Mengying Zhao

Dr. Mengying Zhao

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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9 March 2020 in Functional Ecology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
LZLuhong Zhou
Luhong Zhou
SLShangshi Liu
Shangshi Liu
HSHaihua Shen
Haihua Shen
MZMengying Zhao
Mengying Zhao
LXLongchao Xu
Longchao Xu
JFJingyun Fang
Jingyun Fang

19 June 2022 in Functional Ecology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
YZYankun Zhu
Yankun Zhu
HSHaihua Shen
Haihua Shen
DADamilare Stephen Akinyemi
Damilare Stephen Akinyemi
PZPujin Zhang
Pujin Zhang
YFYinping Feng
Yinping Feng
JFJingyun Fang
Jingyun Fang

1 February 2021 in Ecological Indicators
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
MZMengying Zhao
Mengying Zhao
YLYongkai Luo
Yongkai Luo
YCYahan Chen
Yahan Chen
HSHaihua Shen
Haihua Shen
XZXia Zhao
Xia Zhao
HHHuifeng Hu
Huifeng Hu

18 September 2023 in Functional Ecology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
MZMengying Zhao
Mengying Zhao
HSHaihua Shen
Haihua Shen
YZYankun Zhu
Yankun Zhu
AXAijun Xing
Aijun Xing
JKJie Kang
Jie Kang
JFJingyun Fang
Jingyun Fang

8 April 2023 in Remote Sensing
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
XZXia Zhao
Xia Zhao
BWBo Wu
Bo Wu
JXjinxin xue
jinxin xue
YSYue Shi
Yue Shi
MZMengying Zhao
Mengying Zhao
JFJingyun Fang
Jingyun Fang
Grasslands provide essential forage sources for global livestock production. Remote sensing approaches have been widely used to estimate the biomass production of grasslands from regional to global scales, but simultaneously mapping the forage biomass and quality metrics (e.g., crude fiber and crude protein) is still relatively lacking despite an increasing need for better livestock management. We conducted novel gradient grass-cutting experiments and measured hyperspectral reflectance, forage biomass, crude fiber per area (CFarea), and crude protein per area (CParea) across 19 temperate grassland sites in the Xilingol region, Inner Mongolia, China. Based on these measurements, we identified sensitive spectral bands, calculated nine potential spectral indices (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Enhanced Vegetation Index, Red Edge Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Red-Edge Inflection Point, Inverted Red-Edge Chlorophyll Index algorithm, Normalized Difference Red Edge Index, Nitrogen Reflectance Index, Normalized Greenness Index, Land Surface Water Index) and established Random Forest (RF) models that well predicted forage biomass (R2 = 0.67, NRMSE = 12%), CFarea (R2 = 0.59, NRMSE = 14%), and CParea (R2 = 0.77, NRMSE = 10%). Among these nine indices, Land Surface Water Index (LSWI, calculated by R785-900 and R2100-2280) was identified to be the most important predictor and was then used to establish empirical power law models, showing comparable prediction accuracies (forage biomass, R2 = 0.53; NRMSE = 14%; CFarea, R2 = 0.40, NRMSE = 17%; CParea, R2 = 0.72, NRMSE = 11%) in comparison to Random Forest models. Combining the empirical power law models with the LSWI calculated from Sentinel-2 observations, we further mapped the forage biomass and quality and estimated the livestock carrying capacity. The predicted forage biomass, CFarea, and CParea all showed a significant increase with higher mean annual precipitation, but showed no significant correlations with mean annual temperature. Compared with the estimates based on crude protein, the conventional approach solely based on forage biomass consistently overestimated livestock carrying capacity, especially in wetter areas. Our work provides an approach to simultaneously map the forage biomass and quality metrics and recommends a LSWI-based power law model for rapid and low-cost assessment of regional forage status to guide better livestock management.

13 March 2026 in Nature Climate Change
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
XGXue Guo
Xue Guo
ZYZhifeng Yang
Zhifeng Yang
SJSiyang Jian
Siyang Jian
DNDaliang Ning
Daliang Ning
XTXuanyu Tao
Xuanyu Tao
JZJizhong Zhou
Jizhong Zhou