governed by similar environmental and evolutionary forces. I investigate the pattern of co-variation and interactions of diversity across gene, population, species and community, and further imply to biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration.

3. Fire has been burning ecosystems on earth for hundreds of millions of years, helping to generate and maintain the structure and function of fire-prone communities. I use DNA sequences, fossils records and Bayesian statistics to reconstruct ancestral trait in evolutionary time scale, and investigate the origin and evolution of plant traits in fire-prone flora, with special focus on Proteaceae.

Publications

44. He T. Lamont BB, Downs KS. (2011) Banksias born to burnt. New Phytologist. 191: 184-196.
43. Lamont BB, Enright NJ, He T (2011). Fitness and evolution of resprouters in relation to fire. Plant Ecology. DOI: 10.1007/s11258-011-9982-3
42. Merwin L. He T, Lamont BB. Phylogenetic structure in Banksia communities of southwestern Australia. Journal of Biogeography. DOI: 10.1111/j1356-2699.2011.0214.x
41. Zhao J. He T, Li Q. (2010) Contrasting genetic structure in coarse and fine scales among isolated relic populations of Kmeria septentrionalis. Genetica 138: 939–944.
40. He T, Lamont BB, Krauss SL Enright NJ. (2010) Landscape genetics of Banksia hookeriana in a metapopulation system. Annals of Botany 106: 457-466.
39. Merwin L, He T. Krauss. SL. (2010). Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers for Banksia candolleana (Proteaceae). Conservation Genetics Resources 2: 345-347.
38. He T, Lamont BB. (2010) High microsatellite genetic diversity failed to predict greater population resistance capacity in response to extreme climate change. Conservation Genetics 11: 1445-1451.
37. He T, Lamont BB. (2010) Species versus genotypic diversity of a nitrogen-fixing plant functional group in a metacommunity. Population Ecology 52: 337-345.
36. He T, Lamont BB, Krauss SL, Enright NJ, Miller BP, Gove AD. (2009) Ants cannot account for inter-population dispersal of the arillate pea Daviesia triflora. New Phytologist 181: 725-733.
35. Krauss SL, He T, Barrett LG, Lamont BB, Miller BP, Enright NJ, Henley, ME. (2009) Contrasting impacts of pollen and seed dispersal on spatial genetic structure in a Banksia hookeriana population. Heredity 102: 274-285.
34. He T, Lamont BB, Krauss SL Enright NJ, Miller BP. (2009) Long-distance seed dispersal between populations of Banksia attenuata a fire-surviving species in Southwestern Australia. Ecography 32: 571-580.
33. Heliyanto B, He T, Lambers H, Veneklaas EJ, Krauss SL. (2009). Population size affects on progeny performance in Banksia ilicifolia R.Br (Proteaceae). Hayati Journal of Bioscience 16: 43-48.
32. He T, Lamont BB, Krauss SL, Enright NJ, Miller BP. (2008) Covariation between intraspecific genetic diversity and species diversity within a plant functional group. Journal of Ecology 96: 956–961.
31. Calviño-Cancela M, He T, Lamont BB (2008) Plant species distribution over the landscape and potential long-distance seed dispersal by emus and kangaroos. Diversity and Distribution 14: 11-17.
30. He T, Krauss SL, Lamont BB. (2008) Polymorphic microsatellite DNA marker for Banksia hookeriana. Molecular Ecology Resources 8: 1515-1517.
29. He T, Krauss SL, Lamont BB. (2008). Polymorphic microsatellite DNA marker for Daviesia triflora. Molecular Ecology Resources 8: 1475-1476.
28. He T, Lamont BB. (2008) Patchy plant distribution promotes invasion by exotics in south-western Australia. Ecological Management and Restoration 9: 77-79.
27. He T, Krauss SL, Lamont BB. (2007) Polymorphic microsatellite DNA marker for Banksia attenuata (Proteaceae). Molecular Ecology Notes 7: 1329-1331
26. Krauss SL, He T (2006) Rapid genetic identification of local provenance seed collection zones for ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation. Journal for Nature Conservation 14: 190-199
25. Jin Y, He T, Lu BR, (2006) Genetic spatial clustering: significant implications for conservation of wild soybean (Glycine soja: Fabaceae). Genetica 128: 41-49
24. Krauss SL, He T, Lamont BB, Miller BP, Enright NJ (2006) Late Quaternary climate change and spatial genetic structure in the shrub Banksia hookeriana. Molecular Ecology 15: 1125-1137
23. Barrett LG, He T, Lamont BB, Krauss SL. (2005) Genetic variation within the aerial seed bank of the shrub Banksia hookeriana (Proteaceae). Molecular Ecology 14: 4169-4179.
22. Qian J, He T, Song ZP, Lu BR. (2005) Genetic evaluation on in situ conservation of wild rice (Oryza rufipogon: Poaeceae) in China. Biochemical Genetics 43: 561-575.
21. Li QM, He T, Xu ZF (2005) Genetic evaluation of the efficiency of in situ and ex situ conservation of Parashorea chinensis (Dipterocarpaceae) in SW China. Biochemical Genetics 43: 387-406.
20. He T, Krauss SL, Lamont BB, Miller BP, Enright NJ (2004) Long distance dispersal in a metapopulation of Banksia hookeriana inferred by population allocation from AFLP data. Molecular Ecology 13: 1099-1109.
19. Li QM, He T, Xu ZF (2004) Identification of systematic position of Parashorea chinensis (Dipterocarpaceae) by ITS sequence. Taxon 53: 461-466.
18. Enright NJ, He T, Krauss SL, Lamont BB, Miller BP (2003) Genetic variation and biogeographic history in the restricted southwestern Australian shrub, Banksia hookeriana. Physical Geography 24: 358-377.
17. Jin Y, He T, Lu BR (2003) Fine scale genetic structure in wild soybean population (Glycine soja Sieb. et Zucc) and the implication for conservation. New Phytologist 159: 513-520.
16. Lamont BB, He T, Enright NJ, Krauss SL, Miller BP (2003) Anthropogenic disturbance promotes hybridization between Banksia species by altering their biology. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 16: 551-557.
15. He T, Smouse PE (2002) Paternity analysis in Ophiopogon xylorrhizus Wang et Tai (Liliaceae s.l.): selfing assuring reproductive success. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 15: 287-497
14. Li QM, Xu ZF, He T (2002) Ex situ genetic conservation of endangered Vatica guangxiensis from southwest China. Biological Conservation 106, 151-156.
13. Li QM, Xu ZF, He T (2002) The study of conservation genetics on endangered Vitica guangxiensis. Acta Botanica Sinica 44: 246-249
12. Zheng FQ, Zhang XP, Pan AF, He T (2002) Karyotypes and Karyotypical evolution in five Cycas species of China. Scientia Silvae Sinicae 38, 49-52.
11. He T, Rao GY, You RL et al. (2001) Genetic structure, heterozygosity variation between generations of Ophiopogon xylorrhizus (Liliaceae s.l.), an endemic species in Yunnan, SW China. Biochemical Genetics 39: 93-98.
10. Zhang DM, Shen XH, He T (2001) Analysis of paternity in a clonal seed orchard using allozyme. Acta Phytoecologia Sinica 25: 163-171.
9. He T, Ge S (2001) Mating system, paternity analysis and gene flow in plant population. Acta Phytoecologia Sinica 25: 143-153.
8. He T, Rao GY, You RL, Ge S, Zhang DM (2000) Genetic diversity of widespread Ophiopogon intermedius: A comparison with endangered O. xylorrhizus. Biological Conservation 96: 253-257.
7. He T, Rao GY, You RL, Zhang DM, Hong DY (2000) Spatial autocorrelation of genetic variability in three stands Ophiopogon xylorrhizus (Liliaceae s.l.). Annals of Botany 86: 113-121.
6. He T, Rao GY, You RL (2000) Reproductive biology of Ophiopogon xylorrhizus (Liliaceae), an endangered endemic of Yunnan, Southwest China. Australian Journal of Botany 48: 101-107.
5. He T, Rao GY, You RL, Zhang DM (1999) The spatial distribution pattern and seed dispersal mechanism for the population of Ophiopogon xylorrhizus, an endangered plant. Acta Phytoecologia Sinica 23: 181-186.
4. He T, Rao GY, You RL (1999) Study on conservation biology of endangered Ophiopogon xylorrhizus (Liliaceae s.l.) Proceedings of Natural Sciences 9: 874-879.
3. He T, Yang J, Rao GY (1999) Spatial Autocorrelation analysis of plant population genetic Variation. Chinese Bulletin of Botany 16, 636-641.
2. He T, Rao GY, You RL, Zhang DM (1998) Embryological studies on endangered Ophiopogon xylorrhizus. Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica 36: 305-309.
1. He T, Rao GY, You RL, Ge S (1998) Mating system of Ophiopogon xylorrhizus (Liliaceae), an endangered species in Southwest China. International Journal of Plant Sciences 159: 440-445.

Non-reviewed publications
1. He, T., Lamont, B, Enright, N, Krauss, S., and Merwin, L. Migration potential as a new predictor of long-distance dispersal rate for plants. Nature Precedings. (2011)

Conference proceedings and reports – full papers
5. He T, Krauss SL, Barrett L, Lamont BB, Miller BP, Enright NJ. (2007) A molecular assessment of the key biological processes of dispersal and mating in banksias: implications for conservation. In: Proceedings of 3rd Botanic Gardens Conservation International Conference, April 15-20, 2007, Wuhan, China.
4. He T, Krauss SL (2005) An assessment of genetic provenance in Acacia rostellifera and A. cochlearis on the Swan Coastal Plain. Report # 33 from the Genetics Laboratory, BGPA Science for BGPA.
3. He T, Krauss SL (2005) Genetic Provenance Delineation of Banksia prionotes in Bold Park. Report # 27 from the Genetics Laboratory, BGPA Science, for BGPA.
2. Lamont BB, Enright NJ, Groeneveld J, He T (2004) Coping with fire in species-rich heathlands – Is there an optimum fire interval for management? In: Proceedings of 10th MEDECOS Conference, April 25-May 1, 2004, Rhodes, Greece, Arianoutsou & Papanastasis (eds), Millpress, Rotterdam
1. Krauss SL, He T, Barrett L, Lamont BB, Miller BP, Enright NJ (2004) Short- and long-distance seed dispersal in a metapopulation of Banksia hookeriana (Proteaceae). In: Proceedings of 10th MEDECOS Conference, April 25-May 1, 2004, Rhodes, Greece, Arianoutsou & Papanastasis (eds), Millpress, Rotterdam.

Languages

English, Mandarin (native)

Memberships

Ecological Society of Australia

Current external positions

Research Scientist, Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, WA
Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, Department of Environmental and Aquatic Science, Curtin University of Technology

Current projects

While restoration has largely focused on the role of habitat, the evolutionary ecology of restored populations is a significant new issue of growing concern. The emerging recognition of “contemporary evolution” – observable evolutionary changes that occur within decades and even years - has seen an increase in the awareness of the need to consider evolutionary concepts into restoration. Moreover, under changing global weather patterns, it is particularly important to consider the effect of evolutionary processes on ‘building resilience’, which in itself is a key restoration aim. This ARC-funded linkage project, with supports from industrial partners, aims to investigate how evolutionary processes in a restored plant community impact on the success and resilience of restoration to future climatic and environmental changes. The project will develop a detailed understanding of key aspects of evolutionary ecology such as the role of genetic diversity, local adaptation and gene flow in restoring ecological function and self-maintaining communities. Through managing genetic diversity, local selection and gene flow in restored plant communities, this project will establish suitable regime(s) to manage contemporary evolutionary processes in large-scale restoration.

Research profile

Research profile and publications