Meng YAO

Dr. Meng Yao is an Associate Professor in the School of Life Sciences at Peking University. Her research focuses on ecological themes such as biodiversity patterns, community ecology dynamics, and food-web organization, utilizing environmental DNA technology. Dr. Yao received her B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Peking University in 2000 and her Ph.D. in Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology from the University of Michigan in 2007. She has led her research group at Peking University since 2010. Dr. Yao is the recipient of the 2023 National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of China. She is also involved in editorial work and has contributed to several books and textbooks.

Meng Yao is a researcher in Molecular Ecology and Environmental DNA, focusing on the application of environmental DNA (eDNA) for biodiversity monitoring and ecological studies. Their work includes evaluating primers for metabarcoding eDNA, assessing fish communities through eDNA sampling, and exploring the effectiveness of passive samplers for environmental DNA. Yao's research also extends to molecular dietary analysis of sympatric felids and the genetic structure of critically endangered primates. Their studies highlight the utility of eDNA in detecting rare species, understanding prey partitioning in carnivore communities, and analyzing the genetic diversity shaped by habitat fragmentation. These efforts contribute to ecological conservation and biodiversity management.