教育（访问）经历:
2007—2011，University of Eastern Finland， 博士
2003—2006，西北农林科技大学，硕士
1998—2002，西北农林科技大学，学士
森林生态学
国家自然科学基金面上项目：黄土丘陵区刺槐沙棘混交林种间养分协调机制研究（2020-2023，61万）
国家自然科学基金重点项目课题：刺槐人工林结构的区域分异及演变特征（2022-2026，50万）
宁夏回族自治区重点研发计划专题：小流域植被分布格局和植被功能提升技术（2020-2023，30万）
十三五国家重点研发计划项目专题：流域人工林（含经济林）生态系统景观优化配置技术研究（2017-2020，68万）
十三五国家重点研发计划项目专题：黄土丘陵沟壑区人工林群落组成、结构和功能演变研究（2016-2020，50万）
中国科学院“西部青年学者” A类：抚育间伐对刺槐人工林结构和功能的调控机理（2018-2021，50万）
1.Meng Chen, Xu Zhang, Ming Li, Juanjuan Zhang, Yang Cao. 2021. Climate-growth pattern of Pinus tabulaeformis plantations and their resilience to drought events in the Loess Platea, Forest Ecology and Management,499:119642
2.Yang Cao, Yanan Li, Guangqi Zhang, Jing Zhang, Meng Chen. 2020. Fine root C:N:P stoichiometry and its driving factors across forest ecosystems in northwestern China, Science of The Total Environment ,737: 140299.
3.Jing Zhang, Mei Qu, Cheng Wang, Jun Zhao, Yang Cao. 2020. Quantifying landscape pattern and ecosystem service value changes: a case study at the county level in the Chinese loess plateau. Global Ecology and Conservation, e01110.
4.Xiankun Li, Yanan Li , Jing Zhang, Shouzhang Peng, Yunming Chen , Yang Cao. 2020. The effects of forest thinning on understory diversity in China: A meta-analysis. Land Degradation and Development, 31: 1225-1240.
5.Xiankun Li, Yanan Li, Shouzhang Peng, Yunming Chen, Yang Cao. 2019. Changes in soil phosphorus and its influencing factors following afforestation in Northern China. Land Degradation and Development, 30:1655-1666.
6.Yang Cao, Yanan Li, Yunming Chen. 2018. Non-structural carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus between black locust and chinese pine plantations along a precipitation gradient on the Loess Plateau, China, Trees, 32:835-846.
7.Yang Cao, Ping Zhang, Yunming Chen. 2018. Soil C:N:P stoichiometry in plantations of N-fixing black locust and indigenous pine, and secondary oak forests in Northwest China, Journal of Soils and Sediments, 18:1478-1489.
8.Guangqi Zhang, Ping Zhang, Yang Cao. 2018. Ecosystem carbon and nitrogen storage following farmland afforestation with black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) on the Loess Plateau, China[J]. Journal of Forestry Research, 29(3):761-771.
9.Yang Cao, Yunming Chen. 2017. Ecosystem C: N: P stoichiometry and carbon storage in plantations and a secondary forest on the Loess Plateau, China, Ecological Engineering, 105: 125-132.
10.Yang Cao, Yunming Chen. 2017. Coupling of plant and soil C: N: P stoichiometry in black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) plantations on the Loess Plateau, China, Trees, 31(5): 1559-1570.
