Research interests: a mechanistic explanation of alpine treeline and all aspects of alpine ecology, with most recent activities at the alpine research station on Baima Pass in Southeastern Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains, China.

Publications (* corresponding author)

1.     Xiao-Fang He, Song-Wei Wang, Hang Sun*, Christian Körner*, Yang Yang*. 2021. Water relations of “trailing-edge” evergreen oaks in the semi-arid upper Yangtze region, SE Himalaya. Journal of Systematics and Evolution 59: 1256-1265 https://doi.org/10.1111/jse.12696

2.     Xiao-Fang He, Song-Wei Wang, Christian Körner*, Yang Yang*.2021. Water and nutrient relations of mistletoes at the drought limit of their hosting evergreen oaks in the semiarid upper Yangtze region, SW China. Trees-structure and functions 35:387–394 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-020-02039-x

3.     Song-Wei Wang, Xiao-Fang He, Jian-Guo Chen, Hang Sun*, Christian Körner*, Yang Yang*. 2021. Elevation-specific responses of phenology in evergreen oaks from their low-dry to their extreme high cold range limits in the SE Himalaya. Alpine Botany 131:89-102 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00035-020-00245-4

4.     Yang Yang, Hang Sun*, Christian Körner*. 2020. Explaining the exceptional 4270 m high elevation limit of an evergreen oak in the south-eastern Himalayas. Tree Physiology 40(10): 1327–1342  https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/tpaa070

5.     Jian-Guo Chen, Yang Yang, Song-Wei Wang, Jürg Stöcklin, De-Li Peng, Hang Sun*. 2020. Recruitment of the high elevation cushion plant Arenaria polytrichoides is limited by competition, thus threatened by currently established vegetation. Journal of Systematics and Evolution 58: 59-68 https://doi.org/10.1111/jse.12481

6.     Jian-Guo Chen, Xiao-Fang He, Song-Wei Wang, Yang Yang*, Hang Sun*. 2019. Cushion and shrub ecosystem engineers contribute differently to diversity and functions in alpine ecosystems. Journal of Vegetation Science 30: 362– 374 https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12725

7.     Yang Yang*, Jian-Guo Chen, Christian Schöb, Hang Sun*. 2017. Size-Mediated Interaction between a Cushion Species and Other Non-cushion Species at High Elevations of the Hengduan Mountains, SW China. Frontiers in Plant Science 8:465 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.00465

8.     Jian-Guo Chen, Yang Niu, Zhi-Min Li, Yang Yang*, Hang Sun*. 2017. Sex allocation in gynodioecious Cyananthus delavayi differs between gender morphs and soil quality. Plant Reproduction 30(2):107-117 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00497-017-0303-4

9.     Jian-Guo Chen, Shuai Chang, Yang Niu, Zhi-Min Li, Yang Yang*, Hang Sun*.2017. Seed quality of the Sino–Himalayan endemic genus Cyananthus (Campanulaceae) increases with elevation and varies with life histories. Plant Ecology & Diversity 33(5): 1435-1445 https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2017.1290706

10.   Jian-Guo Chen, Yan-Bo Li, Yang Yang*, Hang Sun*. 2017. How cushion communities are maintained in alpine ecosystems: A review and case study on alpine cushion plant reproduction. Plant Diversity 39(4): 221-228 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pld.2017.07.002

11.   De-Li Peng, Bo Song, Yang Yang, Yang Niu*, Hang Sun*. 2017. Overlapping leaves covering flowers in the alpine species Eriophyton wallichii (Lamiaceae): key driving factors and their potential impact on pollination. Plos-one 11(10): e0164177 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0164177

12.   Yang Yang*, Rolf T. W. Siegwolf and Christian Körner. 2015. Species specific environmental induced variation of δ13C and δ15N in alpine plants. Frontiers in Plant Science 6:423 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2015.00423

13.   De-Li Peng, Yang Niu, Bo Song, Jian-Guo Chen, Zhi-Min Li, Yang Yang*, Hang Sun*. 2015. Woolly and overlapping leaves dampens temperature organ of an alpine Himalayan forb. Journal of Plant Ecology 8(2): 159–165 https://doi.org/10.1093/jpe/rtv014.

14.   Jian-Guo Chen, Yang Niu, Yang Yang*, Hang Sun*. 2016. Sexual allocation in the gynodioecious species Cyananthus macrocalyx (Campanulaceae) at high elevations in the Sino-Himalaya Mountains. Alpine Botany 126:49–57 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00035-015-0154-2

15.   Jian-Guo Chen, Christian Schöb, Zhuo Zhou, Qiang-Bang Gong, Xin-Hui Li, Yang Yang*, Zhi-Min Li*, Hang Sun*. 2015. Cushion plants can have a positive effect on diversity at high elevations in the Himalayan Hengduan Mountains. Journal of Vegetation Science 26: 768-777 https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12275

16.   Hang Sun*^#, Yang Niu^#, Yong-Sheng Chen^#, Bo Song, Chang-Qiu Liu, De-Li Peng, Jian-Guo Chen, Yang Yang*. 2014. Survival and reproduction of plant species in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Journal of Systematics and Evolution 52: 378-396 https://doi.org/10.1111/jse.12092

17.   Jian-Guo Chen, Yang Yang, Jürg Stöcklin, Lohengrin A. Cavieres, De-Li Peng, Zhi-Min Li, Hang Sun*. 2014. Soil nutrient availability determines the facilitative effects of cushion plants on other plant species at high elevations in the south-eastern Himalayas. Plant Ecology & Diversity 8:2, 199-210https://doi.org/8. 10.1080/17550874.2013.872206

18.   Yang Niu, Gao Chen, De-Li Peng, Bo Song, Yang Yang, Zhi-Min Li, Hang Sun*. 2014. Grey leaves in an alpine plants: a cryptic colouration to avoid attack? New Phytologist 203: 953-963. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.12834

19.   Jian-Guo Chen, Yang Yang, Zhi-Qiang Zhang, Yang Niu, Hang Sun*. 2012. A nodding capitulum enhances the reproductive success of Cremanthodium campanulatum (Asteraceae) at high elevations in the Sino–Himalayan Mountains. Plant Ecology & Diversity 6:3-4, 487-494 https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2012.702793

20.   Bo Song^#, Zhi-Qiang Zhang^#, Jürg Stöcklin, Yang Yang, Yang Niu, Jian-Guo Chen, Hang Sun*. 2013. Multifunctional bracts enhance plant fitness during flowering and seed development in Rheum nobile (Polygonaceae), a giant herb endemic to the high Himalayas. Oecologia 172(2):359-70https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-012-2518-2

21.   Bo Song, Jürg Stöcklin, Zhi-Qiang Zhang, Yang Yang, Hang Sun*. 2013. Seed and microsite limitation in Rheum nobile, a rare and endemic plant from the subnival zone of Sino-Himalaya. Plant Ecology & Diversity 6:3-4, 503-509 https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2013.788568

22.   Bo Song, Jürg Stöcklin, Yong-Qian Gao, Zhi-Qiang Zhang, Yang Yang, Zhi-Ming Li, Hang Sun*. 2013. Habitat-specific response of seed germination and seedling establishment to soil water conditions in two Rheum species in the high Sino-Himalayas. Ecological Research 28:643–651https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-013-1057-6

23.   Yang Niu, Yang Yang, Zhi-Qiang Zhang, Zhi-Min Li, Hang Sun*. 2011. Floral closure induced by pollination in gynodioecious Cyananthus delavayi (Campanulaceae): effects of pollen load and type, floral morph and fitness consequences. Annals of Botany 108: 1257–1268 https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcr224

24.   Yang Yang, Yang Niu, Lohengrin A. Cavieres, Hang Sun*. 2010. Positive associations between the cushion plant Arenaria polytrichoides (Caryophyllaceae) and other alpine plant species increase with altitude in the Sino-Himalayas. Journal of Vegetation Science 21: 1048–1057 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1654-1103.2010.01215.x

25.   Yang Yang, Hang Sun*. 2009. The Bracts of Saussurea velutina (Asteraceae) Protect Inflorescences from Fluctuating Weather at High Elevations of the Hengduan Mountains, Southwestern China. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 41:4, 515-521, https://doi.org/110.1657/1938-4246-41.4.515