Basic Information
Name: Yu Liu
Professor, Head of Yunnan Key Laboratory for Palaeobiology
Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China 650091
Telephone/FAX: +86 (871) 6503-2378
Mobile: +86-18388035405
e-mails: yu.liu@ynu.edu.cn; zac.liu@126.com
Post-doc positions are available for international as well as domestic researchers. Please send your CV to yu.liu@ynu.edu.cn
Education
2009: PhD, University of Ulm, Germany. Major: Natural Sciences. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Dieter Waloszek.
2005: MSc, Yunnan University, China. Major: Paleontology and Stratigraphy. Supervisor: Prof. Xianguang Hou.
2002: BSc, Yunnan University, China. Major: Geophysics.
Work Experience
10/2016–present: Deputy Director, Professor, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Palaeobiology, Yunnan University, China.
12/2009–09/2016: Associated Professor, Dept. of Biology II, Univ. of Munich, Germany.
Academic Visits
01-02/2007 Department of Zoology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (host: Prof. Dr. Andreas Wanninger)
10-12/2007 Department of Biology, University of Barcelona, Spain (host: Prof. Pedro Martinez)
09-10/2008 Department of Biology, University of Tsukuba (host: Prof. Ryuichiro Machida)
Awards and Grants
2017: “High-level Talent of Yunling” in Yunnan Province
2017: Annual Award of Top-10 Achievements in Palaeontology of China
2016–2017: NSFC Grant for Oversea Scholars (NSFC 41528202).
2015–2016: LMUexcellent, LMU Munich, Germany.
2012: First-class Award of Natural Sciences, Yunnan Prov. (3/3).
Publications (* indicates corresponding author
1. O'Flynn, R.J., Liu, Y.*, Hou, X., Mai, H., Yu, M., Zhuang, S., Williams, M.,Guo, J., Edgecombe, G.D.*.2023. The early Cambrian Kylinxia zhangi and evolution of the arthropod head. Current Biology. In press. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.08.022.
2. Zhang, C., Liu, Y.*, Ortega-Hernández, J.*, Wolfe J.M., Jin , C., Mai, H., Hou, X., Guo, J., Zhai, D.*.2023.Three-dimensional morphology of the biramous appendages in Isoxys from the early Cambrian of South China, and its implications for early euarthropod evolution. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 290, 2023335. http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.0335.
3. Peng,S.*,Babcock,L.E.,Yang,X.*,Zhu,X.,Liu,Y.2023.A new dameselloid trilobite from the Fulu Biota, Longha Formation (Cambrian: Guzhangian), Yunnan, South China, and revised classification of dameselloids. Palaeoworld. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palwor.2023.01.006.
4. Tang,Y.,Peng,A.,Wu,Z.,Engel,M.S.,Yang, Z.*, Liu, Y.* .2023. Mygalomorph spiders in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber (Araneae: Mygalomorphae), northern Myanmar: A new genus and species of the family Macrothelidae. Cretaceous Research, 147, 105514.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2023.105514.
5. Zhuang,Y.,Xu,W.,Zhang,G.,Mai,H.,Li,X.,He,H.,Ran,H.*,Liu,Y.*.2022.Unparalleled details of soft tissues in a Cretaceous ant. BMC Ecology and Evolution. 22, 146. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-022-02099-2.
6. Li, Y., Zhou, Z.*, Zhai, D., O'Flynn, R.J., Tang, J., Xu, J., Zhou, X., Liu, Y.*.2022. Hydrodynamics and sliding posture analysis of the Cambrian arthropod Ercaicunia multinodosa, Palaeoworld, 32 (3), 385–395.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palwor.2022.09.005.
7. Zhang, X., Liu, Y.*, O'Flynn, R.J., Schmidt, M., Melzer, R.R., Hou, X., Guo, J., Yu, M., Ortega-Hernández, J.*. 2022. Ventral organization of Jianfengia multisegmentalis Hou, and its implications for the head segmentation of megacheirans. Palaeontology, e12624. https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.12624.
8. Peng, A., Engel, M.S., Zhuang, Y., Wu, Z., Feng, C., Liu, Y.* .2022. A new genus of striped earwigs allied to Zigrasolabis in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber (Dermaptera: Labiduridae). Cretaceous Research, 139, 105305.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2022.105305.
9. Zhang, M., Liu, Y.*, Hou, X., Ortega-Hernández, J.*, Mai, H., Schmidt, M., Melzer, R.R., Guo, J. 2022. Ventral Morphology of the Non-Trilobite Artiopod Retifacies abnormalis Hou, Chen & Lu, 1989, from the Early Cambrian Chengjiang Biota, China. Biology, 11(8), 1235. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11081235.
10. Yang, X., Peng, S., Babcock L.E., Zhu, X., Liu, Y. 2022. New species of Liostracina Monke, 1903 (Trilobita, Cambrian) from Yunnan, China: Complete holaspid exoskeleton and implications for higher level classification. Journal of Paleontology, first view, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1017/jpa.2022.56.
11. O'Flynn, R.J., Williams, M.,Yu, M., Harvey, T.H.P., Liu, Y.*. 2022. A new euarthropod with large frontal appendages from the early Cambrian Chengjiang biota. Palaeontologia Electronica, 25(1): a6. https://doi.org/10.26879/1167.
12. Schmidt, M.*, Hou, X., Melzer, R.R.*, Zhai, D., Mai, H., Belojević, J, Chen, X., Ortega-Hernández, J.*, Liu, Y.*. 2022. Before trilobite legs Pygmaclypeatus daziensis reconsidered and the ancestral appendicular organization of Cambrian artiopods. Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences, 377, 1847. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2021.0030.
13. Zhuang Y., Ran H., Li X., Feng C., Liu, Y.*. 2022. A new species of the iron maiden ant based on an alate female from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: †Zigrasimecia), Cretaceous Research, 130, 105056.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2021.105056.
14. Liu, Y., Edgecombe, G.D.*, Schmidt, M., Bond, A.D., Melzer, R.R., Zhai, D., Mai, H., Zhang, M., Hou, X.*. 2021. Exites in Cambrian arthropods and homology of arthropod limb branches. Nature Communications, 12, 4619.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24918-8.
15. Yang, X.*, Kimmig, J.*, Zhai, D., Liu, Y., Kimmig S.R., Peng, S. 2021. A juvenile-rich palaeocommunity of the lower Cambrian Chengjiang biota sheds light on palaeo-boom or palaeo-bust environments. Nature Ecology and Evolution, 5, 1082–1090. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01490-4.
16. Schmidt, M.*, Liu, Y.*, Hou, X., Haug, J.T., Haug, C., Mai, H., and Melzer, R.R. 2021. Intraspecific variation in the Cambrian: new observations on the morphology of the Chengjiang euarthropod Sinoburius lunaris. BMC Ecology and Evolution, 21, 127. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-021-01854-1.
17. Xing, L., Liu, Y.*, McKellar, R. C.*, Luque, J., Li, G., Wang, Y., Yi, Q., Sun, R., Wang, E., Audo, D.*. 2021. The first shrimp preserved in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber: systematics, palaeoecology, and taphonomy. Science Bulletin, 66 (17), 1723–1726.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2021.05.008.
18. Jin, C., Mai, H., Chen, H., Liu, Y., Hou, X., Wen, R. and Zhai, D. 2021. A new species of the Cambrian bivalved euarthropod Pectocaris with axially differentiated enditic armatures. Papers in Palaeontology, 7(4), 1781–1792. https://doi.org/10.1002/spp2.1362.
19. Schmidt, M.*, Liu, Y.*, Zhai, D., Hou, X., and Melzer, R. R. 2020. Moving legs: a workflow on how to generate a flexible endopod of the 518 million-year-old Chengjiang arthropod Ercaicunia multinodosa using 3d‐kinematics (Cambrian, China). Microscopy Research and Technique, 84(4), 695–704. https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.23628.
20. O'Flynn, R.J., Audo, D., Williams, M., Zhai, D., and Liu, Y.* .2020. A new euarthropod with 'great appendage'-like frontal head limbs from the Chengjiang Lagersttäte, southwest China. Palaeontologia Electronica, 23(2), a36. https://doi.org/10.26879/1069.
21. Peng, S.*, Yang, X., Liu, Y., Zhu, X., Zhang, Y. 2020. Fulu biota, a new exceptionally-preserved Cambrian fossil assemblage from the Longha formation in southeastern Yunnan. Palaeoworld, 29(3), 453–461.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palwor.2020.02.001.
22. Liu, Y.*, Ortega-Hernández, J.*, Zhai, D., Hou, X. 2020. A Reduced Labrum in a Cambrian Great-Appendage Euarthropod. Current Biology, 30, 3057–3061.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.05.085.
23. Liu, Y.*, Ortega-Hernández, J.*, Chen, H., Mai, H., Zhai, D., Hou, X. 2020. Computed tomography sheds new light on the affinities of the enigmatic euarthropod Jianshania furcatus from the early Cambrian Chengjiang biota. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 20, 62. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-020-01625-4.
24. Chen, H., Legg, D., Liu, Y., Hou, X.G. 2020. New data on the anatomy of fuxianhuiid arthropod Guangweicaris spinatus from the lower Cambrian Guanshan Biota, Yunnan, China. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 65 (1): 139–148.https://doi.org/10.4202/app.00508.2018.
25. Liu, Y.*, Lerosey-Aubril, R., Audo, D., Zhai, D., Mai, H., Ortega-Hernández. J.*. 2020. Occurrence of the eudemersal radiodont Cambroraster in the early Cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstätte and the diversity of hurdiid ecomorphotypes. Geological Magazine, 157 (7): 1200–1206. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016756820000187.
26. Zhai, D., Edgecombe, G., Bond, A., Mai, H., Hou, X.*, Liu, Y.*. 2019. Fine-scale appendage structure of the Cambrian trilobitomorph Naraoia spinosa and its ontogenetic and ecological implications. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 286, 20192371. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.2371.
27. Zhai, D., Williams, M., Siveter, David J., Harvey, T.H.P., Sansom, R.S., Gabbott, S.E., Siveter, Derek J., Ma, X., Zhou, R., Liu, Y.*, Hou, X.*. 2019. Variation in appendages in early Cambrian bradoriids reveals a wide range of body plans in stem-euarthropods. Communications Biology, 2, 329. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-019-0573-5.
28. Chen, X., Ortega-Hernández, J.*, Wolfe, J.M., Zhai, D., Hou, X., Chen, A., Mai, H., Liu, Y.*. 2019. The appendicular morphology of Sinoburius lunaris and the evolution of the artiopodan clade Xandarellida (Euarthropoda, early Cambrian) from South China. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 19, 165. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-019-1491-3.
29. Zhai, D., Ortega-Hernandez, J., Wolfe, J.M., Hou, X., Cao, C., Liu, Y.*. 2019. Three-Dimensionally Preserved Appendages in an Early Cambrian Stem-Group Pancrustacean. Current Biology, 29(1), 171–177.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2018.11.060.
30. Chen, A., Chen, H., Legg, D.A., Liu, Y.*, Hou, X. 2018. A redescription of Liangwangshania biloba Chen, 2005, from the Chengjiang biota (Cambrian, China), with a discussion of possible sexual dimorphism in fuxianhuiid arthropods. Arthropod Structure & Development, 47 (5), 552–561. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asd.2018.08.001.
31. Hou, X., Williams, M., Sansom, R., Siveter, Derek J., Siveter, David J., Gabbott, S., Harvey, T.H.P., Cong, P., Liu, Y.*. 2018. A new xandarellid euarthropod from the Cambrian Chengjiang biota, Yunnan Province, China. Geological Magazine, 156(8), 1375–1384. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016756818000730.
32. 赵婷; 侯先光; 翟大有; 吴迪; 陈红; 臧少刚; 刘煜, 2017. 显微CT技术在澄江生物群节肢动物研究中的应用——以Misszhouia longicaudata为例.古生物学报, 56 (04), 476–482.
33. 吴迪; 刘煜; 赵婷; 陈红; 侯先光*, 2017. 关山生物群中始海百合化石的再研究.古生物学报, 56 (04), 504–515.
34. Boyan, G., Liu, Y., Khalsa, S.K., Hartenstein, V. 2017. A conserved plan for wiring up the fan-shaped body in the grasshopper and Drosophila. Development Genes & Evolution, 227 (4), 253–269. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00427-017-0587-2.
35. He, Y., Cong, P., Liu, Y., Edgecombe, G.D., Hou, X.*. 2017. Telson morphology of Leanchoiliidae (Arthropoda: Megacheira) highlighted by a new Leanchoilia from the Cambrian Chengjiang biota. Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology, 41 (4), 581–589.https://doi.org/10.1080/03115518.2017.1320425.
36. Liu, Y., Melzer, R.R., Haug, J.T., Haug, C., Briggs, D.E.G., Hörnig, M.K., He, Y., Hou, X.*. 2016. Three-dimensionally preserved minute larva of a great-appendage arthropod from the early Cambrian Chengjiang biota. PNAS, 113, 5542–5546.https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1522899113.
37. Yang, J., Ortega-Hernández, J., Butterfield, N.J., Liu, Y., Boyan, G.S., Hou, J., Lan, T., Zhang, X.*.2016. Fuxianhuiid ventral nerve cord and early nervous system evolution in Panarthropoda. PNAS, 113, 2988–2993.https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1522434113.
38. Boyan, G.*, Liu, Y. 2016. Development of the neurochemical architecture of the central complex. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 10, 167.https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00167.
39. Ehrhardt, E., Graf, P., Kleele, T., Liu, Y., Boyan, G.*. 2016. Fates of identified pioneer cells in the antennal nervous system of the grasshopper Schistocera gregaria. Arthropod, Structure & Development, 45, 23–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asd.2015.11.001.
40. Strausfeld, N.J., Ma, X.*, Edgecombe, G.D., Fortey, R.A., Land, M.F., Liu, Y., Cong, P., Hou, X.*. 2016. Arthropod eyes: The early Cambrian fossil record and divergent evolution of visual systems. Arthropod, Structure & Development, 45, 152–172.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asd.2015.07.005.
41. Liu,Y., Scholtz, G., Hou, X.*. 2015. When a 520 million-year-old Chengjiang fossil meets a modern micro-CT – a case study. Scientific Reports, 5, 12802.https://doi.org/10.1038/srep12802.
42. Boyan, G.*, Williams, L., Liu, Y. 2015. Conserved patterns of axogenesis in the protocerebral midline of panarthropod. Arthropod, Structure & Development, 44, 101–112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asd.2014.11.003.
43. Ehrhardt, E., Liu, Y., Boyan, G. 2015. Axogenesis in the antennal nervous system of the grasshopper Schistocera gregaria revisited: the base pioneers. Development, Genes & Evolution, 225, 39–45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00427-014-0485-9.
44. Liu, Y., Haug, J.T., Haug, C., Briggs, D.E.G., Hou, X.*. 2014. A 520 million-year-old chelicerate larva. Nature Communications, 5: 4440.https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms5440.
45. Boyan, G.*, Liu, Y. 2014a. Timelines in the insect brain: fates of identified neural stem cells generating the central complex in the grasshopper Schistocerca gregaria. Development, Genes & Evolution, 224, 37–51.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00427-013-0462-8.
46. Boyan, G.*, Liu, Y. 2014b. Dye coupling and immunostaining of astrocyte-like glia following intracellular injection of fluorochromes in brain slices of the grasshopper Schistocerca gregaria. Methods in Molecular Biology, 1082, 99.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-655-9_7.
47. Liu,Y.*. 2013. Gliogenesis in the embryonic brain of the grasshopper Schistocerca gregaria with particular focus on the protocerebrum prior to mid-embryogenesis. Cell & Tissue Research, 354, 697–705. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-013-1682-y.
48. Liu,Y.* , Boyan, G. 2013. Glia associated with central complex lineages in the embryonic brain of the grasshopper Schistocerca gregaria. Development, Genes & Evolution, 223, 213–223. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00427-013-0439-7.
49. Boyan, G., Liu, Y., Loser, M. 2012. A cellular network of dye-coupled glia associated with the embryonic central complex in the grasshopper Schistocerca gregaria. Development, Genes & Evolution, 222, 125–138.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00427-012-0394-8.
50. Haug, J.T.*, Waloszek, D., Maas, A., Liu, Y., Haug, C. 2012. Functional morphology, ontogeny and evolution of mantis shrimp-like predators in the Cambrian. Palaeontology, 55, 369–399. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4983.2011.01124.x.
51. Boyan, G. *, Loser, M., Williams, L., Liu,Y. 2011. Astrocyte-like glia associated with the embryonic development of the central complex in the grasshopper Schistocerca gregaria. Development, Genes & Evolution, 221, 141–155.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00427-011-0366-4.
52. Liu,Y.* , Maas, A., Waloszek, D. 2010. Early embryonic development of the head region of Gryllus assimilis Fabricius, 1775 (Orthoptera, Insecta). Arthropod, Structure & Development, 39, 382–395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asd.2010.05.008.
53. Liu,Y.* , Maas, A., Waloszek, D. 2009. Early development of the anterior body region of the grey widow spider Latrodectus geometricus Koch, 1841 (Theridiidae, Araneae). Arthropod, Structure & Development, 38, 401–416.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asd.2009.04.001.
54. Liu,Y., Bergström, J., Hou, X.*.2007. Chengjiang arthropod Leanchoilia illecebrosa(Hou, 1987) reconsidered. GFF, 129, 263–272. https://doi.org/10.1080/11035890701293263.
Students supervised
In Germany: Martin Wilecki (MSc 2012), Philip Graf (MSc 2013), Michael Loser (PhD 2015), Erica Ehrhardt (PhD 2016)
In China: Di Wu (MSc expected 2018), Ting Zhao (MSc expected 2018), Hong Chen (PhD expected 2020), Xiaohan Chen (PhD expected 2020), Xilin Zhang (PhD expected 2022), Maoyin Zhang (PhD expected 2023)
My Team in YKLP
16/03/2019 In Kunming