Overview
Background
Dr. Li has been making noteworthy strides as a Research Fellow at the University of Queensland since June 2023, demonstrating his broad expertise in environmental science. His current research endeavors are focused on soil organic carbon.
Dr. Li's research portfolio is a testament to his intellectual versatility and commitment. It encompasses a variety of critical environmental issues, ranging from sustainable livelihoods for pastoralists in grassland ecosystems to geospatial pattern analysis, grassland degradation management, soil organic carbon studies, and wood decay fungi and community ecology. He also excels in employing bibliometric/scientometric and machine learning analysis in ecological studies. With such a wide gamut of expertise, Dr. Li stands at the nexus of several environmental science disciplines, poised to make substantial contributions.
In recognition of his academic excellence, Dr. Li has earned prestigious accolades. He received the Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad in 2021, ranking him among the top 500 worldwide. The following year, he was distinguished with the President's Award for Excellence from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, positioning him in the top 400 recipients.
Availability
- Dr Tong Li is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Chinese Academy of Science
- Doctor of Philosophy, Griffith University
Research interests
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Low cost carbon stock estimation using proximal and remote sensing
One of my primary research interests lies in the integration of proximal and remote sensing technologies for cost-effective carbon stock estimation. Under the guidance of Dr. Yash, I am currently working on a national project that aims to utilize these cutting-edge techniques more accurately and efficiently measure carbon stocks. This project underscores my commitment to utilizing advanced remote sensing technology in ecological research, contributing to the broader goals of environmental sustainability and carbon management.
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Sustainable Grassland Management
Another focal point of my research revolves around sustainable grassland management, specifically addressing the issue of grassland degradation on the Tibetan Plateau. Through the integration of remote sensing data, statistical analysis, and questionnaire responses, I delve into the sustainable livelihoods of pastoralists in the heart of the Tibetan Plateau, the three-river headwater region. My research endeavors to systematically dissect spatial change characteristics and identify key influencing factors. The findings from this study hold immense potential to enhance the theoretical framework and practical applications of sustainable development management in pastoral areas. Hence, my research is not only academically stimulating but also carries significant implications for the betterment of sustainable practices within pastoral communities.
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The application of machine learning and artificial intelligence for soil ecology study
In my pursuit of uncovering trends in soil ecology, I harness the power of machine learning and artificial intelligence, amalgamating these advanced techniques with conventional scientometric tools. My expertise lies in conducting comprehensive analyses of the extensive body of soil/ecology literature. This approach allows me to effectively characterize emerging research trends, identify key thematic elements, and spotlight burgeoning hotspots of inquiry. Consequently, my work not only contributes to the advancement of the field but also aids fellow researchers in navigating the vast expanse of scholarly literature, thereby facilitating more targeted and impactful studies in soil ecology.
Research impacts
Dr. Li's research impact in the fields of ecology and sustainability science is both substantial and continually expanding. This is clearly demonstrated by his successful publication of approximately 30 peer-reviewed articles over the past five years. Remarkably, more than half of these scholarly contributions were led by Dr. Li as the first author, showcasing not only his commitment to propelling knowledge in these critical areas but also his leadership and project management abilities. His publications span a vast array of subjects, ranging from sustainable livelihoods for pastoralists in grassland ecosystems to bibliometric/scientometric analysis, each one enriching the academic community's comprehension of vital environmental challenges. Furthermore, his focused research on soil organic carbon, geospatial pattern analysis, grassland degradation management, and wood decay fungi and community ecology has furnished valuable insights and pragmatic solutions to pressing issues pertaining to ecological health and sustainable development. The influence of Dr. Li's research to date is significant, and he remains devoted to furthering these critical fields of study in his current role as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Queensland.
Beyond his scholarly pursuits, Dr. Li also plays a pivotal role in the academic community. He serves as a reviewer for numerous esteemed scientific journals, including Land Use Policy, Ecological Indicators, Journal of Soils and Sediments, Environment Science and Pollution Research, and Environmental Science and Ecotechnology. Additionally, he is making strides as a youth Editorial Board Member for the Journal of Integrative Agriculture and Watershed Ecology and Environment, highlighting his professional engagement and leadership in the field.
Works
Search Professor Tong Li’s works on UQ eSpace
2026
Journal Article
Modeling preferential flow and deep drainage in a long-term furrow-irrigated cotton–wheat rotation on a shrink–swell clay soil in semi-arid Australia
Chen, Rui, Ringrose-Voase, Anthony J., Nadelko, Anthony J., Bogunović, Igor, Filipović, Lana, Phogat, Vinod, He, Hailong, Bell, Michael J., Li, Tong, Tang, Chaosheng, Wang, Zhenhua and Filipović, Vilim (2026). Modeling preferential flow and deep drainage in a long-term furrow-irrigated cotton–wheat rotation on a shrink–swell clay soil in semi-arid Australia. Catena, 273 110447. doi: 10.1016/j.catena.2026.110447
2026
Journal Article
Mid-Infrared spectroscopy for soil organic carbon estimation. Part I: Global review and meta-analysis
Li, Tong, Xia, Anquan, Dalal, Ram C., Manning, Sean, Beniwal, Deeksha, Xu, Zhihong, Pandey, Rajiv, Cui, Lizhen, Chen, Songchao, Fu, Peng, Xia, Yushu, Wu, Jinran, Wang, Yanfen and Dang, Yash P. (2026). Mid-Infrared spectroscopy for soil organic carbon estimation. Part I: Global review and meta-analysis. Soil and Tillage Research, 262 107236, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.still.2026.107236
2026
Journal Article
Distinguishing knowledge mapping from biophysical evidence: A Rejoinder to "Comment on 'Mapping Soil Organic Carbon Research in Conservation Agriculture'"
Liu, Qingyang, Tian, Xin, Dalal, Ram C., Wu, Jinran, Xia, Anquan, Wu, Xiaoxuan, Li, Tong, McLachlan, Geoffrey J., Chapman, Scott and Dang, Yash P. (2026). Distinguishing knowledge mapping from biophysical evidence: A Rejoinder to "Comment on 'Mapping Soil Organic Carbon Research in Conservation Agriculture'". Farming System, 4 (4) 100255, 1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.farsys.2026.100255
2026
Journal Article
Eco-efficiency analysis of China’s eight comprehensive economic zones: evidence from a two-stage NSBM approach
Li, Shanru, Xu, Xu, Xu, Wensi, Qu, Haocheng, Xu, Xinrui, Zhang, Yixiang, Ni, Qing-He, Li, Tong, Wu, Jinran and Wang, You-Gan (2026). Eco-efficiency analysis of China’s eight comprehensive economic zones: evidence from a two-stage NSBM approach. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 144 (Part 1) 104455, 1-18. doi: 10.1016/j.pce.2026.104455
2026
Journal Article
A global synthesis of spectroscopy-based prediction accuracy for soil carbon fractions: A systematic review
Ding, Sicheng, Xu, Yi, Agathokleous, Evgenios, Li, Tong, Zheng, Haifeng and Feng, Zhaozhong (2026). A global synthesis of spectroscopy-based prediction accuracy for soil carbon fractions: A systematic review. Soil and Tillage Research, 262 107242, 107242-262. doi: 10.1016/j.still.2026.107242
2026
Journal Article
Mid-infrared spectroscopy for soil organic carbon estimation. Part II: Evaluating preprocessing at global and national scales
Li, Tong, Beniwal, Deeksha, Dalal, Ram C., Manning, Sean, Fu, Peng, Xia, Anquan, Wu, Jinran, Liu, Qingyang, Filipović, Vilim, Tsiminis, Georgios and Dang, Yash P. (2026). Mid-infrared spectroscopy for soil organic carbon estimation. Part II: Evaluating preprocessing at global and national scales. Soil and Tillage Research, 262 107237, 107237-262. doi: 10.1016/j.still.2026.107237
2026
Journal Article
Mapping soil organic carbon research in conservation agriculture: a systematic review
Liu, Qingyang, Tian, Xin, Dalal, Ram C., Wu, Jinran, Xia, Anquan, Wu, Xiaoxuan, Li, Tong, McLachlan, Geoffrey J., Chapman, Scott and Dang, Yash P. (2026). Mapping soil organic carbon research in conservation agriculture: a systematic review. Farming System, 4 (4) 100241, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.farsys.2026.100241
2026
Journal Article
Forest origin reorganizes environmental control of soil microbial diversity across natural and planted forests
Zhang, Xing, Wu, Jinran, Wang, Jingwen, Li, Tong, Fan, Yuchuan, Liu, Weiguo and Gao, Jie (2026). Forest origin reorganizes environmental control of soil microbial diversity across natural and planted forests. Ecological Indicators, 189 115086, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.115086
2026
Journal Article
An indicator framework for cultivated land ecological compensation based on net ecosystem service value in China
Zhuang, Rulong, Luo, Cong, Mi, Kena, Zheng, Tongfang, Jia, Yuantong and Li, Tong (2026). An indicator framework for cultivated land ecological compensation based on net ecosystem service value in China. Ecological Indicators, 189 115044, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.115044
2026
Journal Article
Integrating digital PCR and metagenomics to quantify potential soilborne bacterial pathogens in urban ecosystem
Li, Tong, Feng, Kai, Wang, Shang, Du, Xiongfeng, Li, Jingjing, Gu, Songsong, Zhao, Bo, Yang, Xingsheng, Peng, Xi, He, Qing, Wang, Yingcheng, Wang, Danrui, Wang, Jie, Wang, Zhihan, Liu, Mingqian, Xiao, Juanjuan, Men, Jianan, Jin, Decai, Zhang, Jingwei and Deng, Ye (2026). Integrating digital PCR and metagenomics to quantify potential soilborne bacterial pathogens in urban ecosystem. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 512 142312, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142312
2026
Journal Article
Nonlinear biogeographic responses and threshold patterns in vegetative versus reproductive traits across China's ecosystems
Su, Jianxiao, Zheng, Yujuan, Zhang, Le, Wang, Jingwen, Zhong, Chengguang, Du, Xiaoxuan, Wu, Jinran, Li, Tong, Gao, Jie and Fan, Yuchuan (2026). Nonlinear biogeographic responses and threshold patterns in vegetative versus reproductive traits across China's ecosystems. Journal of Environmental Management, 413 130315, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.130315
2026
Journal Article
Conservation agriculture practices enhance maize pest control: a global meta-analysis and modeling study
Wang, Wenjun, Jiang, Ming, Li, Yuwan, Fu, Peng, Li, Tong, Dalal, Ram C., McLaughlin, Neil and Liang, Aizhen (2026). Conservation agriculture practices enhance maize pest control: a global meta-analysis and modeling study. Resources, Environment and Sustainability, 26 100357. doi: 10.1016/j.resenv.2026.100357
2026
Journal Article
Generative artificial intelligence and urban transport resilience: rethinking sustainable mobility
Wu, Jinran, Tian, Xin, Liu, Qingyang, Li, Tong, Liu, Chanjuan, Xu, Jing and Zhao, Huida (2026). Generative artificial intelligence and urban transport resilience: rethinking sustainable mobility. Safety Science, 198 107148, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.ssci.2026.107148
2026
Journal Article
Forest area and biomass density drive regional carbon–water service trade-offs in subtropical forests of China
Chen, Kexin, Zou, Ziying, Li, Tong, Yang, Mingxia, Liu, Jia, Xie, Qianqian, Wang, Yuqiu, Lei, Hongdou, Liu, Zelin, Tang, Jiayi, Zhang, Cicheng, Zhou, Xiaolu and Peng, Changhui (2026). Forest area and biomass density drive regional carbon–water service trade-offs in subtropical forests of China. Ecosystem Health and Sustainability, 12 0538, 1-14. doi: 10.34133/ehs.0538
2026
Journal Article
Elevational patterns and thresholds of plant functional traits across China's biomes
Zheng, Yujuan, Zhong, Chengguang, Lyu, Tong, Wu, Jinran, Zhang, Le, Wang, Jingwen, Gao, Jie, Li, Tong, Fan, Yuchuan and Pandey, Rajiv (2026). Elevational patterns and thresholds of plant functional traits across China's biomes. Ecological Indicators, 185 114818, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114818
2026
Journal Article
The inverse temperature effect of precipitation stable isotopes poses a challenge to the paleoclimate reconstructions
Shang, Baijun, Li, Tong, Gao, Hui, Wang, Feng and Fu, Tonggang (2026). The inverse temperature effect of precipitation stable isotopes poses a challenge to the paleoclimate reconstructions. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 687 113587. doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2026.113587
2026
Journal Article
Integrating regenerative and climate-smart agriculture for resilient farming systems
Jia, Yuantong, Dalal, Ram C., Li, Tong and Dang, Yash P. (2026). Integrating regenerative and climate-smart agriculture for resilient farming systems. Farming System, 4 (2) 100216, 1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.farsys.2026.100216
2026
Journal Article
Soil phosphorus dynamics during cropland reforestation
Wu, Wenchao, Che, Rongxiao, Zhang, Song, He, Yunlong, Turner, Benjamin L., Liu, Dong, Wang, Fang, Li, Ting, Xia, Anquan, Zhang, Zejin, Li, Tong, Xu, Guangbing, Cao, Yichuan, Zhu, Juntao, Zhang, Yangjian and Cui, Xiaoyong (2026). Soil phosphorus dynamics during cropland reforestation. Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment, 398 110133, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2025.110133
2026
Journal Article
Anthropogenic sustained increase in near bottom suspended particulate matter concentration of the deep marginal sea
Tian, Zhuangcai, Guo, Xiujun, Xiang, Jiaming, Li, Tong and Wu, Jinran (2026). Anthropogenic sustained increase in near bottom suspended particulate matter concentration of the deep marginal sea. Environmental Research, 293 123772, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2026.123772
2026
Journal Article
A watershed-scale potential pathogenic bacteria dataset from the Yangtze River Basin
Wang, Jie, Wang, Shang, Li, Tong, Hou, Weiguo and Deng, Ye (2026). A watershed-scale potential pathogenic bacteria dataset from the Yangtze River Basin. Scientific Data, 13 (1) 581. doi: 10.1038/s41597-026-06983-0
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Tong Li is:
- Available for supervision
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Media
Enquiries
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