Lixin Wang Ph.D.

Research

My research group focuses on ecohydrology, which explores the complex interactions and feedbacks between water and vegetation in various natural and agricultural systems. We are particularly interested in the complexity of water-vegetation interactions in water-stressed environments, and the responses of these ecosystems to future climate/land use change scenarios. Water-stressed environments intrinsically include water-limited drylands and any terrestrial ecosystems under drought. We have used a variety of ecohydrological processes across a range of natural systems, and have used stable isotopes, field observations, remote sensing, meta-analysis, and process-based modeling to disentangle complex interactions between water, ecosystems, and the environment. If you would like to hear more about research updates from me, follow my Twitter @ecohydro_wang.

My group is always looking for motivated students pursuing MS and PhD degrees in the field of ecohydrology. The current group includes:

Research Frontiers Trailblazer Award

Lixin Wang is a recipient of the 2020 Research Frontiers Trailblazer Award. The award recognizes outstanding IU researchers who show promise in becoming nationally and internationally known for their research and creative activity.

Education

• Post-doctoral, Princeton University (2008-2011), University of New South Wales (2011-2012)
• Ph.D. University of Virginia, 2008
• M.S.  University of North Carolina, Greensboro, 2004
• B.S.  Hebei University, China, 2001

Publications & Professional Activity

Wang, L. 2024. To regain lost public trust, incorporate research ethics into graduate training. Nature 631 (28), doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-02131-z

Wang, L. 2024. Global plant nitrogen use is controlled by temperature. Nature Communications  15, Article number: 7651 doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-50803-1

Biancari, L. et al. including Wang, L. 2024. Drivers of woody dominance across global drylands. Science Advances DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn6007

Gross, N. et al. including Wang, L. 2024. Unforeseen plant phenotypic diversity in a dry and grazed world. Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07731-3

Feldman, A., Konings, A., Gentine, P., Asadollahi, M., Wang, L., Smith, W., Biederman, J.  Chatterjee, A., Joiner, J., Poulter, B. 2024. Large global scale vegetation sensitivity to daily rainfall variability. Nature 

Díaz-Martínez, P. et al. including Wang, L. 2024. Vulnerability of mineral-associated soil organic carbon to climate across global drylands. Nature Climate Change  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-02087-y

Eldridge, D. et al. including Wang, L. 2024. Hotspots of biogeochemical activity linked to aridity and plant traits across global drylands. Nature Plants 10:760-770 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-024-01670-7

Wang, L. 2023. Spring phenology alters vegetation drought recovery. Nature Climate Change, 13, 123–124. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-022-01579-z  

Luo, L, L. Wang. 2022. Asia's regional conflicts and cascading hazards. Science, 376(6597), pp. 1061. doi:10.1126/science.adc9305.

Maestre, F. et al. including Wang, L. 2022. Grazing and ecosystem service delivery in global drylands. Science, 378(6622):915-920. doi: 10.1126/science.abq4062.

Wang, L., W. Jiao, N. MacBean, M. Cristina Rulli, S. Manzoni, G. Vico, P. D’Odorico. 2022. Dryland productivity under a changing climate. Nature Climate Change, 12, 981–994. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-022-01499-y    

†Jiao, W., L. Wang*, W. Smith, Q. Chang, H. Wang, P. D’Odorico. 2021. Observed increasing water constraint on vegetation growth over the last three decades.Nature Communications 12: 3777 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24016-9  †PhD student author,  *corresponding author

†Jiao, W., L. Wang*, M. McCabe. 2021. Multi-sensor remote sensing for drought characterization: current status, opportunities and a roadmap for the future.Remote Sensing of Environment, 256:112313 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2021.112313 †PhD student author,  *corresponding author

Wang, L., P. D'Odorico. 2019. Water limitations to large-scale desert agroforestry projects for carbon sequestration. PNASdoi/10.1073/pnas.1917692116

Wang, L., K. Kaseke, S. Ravi, W. Jiao, R. Mushi, T. Shuuya and G. Maggs-Kolling 2019. Convergent vegetation fog and dew water use in the Namib Desert. Ecohydrology  doi.org/10.1002/eco.2130

†Lanning, M., L. Wang, T. Scanlon, M. Vadeboncoeur, M. Adams, H. Epstein, D. Druckenbrod. 2019. Intensified vegetation water use under acid deposition. Science Advances 5(7): eaav5168  †PhD student author,  *corresponding author

†Tian, C., L. Wang*, F. Tian, S. Zhao and W. Jiao. 2019. Spatial and temporal variations of tap water ¹⁷O-excess in China. Geochemica et Cosmochimica Acta 260:1-11.  †Postdoc author,  *corresponding author

†Daryanto, S., B. Fu*, L. Wang*, P. Jacinthe, W. Zhao. 2018. Quantitative synthesis on the ecosystem services of cover crops. Earth-Science Reviews 185:357-373 †Postdoc author,  *corresponding author

Craine, J., A. Almore, L. Wang, et al. 2018. Isotopic evidence for oligotrophication of terrestrial ecosystems. Nature Ecology and Evolution doi: 10.1038/s41559-018-0694-0  

†Kaseke, K., Wang, L*., Seely, M. 2017. Non-rainfall water origins and formation mechanisms. Science Advances 3(3): e1603131. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.1603131 †PhD student author,  *corresponding author

Novick, K., D. Ficklin, P. Stoy, C. Williams, G. Bohrer, AC. Oishi, S. Papuga, P. Blanken, A. Noormets, B. Sulman, R. Scott, L. Wang, and R. Phillips. 2016. The increasing importance of atmospheric demand for ecosystem water and carbon fluxes. Nature Climate Change 6: 1023-1027.  doi:10.1038/nclimate3114.

Wang, L. and P. D’Odorico. 2008. The limits of water pumps. Science, 321, pp. 36-37. doi: 10.1126/science.321.5885.36c

Wang, L. 2008. Lost in transliteration. Science, 320(745). doi: 10.1126/science.320. 5877.745a.

For a complete list of publications, visit my Google Scholar page.

Affiliations

• Center for Earth and Environmental Science
• The American Geophysical Union (AGU), Member (2005-present)
• The Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society (2006-present)

Awards

• Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher, 2023
• Indiana University President's Bicentennial Medal, 2021
• Open Education Award, 2021
• School of Science Innovative Educator Award, 2021
• NSF Career Award, 2016
• 2020 Research Frontiers Trailblazer Award