Resume
2013 -present: Professor, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
2011 - 2016: Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University
2009 - 2011: Research Scientist, Stony Brook University
2007-2008: Post-doctoral Research Associate, Stony Brook University
2005- 2007: Post-doctoral Research Associate, Old Dominion University
2001-2005: Research Engineer and Research Fellow, Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI), National University of Singapore
1997-2003: Ph.D. Research Scholar, National University of Singapore
1990-1997: Associate professor (1996-1997), Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
Education
· 1997-2003 Ph.D,, Environmental Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
· 1987-1990 M.Sc., Ecology and Environ. Biology, Wuhan University, P. R. China
· 1983-1987 B.Sc., Microbiology, Wuhan University, P. R. China
Professional Memberships
Associate Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Oceanology and Limnology (2017-)
Associate Editor-in-Chief, Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology (2014-2016)
Editorial Board member: Oceanology and Limnology (Chines) 2019-
Board member of Phycological Society of China (PSC) 2019-
Member of
International Phycological Society (IPS)
International Society for the Study of Harmful Algae (ISSHA)
Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation (CERF, USA)
Phycological Society of America (PSA)
American Society of Microbiology (ASM)
Phycological Society of China (PSC)
REVIEWER OF MANUSCRIPTS FOR JOURNALS
African Journal of Microbiology Research (2013); Algal Research (2019); Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (2006) ; Aquatic Ecology (2013); Aquatic Science and Technology (2013); BAOJ Biotechnology (2016); Biodiversity and Conservation (2019-); Chemosphere (2019-); Continental Shelf Research (2018); Ecotoxicol and Environ Safety (2013); Environmental Pollution (2020); Environmental Science & Technology (2012-2018) ; Environmental Toxicology (2010) ; Harmful Algae (2007-2020) ; International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2016); Journal of Applied Phycology (2014-2020); Journal of Environmental Sciences (2007, 2008); Journal of Natural History (2009) ; Journal of Oceanology and Limnology (2013-2019); Journal of Phycology (2006-2020) ; Journal of Plankton Research (2020-); Journal of Sea Research (2013); Marine Biology (2006-2019) ; Marine Ecology Progress Series (2013,2018)
Marine Environmental Research (2013) ; Marine Pollution Bulletin (2017); Molecular Ecology (2018); Phycologia (2017); Polish Journal of Microbiology (2019); Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology (2014); Scientific Reports (2019, 2020); Science of the Total Environment (2017-2020); Turkish J Fish Aquat Sci (2015); Water Research (2003, 2004, 2006)
Research Interests
Marine Ecology;
Phytoplankton Ecology;
Ecology of Harmful Algal Blooms (e.g. ecotoxicology, allelopathy, auxotrophy);
Life history of dinoflagellates and other HAB species;
Molecular ecology of resting cysts in dinoflagellates;
Biogeography of resting cyst (stage) of dinoflagellates and other HAB species;
Bioremediation using massive cultivation of macroalgae;
Resting cysts in ballast tank sediments.
We are now using the HAB species Scrippsiella trochoidea as a model organism of dinoflagellates to investigate all facets of its resting cysts at cellular, biochemical, and genetic levels via -omics approach. We are also working on the diversity of resting cysts of dinoflagellates in the sediment of all four seas of China and the life history of our dinoflagellate cultures.
Major Achievements
1) Proved that “most harmful algal bloom species are vitamin B1 and B12 auxotrophs” (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA, 2010);
2) Discovered that the pelagophyte Aureococcus anophagefferens responsible for the novel “brown tides” in Bohai Sea since 2009 has been existing in Bohai Sea for at least 1500 years and distributes in all four seas of China and many other coastal and open ocean waters of the world, which disproved the “Alien Species Invasion Hypothesis” regarding the source of the brown tide-causing species in China and also highlighted the risk of brown tide outbreak in other coastal waters of China (Molecular Ecology 2019)；
3) Discovered that the well-known HABs-causing species Margalefidinium polykrikoides, Akashiwo sanguinea, Karenia mikimotoi, Karlodinium veneficum, and Aureococcus anophagefferens produce resting cysts or resting stage cells and their sediment distributions (Molecular Ecology 2019; Harmful Algae 2012, 2020; Journal of Phycology 2015, 2019; Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2015);
4) Accomplished a transcriptomic investigation on resting cyst of dinoflagellate (Scrippsiella trochoidea) as the first, found many genes that may be key regulating factors for the life history of dinoflagellates, and found the phytohormone abscisic acid may play vital roles in cyst formation or/and dormancy (Frontiers in Microbiology 2018; Harmful Algae 2015)；
5) Found that the HABs of Prorocentrum donghaiense significantly reduced the “Resource Utilization Efficiency” of plankton community via reducing the species diversity of plankton (Science of the Total Environment 2020);
6) Discovered that large-scale cultivation of the seaweed Gracilaria lemaneiformis enhanced biodiversity of eukaryotic plankton communities via metagenomic analyses (Molecular Ecology 2018)；
7) Discovered three new toxic dinoflagellates Alexandrium leei, Scrippsiella trochoidea and Pheopolykrikos hartmannii (Marine Biology 2007, 2012；Journal of Phycology 2013);
8) Discovered the potent allelopathic effects of Margalefidinium polykrikoideson on co-occurring phytoplankton (Marine Ecology Progress Series 2010)；
9) Discovered and characterized the growth-inhibiting effects of three macroalgae on HABs-causing microalgae via allelopathy (Harmful Algae 2011; Journal of Applied Phycology 2015a and b)；
10) Characterization on the ROS-like nature of the fish-killing toxin of Margalefidinium polykrikoideson (Harmful Algae 2009, Marine Biology 2009; Marine Ecology Progress Series 2010)；
11) Re-discovery and characterization of green autofluorescence in dinoflagellates, diatoms, and other microalgae and its implications and applications for vital staining and morphological study (Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2007; Journal of Phycology 2007);
12) Developed an equilibrium model via thermodynamics approach for the adsorption of heavy metal ions by microalgal biomass and perfectly tested with multiple species of heavy metals and microalgae (Water Research 2002;. Journal of Environmental Engineering ASCE 2002)
Honors and Awards
· Honor Grants for Leading Scientists, The Department of Science and Technology of Qingdao (2016)
· The Best Paper Award of Phycological Society of China (2nd place, 2019)
Selected Publications
(Note: * indicates corresponding author; Publications generally listed in reverse chronological order)
1. Hu, Z.X.1, Li, Z.1, Deng, Y.Y., Iwataki, M., Luo, Z.H., Wang, J.X., Sun, Y.Y., Zhao, Z.X., Gu, H.F., Shin, H.H.*, Tang, Y.Z.*. 2020. Morphology, ultrastructure and molecular phylogeny of an unarmoured dinoflagellate Kirithra sigma sp. nov. (Ceratoperidiniaceae, Dinophyceae). Phycologia. (1 authors of equal contribution). DOI:10.1080/00318884.2020.1771660.
2. Lin, S.H., Hu, Z.X.*, Deng, Y., Shang,L., Gobler, C. J., Tang, Y.Z.*. 2020. An assessment on the intrapopulational and intraindividual genetic diversity in LSU rDNA in the harmful algal bloom-forming dinoflagellate Margalefidinium (=Cochlodinium) fulvescens based on clonal cultures and bloom samples from Jiaozhou Bay, China. Harmful Algae. 96: 101821. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2020.101821.
3. Liu, Y.Y.1, Hu, Z.X.1, Deng, Y.Y., Tang, Y.Z.* 2020. Evidence for resting cysts production in the cosmopolitan toxic dinoflagellate Karlodinium veneficum and the cyst distribution in the China seas. Harmful Algae. 93:101788 (in press) (1 indicates equal contribution)
4. Yang, H.J., Hu, Z.X.,* Shang, L.X., Deng, Y.Y., Tang, Y.Z.* 2020. A strain of the toxic dinoflagellate Karlodinium veneficum isolated from the East China Sea is an omnivorous phagotroph. Harmful Algae. 93: 101775 (in press)
5. Chai Z. Y., Wang, H., Deng, Y.Y., Hu, Z.X., Tang, Y.Z.* 2020. Harmful algal blooms significantly reduce the resource use efficiency in a coastal plankton community. Science of Total Environment. Doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135381
6. Wang, H., Hu, Z.X., Shang, L.X., Leaw, C.P., Lim, P.T., Tang, Y.Z.*. 2020. Toxicity comparison among four strains of Margalefidinium polykrikoides from China, Malaysia, and USA (belonging to two ribotypes) and possible implications. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 524: 151293 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2019.151293
7. Liu, Y.Y. 1, Hu, Z. X. 1, Deng, Y.Y., Tang, Y.Z.* 2020. Evidence for production of sexual resting cysts by the toxic dinoflagellate Karenia mikimotoi from clonal cultures and marine sediments. Journal of Phycology. (in press) (1 indicate authors of equal contribution). 56: 121–134. DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12925
8. Shang, L.X., Hu, Z.X., Deng, Y.Y., Liu, Y.Y., Zhai, X.Y., Chai, Z.Y., Liu, X.H., Zhan, Z.F., Dobbs, F.C., Tang, Y.Z.* 2019. Metagenomic sequencing identifies highly diverse assemblages of dinoflagellate cysts in sediments from ships' ballast tanks. Microorganisms. 7(8): 250; doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms7080250.
9. Tang, Y.Z.*, Ma, Z.P., Hu, Z.X., Deng, Y.Y., Yang, A.A., Lin, S.H., Yi, L., Chai, Z.Y., Gobler, C.J. 2019. 3000 km and 1500-years presence of Aureococcus anophagefferens revealed indigenous origin of brown tides in China. Molecular Ecology. 28:4065–4076. DOI: 10.1111/mec.15196.
10. Chai, Z.Y., Hu, Z.X., Liu, Y.Y., Tang, Y.Z.* 2019. Proof of homothally of Pheopolykrikos hartmannii and details of cyst germination process. Journal of Oceanology and Limnology. (in press) 10.1007/s00343-019-9077-x
11. Deng Y.Y., Hu Z.X., Chai Z.Y., Tang, Y.Z.* 2019. Cloning and comparative studies of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) genes for nine dinoflagellates. Journal of Applied Phycology. 31(5): 2969-2979. DOI: 10.1007/s10811-019-01809-6.
12. Shang L.X., Hu Z.X., Tang, Y.Z.* 2019. Identification of dissolved and particulate carbonyl compounds produced by marine harmful algal bloom species. Journal of Oceanology and Limnology. (In press) DOI: 10.1007/s00343-019-8199-5.
13. Hu, Z.X., Deng, Y.Y., Luo, Z.H., Shang, L.X., Kong, F.Z., Gu, H.F., Zhao, Z.X., Tang, Y.Z.* 2019. Characterization of the unarmored dinoflagellate Pseliodinium pirum (Ceratoperidiniaceae, Dinophyceae) from Jiaozhou Bay, China. Phycological Research (in press). doi: 10.1111/pre.12385
14. Wang, H., Hu, Z.X., Chai, Z.Y., Deng, Y.Y., Zhan, Z.F., Tang, Y.Z.* 2020. Blooms of Prorocentrum donghaiense reduced the species diversity of dinoflagellate community. Acta Ocenologica Sinica 39(4): 110-119
15. Yang, H.J., Hu, Z.X., Xu, N., Tang, Y.Z.* 2019. A comparative study on the allelopathy and toxicity of four strains of Karlodinium veneficum with different culturing histories. Journal of Plankton Research. 41(1): 17–29.
16. Deng, Y.Y., Hu, Z. X., Chai, Z. Y., Tang, Y.Z.*. 2019. Molecular cloning of heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) and 10 (Hsp10) genes from the cosmopolitan and harmful dinoflagellate Scrippsiella trochoidea and their differential expressions responding to temperature stress and alteration of life cycle. Marine Biology. 166: 7. DOI:10.1007/s00227-018-3455-3 (in press)
17. Deng, Y.Y., Hu, Z. X., Chai, Z. Y., Tang, Y.Z.*. 2019. Cloning and partial characterization of a cold shock domain-containing protein gene from the dinoflagellate Scrippsiella trochoidea. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology. 66: 393-403. doi: 10.1111/jeu.12681
18. Chai, Z.Y., Deng, Y.Y., Yang, Y.F.*, Tang, Y.Z*. 2018. Cultivation of seaweed Gracilaria lemaneiformis enhanced biodiversity in an eukaryotic plankton community as revealed via metagenomic analyses. Molecular Ecology. 27: 1081-1093. DOI: 10.1111/mec.14496
19. Hu, Z. X., Deng, Y. Y., Li, Y. H., Tang, Y. Z*. 2018. The morphological and phylogenetic characterization for the dinoflagellate Margalefidinium fulvescens (= Cochlodinium fulvescens) isolated from Jiaozhou Bay, China. Acta Ocenologica Sinica. 37(10): 11–17.
20. Yang, A. A., Hu, Z. X., Tang, Y.Z.*. 2018. Solid particle addition could enhance the production of resting cysts in dinoflagellates. Journal of Oceanology and Limnology. 36(2): 273-280. DOI: 10.1007/s00343-018-6291-x.
21. Deng, Y.Y., Hu, Z.X., Shang, L. X., Peng, Q. C., Tang, Y. Z*. 2017. Transcriptomic analyses of Scrippsiella trochoidea revealed processes regulating encystment and dormancy in the life cycle of dinoflagellates, with a particular attention to the role of abscisic acid. Frontiers in Microbiology. 8:2450. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02450.
22. Deng, Y. Y., Hu, Z. X., Ma, Z.P., Tang, Y. Z*. 2016. Validation of reference genes for gene expression studies in the dinoflagellate Akashiwo sanguinea by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Acta Oceanologica Sinica 35(8):106-113.
23. Deng, Y. Y., Hu, Z.X., Zhan, Z. F., Ma, Z. P., Tang, Y. Z*. 2015. Differential expressions of an Hsp70 gene in the dinoflagellate Akashiwo sanguinea in response to temperature stress and transition of life cycle and its implications. Harmful Algae 50：57-64. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2015.10.007)
24. Hattenrath-Lehmann, T., Zhen, Y., Wallace, R., Tang, Y. Z.*, Gobler, C. J*. 2015. Mapping the distribution of cysts from the toxic dinoflagellate, Cochlodinium polykrikoides, in bloom-prone estuaries using a novel fluorescence in situ hybridization assay. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 82(4): 1114-1125. doi:10.1128/AEM.03457-15.
25. Tang, Y. Z*., Gobler C. J*. 2015. Sexual resting cyst production by the dinoflagellate Akashiwo sanguinea: a potential mechanism contributing toward the ubiquitous distribution of a harmful alga. Journal of Phycology 51:298–309. DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12274.
26. Yang, Y. F. *, Liu, Q., Chai, Z. Y., Tang, Y. Z*. 2015. Inhibition of marine coastal bloom-forming phytoplankton by commercially cultivated Gracilaria lemaneiformis (Rhodophyta). J. Appl. Phycol. 27:2341–2352. DOI 10.1007/s10811-014-0486-0.
27. Tang, Y. Z., Kang, Y., Berry, D., Gobler, C. J*. 2015. The ability of the red macroalga, Porphyra purpurea (Rhodophyceae) to inhibit the proliferation of seven common harmful microalgae. J. Appl. Phycol. 27:531–544. DOI 10.1007/s10811-014-0338-y
28. Xu, N.1, Tang, Y.Z.1, Qin, J., Duan, S., Gobler, CJ. 2015. The ability of the marine diatoms Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries and P. pungens to inhibit the growth of co-occurring phytoplankton via allelopathy. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 74: 29–41 (1 indicate authors of equal contribution).
29. Tang, Y. Z., Harke, M. J., Gobler C. J*. 2013. Morphology, phylogeny, dynamics, and ichthyotoxicity of Pheopolykrikos hartmannii (dinophyceae) isolates and blooms from NY, USA. Journal of Phycology 49: 1084–1094.
30. Tang, Y. Z., Gobler C. J*. 2012. The toxic dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides (Dinophyceae) produces resting cysts. Harmful Algae 20: 71-80.
31. Tang, Y. Z.*, Morse R., Kong L. S., Gobler, C. J., and Holmes M. J. 2012. Report of a bloom-forming dinoflagellate Takayama acrotrocha (Dinophyceae) from tropical coastal waters of Singapore. Journal of Phycology 48:455–466.
32. Tang, Y. Z., Gobler C. J*. 2012. Lethal effects of Northwest Atlantic Ocean isolates of the dinoflagellate, Scrippsiella trochoidea, on Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) and Northern quahog (Mercenaria mercenaria) larvae. Marine Biology 159: 199-210.
33. Tang, Y. Z., Gobler, C. J*. 2011. The green macroalga, Ulva lactuca, inhibits the growth of seven common harmful algal bloom species via allelopathy. Harmful Algae 10: 480-488.
34. Gobler, CJ*, Berry, D, Dyhrman, ST, Wilhelm, SW, Salamove, A, Lobanov, AV, Zhang, Y., Collier, JL, Wurch, LL, Kustka, AB, Dill, BD, Shah, M, VerBerkmoes, NC, Kuo, A., Terry, A., Pangilinan, J., Lindquist, EA, Lucas, S., Paulsen, IT, Hattenrath-Lehmann, TK, Talmage, SC, Walker, EA, Koch, F., Burson AM, Marcoval, MA, Tang, Y.Z, LeCleir, GR, Coyne, KJ, Berg, GM, Bertrand, EM, Saito, MA, Gladyshevd, VN, and Grigoriev, IV. 2011. Niche of harmful alga Aureococcus anophagefferens revealed through ecogenomics. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 108: 4352-4357.
35. Tang, Y. Z., Koch F., Gobler* C. J. 2010. Most harmful algal bloom species are vitamin B1 and B12 auxotrophs. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 107(48):20756-20761.
36. Tang, Y. Z, Gobler*, C. J. 2010. Allelopathic effect of Cochlodinium polykrikoides isolates and bloom water from North America on co-occurring phytoplankton. Marine Ecology Progress Series 406:19-31.
37. Tang, Y. Z.*, Gobler C. J. 2009. Cochlodinium polykrikoides blooms and clonal isolates from the northwest Atlantic coast cause rapid mortality in larvae of multiple bivalve species. Marine Biology 156:2601-2611.
38. Tang, Y. Z., Gobler C. J.*. 2009. Characterization of the toxicity of Cochlodinium polykrikoides isolates from Northeast US estuaries to finfish and shellfish. Harmful Algae 8: 454-464.
39. Tang, Y. Z., Lu, X. P., Laroussi, M. and Dobbs, F. C*. 2008. Sublethal and killing effects of atmospheric-pressure, nonthermal plasma on eukaryotic microalgae in aqueous media. Plasma Processes and Polymers. 5:552-558.
40. Tang, Y. Z., Egerton T. A.*, Kong, L. S. and Marshall H. G. 2008. Morphological variation and phylogenetic analysis of the dinoflagellate Gymnodinium aureolum from a tributary of Chesapeake Bay. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 55(2):91-99
41. Tang, Y. Z.,* and Dobbs Fred. C. 2007. Green autofluorescence in dinoflagellates, diatoms, and other microalgae and its implications for vital staining and morphological study. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 73(7):2306-2313
42. Tang, Y. Z.,* and Dobbs Fred. C. 2007. Green autofluorescence of dinoflagellate cysts can be used instead of primuline staining for cyst visualization and enumeration in sediments. Journal of Phycology. 43(1):65-68
43. Tang, Y. Z.,* Kong L. S. and Holmes M. J. 2007. Dinoflagellate Alexandrium leei (Dinophyceae) from Singapore coastal waters produces a water-soluble ichthyotoxin. Marine Biology 150(4):541-549
44. Tang, Y. Z., Gin K. Y. H.* and Lim T. H. 2005. High temperature fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) for detecting Escherichia coli in seawater samples, using rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes and flow cytometry. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 71(12): 8157-8164
45. Tang, Y. Z.*, Gin K. Y. H. and Aziz M. A. 2003. The relationship between pH and heavy metal ion sorption by algal biomass. Adsorption Science and Technology. 21(6): 525-537
46. Gin K. Y. H., Tang, Y. Z.* and Aziz M. A. 2002. Derivation and application of a new model for heavy metal biosorption by algae. Water Research. 36(3): 1313-1323
47. Tang, Y. Z., Gin K. Y. H.* and Aziz M. A. 2002. Equilibrium model for cadmium adsorption by green algae in a batch reactor. Journal of Environmental Engineering ASCE. 128(4):304-312
48. Gin K. Y. H., Tang, Y. Z. and Aziz M. A. 2001. Heavy metal uptake by algae. In: Kojame H. and Lee Y. K. (Eds.), Photosynthetic Microorganisms in Environmental Biotechnology. Springer-Verlag. 137-168 (Book review)
49. Hu, Z.X., Shang, L.X., Deng, Y.Y., Tang, Y. Z*. 2020. Retrospect and prospect: studies on geographical expansion of resting cyst of non-indigenous harmful algal blooms (HABs)-forming dinoflagellates via ships' ballast tank. Marine Sciences 44(7): 107-115 9 (in Chinese)
50. Tang, Y.Z.*, Hu, Z. X., Deng, Y. Y. 2016. Characteristic life history (resting cyst) provides a mechanism for recurrence and geographic expansion of harmful algal blooms of dinoflagellates: A Review. Studia Marina Sinica. 51：132-154. (in Chinese)
