Home / Research / Teaching / People / Publications / Join us / News

---

Publications

Peer-reviewed Journals

(*: corresponding authors; †: student authors from our group)

• Lin, Y.^†, Sun, J.^†, Zhou, X.^†, Zhong, C., Yang, X.†, Yu, L., Sun, J., Qian, P., & Li, J.* (2025) Chemoautotrophy enhances iron and phosphorus recycling from sediments at deep-sea methane seeps. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 39, e2025GB008735, https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GB008735

• Gao, R.^†, Yang, X.^†, Zhang, Q., Yung, C. C. M., He, D., Yin, H., & Li, J.* (2025). Polyphosphate dynamics in marine heterotrophic bacteria under phosphorus and organic carbon limitations. Environmental Microbiology, 27(8), e70165. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.70165

• Sun, J.^†, Zhou, X.^†, Lin, Y.^†, Yang, X.^†, Yu, L., Yung, C. C. M., Zhang, Q. & Li, J.* (2025). Superlinear control of phosphorus recycling in coastal sediments by organic matter availability. Water Research, 283, 123889. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2025.123889

• Sun, J.^†, Yu, L.*, Yang, X.^†, Gan, J., Yin, H. & Li, J.* (2024). Sediment oxygen uptake and hypoxia in coastal oceans, the Pearl River Estuary region. Water Research, 267, 122499. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2024.122499

• Yang, X.^†, Gao, R.^†, Huff, A., Katsev, S., Ozersky, T. & Li, J.* (2024). Polyphosphate phosphorus in the Great Lakes. Limnology and Oceanography Letters. https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10394

• Yang, X.^†, Gao, R.^†, Zhang, Q., Yung, C. C. M., Yin, H. & Li, J.* (2024). Quantification of Polyphosphate in Environmental Planktonic Samples Using a Novel Fluorescence Dye JC-D7. Environmental Science & Technology. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c04545

• Xu, Y., Sun, R., Redondo, E. R., Leung, K. K., Wan, S. H., Li, J. & Yung, C. C. M.* (2024). Revealing the intricate temporal dynamics and adaptive responses of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes in the coastal South China Sea. Science of The Total Environment, 952, 176019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176019

• Wang, S., Tsui, M. T.-K.*, Li, J. & Pan, K. (2024). Biogeochemical controls on methylmercury distribution in a subtropical wetland ecosystem. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 207, 116894. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116894

• Wang, T., Lin, C., Zhang, H., Li, J., Wang, L., Luo, Y., Liu, J., Shen, J. & Tang, T.* (2024). Kinetic isotope effect of decomposing fatty acids in the continental shelf sediment of the northern South China Sea. Frontiers in Marine Science, 11, 1438092. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2024.1438092

• Ruan, X., Couespel, D., Lévy, M., Li, J., Mak, J.* & Wang, Y. (2024). Combined physical and biogeochemical assessment of mesoscale eddy parameterisations in ocean models: Eddy-induced advection at eddy-permitting resolutions. Ocean Modelling, 190, 102396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2024.102396

• Zvi-Kedem, T., Lalzar, M., Sun, J.^†, Li, J., Tchernov, D. & Meron, D.* (2024). Exploring the Microbial Mosaic: Insights into Composition, Diversity, and Environmental Drivers in the Pearl River Estuary Sediments. Microorganisms, 12(7), 1273. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12071273

• Ruan, X., Couespel, D., Lévy, M., Li, J., Mak, J.* & Wang, Y. (2023). Combined physical and biogeochemical assessment of mesoscale eddy parameterisations in ocean models: Eddy induced advection at non-eddying resolutions. Ocean Modelling, 183, 102204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2023.102204

• Li, Y., He, X., Lin, Y.^†, Li, Y., Kamenev, G. M., Li, J., Qiu, J. & Sun, J.* (2023). Reduced chemosymbiont genome in the methane seep thyasirid and the cooperated metabolisms in the holobiont under anaerobic sediment. Molecular Ecology Resources, 23(8), 1853–1867. https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13846

• Yin, H.*, Zhang, M., Yin, P. & Li, J. (2022). Characterization of internal phosphorus loading in the sediment of a large eutrophic lake (Lake Taihu, China). Water Research, 225, 119125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2022.119125

• Yang, C., Li, J. & Yin, H.* (2022). Phosphorus internal loading and sediment diagenesis in a large eutrophic lake (Lake Chaohu, China). Environmental Pollution, 292(Pt B), 118471. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118471

• Li, J.*, Ianaiev, V., Huff, A., Zalusky, J., Ozersky, T. & Katsev, S.* 2021. Benthic invaders control the phosphorus cycle in the world’s largest freshwater ecosystem. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 118 (6). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2008223118 (Commentary by Vanni 2021, PNAS 118(8)e2100275118)

• Bai, Y., Stout, L., Unal-Tosun, G., Li, J. & Jaisi, D.* (2020). Synthesis and Degradation of Polyphosphate: Isotope Effects in Enzyme- and Bacteria-Catalyzed Reactions. ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, 4(12), 2327–2336. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.0c00230

• Alam, M. S., Barthod, B., Li, J., Liu, H., Zastepa, A., Liu, X., & Dittrich, M.* (2020). Geochemical controls on internal phosphorus loading in Lake of the Woods. Chemical Geology, 558, 119873. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2020.119873

• Li, J.*, Plouchart, D., Zastepa, A., & Dittrich, M. (2019). Picoplankton accumulate and recycle polyphosphate to support high primary productivity in coastal Lake Ontario. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 19563. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-56042-5

• Li, J.*, & Dittrich, M. (2019). Dynamic polyphosphate metabolism in cyanobacteria responding to phosphorus availability. Environmental Microbiology, 21(2), 572–583. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.14488

• Li, J.*, Zhang, Y., & Katsev, S. (2018). Phosphorus recycling in deeply oxygenated sediments in Lake Superior controlled by organic matter mineralization. Limnology and Oceanography, 63(3), 1372–1385. https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.10778

• Li, J.*, Brown, E. T., Crowe, S. A., & Katsev, S. (2018). Sediment geochemistry and contributions to carbon and nutrient cycling in a deep meromictic tropical lake: Lake Malawi (East Africa). Journal of Great Lakes Research, 44(6), 1221–1234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2017.12.001 (2018 Elsevier Early Career Most Notable Paper Award)

• Li, J., Reardon, P., McKinley, J. P., Joshi, S. R., Bai, Y., Bear, K., & Jaisi, D. P.* (2017). Water column particulate matter: A key contributor to phosphorus regeneration in a coastal eutrophic environment, the Chesapeake Bay. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 122(4), 737–752. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016jg003572

• Li, J., Bai, Y., Bear, K., Joshi, S., & Jaisi, D.* (2017). Phosphorus availability and turnover in the Chesapeake Bay: Insights from nutrient stoichiometry and phosphate oxygen isotope ratios. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 122(4), 811–824. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016jg003589

• Fakhraee, M., Li, J., & Katsev, S.* (2017). Significant role of organic sulfur in supporting sedimentary sulfate reduction in low-sulfate environments. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 213, 502–516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2017.07.021

• Crowe, S. A., Treusch, A. H., Forth, M., Li, J., Magen, C., Canfield, D. E., Thamdrup, B. & Katsev, S. (2017). Novel anammox bacteria and nitrogen loss from Lake Superior. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 13757. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-12270-1

• Li, J.*, & Katsev, S. (2014). Nitrogen cycling in deeply oxygenated sediments: Results in Lake Superior and implications for marine sediments. Limnology and Oceanography, 59(2), 465–481. https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.2014.59.2.0465

• Li, J., Crowe, S. A., Miklesh, D., Kistner, M., Canfield, D. E., & Katsev, S.* (2012). Carbon mineralization and oxygen dynamics in sediments with deep oxygen penetration, Lake Superior. Limnology and Oceanography, 57(6), 1634–1650. https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.2012.57.6.1634

Theses

• SUN, J.^† (2025) Sediment biogeochemical cycles and exchanges with the water column in the coastal ocean around the Pearl River Estuary. Ph.D Thesis. The Hong Kong University of Science and Techonology.doi: 10.14711/thesis-991013384163903412

• GAO, R.^† (2024) Polyphosphate dynamics in marine heterotrophic bacteria under phosphorus and organic carbon limitations. M.Phil Thesis. The Hong Kong University of Science and Techonology. doi: 10.14711/thesis-991013340457303412

• LIN, Y.^† (2023) Iron-sulfur coupling controls phosphorus fluxes and burial in sediments from coastal to deep seas. M.Phil Thesis. The Hong Kong University of Science and Techonology doi: 10.14711/thesis-991013223059203412

• ZHOU, L.^† (2022) Sediment oxygen uptake and carbon mineralization in the Pearl River Estuary and adjacent coastal waters. M.Phil Thesis. The Hong Kong University of Science and Techonology. doi: 10.14711/thesis-991013088359403412]

• LI, J. (2014) Sediment diagenesis in large lakes Superior and Malawi, geochemical cycles and budgets and comparison to marine sediments. Ph.D Thesis. University of Minnesota (Link)

• LI, J. (2011) Diagenesis and sediment-water exchanges in organic-poor sediments of Lake Superior. M. Sc. Thesis. University of Minnesota (Link)

Book Chapters

• Katsev S., Verburg P., Lliros M., Minor E., Kruger B., and Li J.. 2017. Tropical meromictic lakes: Specifics of meromixis and case studies of Lakes Tanganyika, Malawi, and Matano. In Ecology of Meromictic Lakes, edited by R. Gulati, A. Degermendzhy, and E. Zadereev. Springer. (PDF)

Data

• Li, J., Sun, J., & Yu, L. (2025) Sediment phosphorus and iron speciation and fluxes in the Pearl River Estuary region Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14885312

• Li, J., Sun, J., & Yu, L. (2025) Sediment nitrogen fluxes and rates in the Pearl River Estuary region. DataSpace@HKUST, V3. https://doi.org/10.14711/dataset/XMTKWW

• Li, J., Sun, J., Yu, L., Gan, J., & Yang, X. (2024) Sediment oxygen uptake and hypoxia in the Pearl River Estuary Region. DataSpace@HKUST, V1. https://doi.org/10.14711/dataset/KCLUQW

• LI, J. & Lin, Y. (2025) Sediment iron and phosphorus species and fluxes at Haima methane seeps. DataSpace@HKUST, V3. https://doi.org/10.14711/dataset/VOGU6C

• Li, J., & Lin, Y. (2025). Sediment nitrogen, iron and phosphorus species and fluxes in Pinqing Lagoon, South China Sea. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15959091

Presentations (selected)

(†: student presenters from our lab)

• Li, J. Nutrient biogeochemistry in the ocean and future changes, International Symposium on the Changes of Climate, Environment, and Ecology in Antarctica, Great Wall Station, King George Island, Antarctica, Dec 29, 2024

• Li, J., Sun, J.†, and Lin, Y.† Phosphorus recycling in sediments–the classic model and the anomalies, Goldschmidt Conference, Lyon, France, July 9–14, 2023 (Keynote)

• Yang, X.^†, Gao, R.^†, and Li, J. Unveiling the Role of Planktonic Polyphosphate in Aquatic Phosphorus Cycling with Novel Quantification, PolyP-2025 on Polyphosphate Biology, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, May 20-23, 2025 (Oral; Travel Award by the organizer)

• Lin, Y.^†, Sun, J.^†, Zhou, X.^†, Yang, J.^†, Fan, Z.^†, and Li, J. Carbon and nutrient recycling in coastal sediments respond disproportionally to increasing organic matter inputs, Goldschmidt Conference, Chicago, Illinois, USA, Aug 18-23, 2024 (Oral)

• Sun, J.^†, Zhou, X.^†, Lin, Y.^†, and Li, J. Sediment P recycling and effluxes in coastal oceans, the Pearl River Estuary region. Goldschmidt Conference, Chicago, IL, USA, Aug 18-23, 2024 (Oral).

• Sun, J.^† and Li, J. Sediment oxygen consumption and seasonal hypoxia—A case study in the coastal South China Sea. ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, June 4-9, 2023 (Oral)

• Yang, X.^† and Li, J. Polyphosphate as a Phosphorus Stock in Aquatic Ecosystems. ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting 2023, Palma De Mallorca, Spain, June 4-9, 2023 (Poster)

• Sun, J.^†, Yu, L., Yang, X.^†, Gan J., Yin H., and Li, J. Sediment oxygen uptake and hypoxia in coastal oceans, the Pearl River Estuary region. Sixth Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences (XMAS-VI), Xiamen, Fujian, China, Jan 9-12, 2023 (Poster)

• Lin, Y.^†, Sun, J.^†, Zhou, X.^†, Zhong, C., and Li, J. Sediment phosphorus effluxes and nitrogen-iron-sulfur cycling enhanced by chemoautotrophy in a deep-sea methane seep, the 12th International Conference on Tropical Marine Environmental Changes, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, Nov 18-20, 2023 (Oral)

• Lin, Y.^†, Sun, J.^†, and Li, J. Iron-sulfur coupling regulates sediment phosphorus biogeochemistry and fluxes in coastal oceans, the 6th Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences (XMAS-VI), Xiamen, Fujian, China, Jan 9-12, 2023 (Oral)

• Gao, R.^†, Yang, X.^†, and Li, J. Polyphosphate in marine heterotrophic bacteria as an energy storage. ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, June 4-9, 2023 (Poster).

• Yang, X.^†, Gao, R.^†, and Li, J. The Challenges in Quantifying PolyP in Natural Water Samples. FEBS 2023 Polyphosphate Meeting, Cadiz, Spain, May 9-12, 2023 (Oral; Travel Award by the organizer)

• Yang, X.^† and Li, J. Polyphosphate in the plankton of the oligotrophic Great Lakes, Joint Aquatic Science Meeting, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA, May 14-20, 2022 (Oral)

• Li, J., V. Ianaiev, A. Huff, J. Zalusky, T. Ozersky, and S. Katsev. Benthic Shunt: dreissenid mussels now control phosphorus dynamics in Lake Michigan. IAGLR Conference, Brockport, NY, USA, June 10-14, 2019 (Oral)

• Li, J., A. Zastepa, S. Markovic, S. Watson, and M. Dittrich. Seasonal and spatial variability of polyphosphate in the water column of Hamilton Harbour. IAGLR Conference, Scarborough ON, Canada, June 18- 22, 2018 (Oral)

• Li, J., P. Reardon, S. R. Joshi, Y. Bai, K. Bear, N. Dhakal, N. Washton, and D. P. Jaisi. Internal cycling of phosphorus in the Chesapeake Bay: Comparison of P cycling in water and sediment columns. ASA-CSA-SSSA Annual Meeting, Minneapolis MN, USA. Nov. 15 -18, 2015 (Oral)

• Li, J., P. Reardon, Joshi, S.R., Bai, Y., Bear, K., Washton, N., Jaisi, D.P. Remineralization of organic phosphorus and precipitation of authigenic phosphate in the mid-Chesapeake Bay water column. Geological Society of America Annual meeting, Baltimore MD, USA. Nov 1- 4, 2015 (Oral)

• Li, J. and S. Katsev. Large lakes as analogues for sediment cycling of carbon and nitrogen in coastal and deep Ocean. Ocean Science Meeting, Honolulu HI, USA. Feb. 23 – 28, 2014 (Oral)

• Li, J. and S. Katsev. Carbon and nutrient cycling in sediments of Lake Malawi. IAGLR Conference, West Lafayette IN, USA. June 2 -6, 2013 (Oral)

• Li, J., S. A. Crowe, D. Miklesh, D. E. Canfield, and S. Katsev. Migrations of sediment redox boundaries as indicators of change in oligotrophic systems, Goldschmidt Conference, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. June 13- 18, 2010 (Oral)