I am a research professor and a doctoral supervisor of Geochemistry at the Insititude of Sedimentary Geology. My research focuses on the reconstruction of key environmental factors in the Cambrian and pre-Cambrian oceans. This includes studying the redox conditions at local and global scales, seawater salinity, cycling of metal elements such as iron and mangane, hydrographic dynamics, productivity and preservation of organic matters, and their relationships with the biological evolution.
Email: mengcheng@cdut.edu.cn
Education Experience
2015.09-2015.12, Arizona State University (visiting doctor)
2013.09-2016.06, China University of Geosciences, PhD, Geochemistry
2010.09-2013.06, China University of Geosciences, Master, Geochemistry
2006.09-2010.06, China University of Geosciences, Bachelor, Geology
Work Experience
2022/5-now, Institude of Sedimentary Geology, Chengdu University of Technology, Research Professor
2019/12-2022/4, State Key Laboratory of Geobiology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Associated Research Scientist
2016/11-2019/11, State Key Laboratory of Geobiology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Assistant Research Scientist
Community Service
l Reviewer: Chemical Geology, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Global and Planetary Change, Geological Journal, Marine and Petroleum Geology, Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology, Precambrian Research, China Geology, 《中国科学地球科学》《地球科学》《高校地质学报》《华南地质》《沉积学报》
l Young Editior: 《地球科学》, Journal of Earth Science
l Guest Editior: Global and Planetary Chang
Peer-reviewed Publications (*=corresponding author)
Ø First- or corresponding-author:
(13) Zihu Zhang, Meng Cheng*, Haiyang Wang, Xinyang Chen, Wei Guo, Chao Li*. 2023. Spatiotemporal variation of dissolved oxygen in the Ediacaran surface ocean and its implication for Ediacaran oceanic carbon cycling. Science China: Earth Science 66(8): 1892-1905.
(12) 张子虎,程猛*,王海洋,陈欣阳,郭伟,李超*. 2023. 埃迪卡拉纪海洋表层溶解氧含量的时空波动及其对海洋碳循环扰动的启示. 中国科学:地球科学 53(8): 1913-1926. (In Chinese with English abstract)
(11) Meng Cheng*, Zihu Zhang, Chengsheng Jin, Wei Wei, Haiyang Wang, Thomas J. Algeo, & Chao Li*. 2023. Salinity variation and hydrographic dynamics in the early Cambrian Nanhua Basin (South China). Science China Earth Sciences 66(6): 1268–1278.
(10) 程猛*,张子虎,金承胜,魏巍,王海洋,Thomas J. Algeo,李超*. 2023. 寒武纪早期南华盆地盐度及水文动力学过程重建.中国科学:地球科学 53(6): 1273-1284. (In Chinese with English abstract)
(9) Kaiqi Huang, Meng Cheng*, Thomas J. Algeo, Jun Hu, Haiyang Wang, Zihu Zhang, Matthew S. Dodd, Yan Wu, Wei Guo, Chao Li*. 2022. Interaction of Shibantan Biota and environment in the terminal Ediacaran ocean: Evidence from I/(Ca+Mg) and sulfur isotopes. Precambrian Research 379, 106814.
(8) Meng Cheng (程猛), Haiyang Wang, Chao Li*, Genming Luo, Junhua Huang, Zhenbing She, Lidan Lei, Guang Ouyang, Zihu Zhang, Matthew S.Dodd, Thomas J.Algeo. 2022. Barite in the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation and its implications for marine carbon cycling during the largest negative carbon isotope excursion in Earth’s history. Precambrian Research 368: 106485.
(7) Meng Cheng, Zihu Zhang, Thomas J. Algeo, Shuliang Liu, Xiaodan Liu, Haiyang Wang, Biao Chang, Chengsheng Jin, Wen Pan, Mengchun Cao, Chao Li*. 2021. Hydrological controls on marine chemistry in the Cryogenian Nanhua Basin (South China). Earth-Science Reviews 218：103678.
(6) Meng Cheng, Chao Li*, Chengsheng Jin, Haiyang Wang, Thomas J. Algeo, Timothy W. Lyons, Feifei Zhang, and Ariel Anbar. 2020. Evidence for high organic carbon export to the early Cambrian seafloor. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 287: 125-140.
(5) Meng Cheng, Chao Li*, Xi Chen, Lian Zhou, Thomas Algeo, Lian-Jun Feng and Hong-Fei Ling. 2018. Delayed Neoproterozoic oceanic oxygenation: Evidence from Mo isotopes of the Cryogenian Datangpo Formation. Precambrian Research 319: 187-197.
(4) Meng Cheng, Chao Li*, Lian Zhou, LianJun Feng, Thomas J. Algeo, FeiFei Zhang, Stephen Romaniello, ChengSheng Jin, HongFei Ling and ShaoYong Jiang. 2017. Transient deep-water oxygenation in the early Cambrian Nanhua Basin, South China. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 201: 42-58.
(3) Meng Cheng, Chao Li*, Lian Zhou, Thomas J. Algeo, Feifei Zhang, Stephen Romaniello, Cheng-Sheng Jin, Li-Dan Lei, Lian-Jun Feng, Shao-Yong Jiang. 2016. Marine Mo biogeochemistry in the context of dynamically euxinic mid-depth waters: A case study of the lower Cambrian Niutitang shales, South China. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 183: 79-93.
(2) Meng Cheng, Chao Li*, Lian Zhou and Shu-Cheng Xie. 2015. Mo marine geochemistry and reconstruction of ancient ocean redox states. Science China Earth Sciences 58(12): 2123-2133.
(1) 程猛,李超*,周炼,谢树成. 2015 钼海洋地球化学与古海洋化学重建. 中国科学:地球科学 45(11): 1649-1660. (In Chinese with English abstract)
Ø Co-author:
(32) 金承胜,崔豪,程猛,张子虎,常华进,张弢,曹正琦.2023.华南寒武纪早期海水氧化还原状态对动物演化的影响.地球科学,已接受.(In Chinese with English abstract)
(31)胡军,程猛,陈欣阳,叶琴,安志辉,李超.2023.新元古代极端冰期事件中生物避难所的环境条件.地质学报 97(9): 3075-3086. (In Chinese with English abstract)
(30) Haiyang Wang, Yongbo Peng, Chao Li, Xiaobin Cao, Meng Cheng, Huiming Bao. 2023. Sulfate triple-oxygen-isotope evidence confirming oceanic oxygenation 570 million years ago. Nat Commun 14, 4315.
(29) Matthew S. Dodd, Wei Shi, Chao Li, Zihu Zhang, Meng Cheng, Haodong Gu, Dalton S. Hardisty, Sean J. Loyd, Malcolm W. Wallace, Ashleigh vS. Hood, Kelsey Lamothe, Benjamin J. W. Mills, Simon W. Poulton & Timothy W. Lyons. 2023. Uncovering the Ediacaran phosphorus cycle. Nature 618(7967): 974-980.
(28) Wei Wang, Chao Li *, Dodd M.S., Algeo T.J., Zihu Zhang, Meng Cheng, Mingcai Hou. 2023. A DOM regulation model for dolomite versus calcite precipitation in the Ediacaran ocean: Implications for the “dolomite problem”. Precambrian Research. 385, 106947.
(27) Haiyang Wang, Chao Li, Meng Cheng, Zihu Zhang, Thomas J. Algeo, 2022. Redbed formation in the redox-stratified mid-Proterozoic ocean. Precambrian Research. 379, 106815.
(26) Wei Shi, Benjamin JW Mills, Chao Li*, Simon W Poulton, Alexander J Krause, Tianchen He, Ying Zhou, Meng Cheng, Graham A Shields. 2022. Decoupled oxygenation of the Ediacaran ocean and atmosphere during the rise of early animals. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 591: 117619.
(25) Na Li, Feifei Zhang*, Jianhua Gao, Mengchun Cao, Guang-Yi Wei, Haiyang Wang, Zihu Zhang, Meng Cheng, Guolin Xiong, Jianlin Zhou, Hua Zhang, Yongbo Peng, Chao Li, Shu-Zhong Shen. 2022. Assessing bulk carbonates as archives for seawater sulfur isotopic composition using shallow water cores from the South China Sea. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 598: 111029.
(24) Biao Chang, Chao Li*, Thomas J. Algeo, Timothy W. Lyons, Wei Shi, Meng Cheng, Genming Luo, Zhenbing She, Shucheng Xie, Jinnan Tong, Maoyan Zhu, Junhua Huang*, Ian Foster, Aradhna Tripati. 2022. A ∼60-Ma-long, high-resolution record of Ediacaran paleotemperature. Science Bulletin. 67(9): 910-913.
(23) Úna C. Farrell……Meng Cheng……Erik A. Sperling*. 2021. The Sedimentary Geochemistry and Paleoenvironments Project. Geobiology. DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12462.
(22) Wen Pan, Mengchun Cao*, Yuansheng Du, Meng Cheng, Yao-Qi Zhou, Thomas J. Algeo, Ming-Yu Zhao, Nicolas Thibault, Chao Li, Guang-Yi Wei, Tais W.Dahl. 2021. Paired U and Mo isotope evidence for pervasive anoxia in the Cryogenian early interglacial ocean. Precambrian Research. 355: 106244.
(21) Zhu, G.*, Li, T., Zhao, K., Li, C., Cheng, Meng, Chen, W. Yan, H., Zhao, Z. & Algeo, T. J. 2021. Mo isotope records from Lower Cambrian black shales, northwestern Tarim Basin (China): Implications for the early Cambrian ocean. GSA Bulletin. 134(1-2): 545-556.
(20) Chengsheng Jin, Chao Li*, Thomas J Algeo, Guochang Wang, Wei Shi, Meng Cheng, Zihu Zhang, Haiyang Wang, Na Li, Wei Wang. 2021. Spatial heterogeneity of redox-sensitive trace-metal enrichments in upper Ediacaran anoxic black shales. Journal of the Geological Society. 178(5): jgs2020-234.
(19) Haiyang Wang, Aoran Liu, Chao Li*, Qinglai Feng, Shida Tang, Meng Cheng, Thomas J. Algeo. 2021. A benthic oxygen oasis in the early Neoproterozoic ocean. Precambrian Research. 355, 106085
(18) Na Li, Chao Li*, Thomas J. Algeo, Meng Cheng, Chengsheng Jin, Guangyou Zhu Junxuan Fan, Zongyuan Sun. 2020. Redox changes in the outer Yangtze Sea (South China) through the Hirnantian Glaciation and their implications for the end-Ordovician biocrisis. Earth-Science Reviews. 212: 103443.
(17) Chao Li*, Wei Shi, Meng Cheng, Chengsheng Jin, Thomas J Algeo. 2020. The redox structure of Ediacaran and early Cambrian oceans and its controls. Science Bulletin. 65(24): 2141-2149.
(16) Chao Li*, Zihu Zhang, Chengsheng Jin, Meng Cheng, Haiyang Wang, Junhua Huang, and Thomas J. Algeo. 2020. Spatiotemporal evolution and causes of marine euxinia in the early Cambrian Nanhua Basin (South China). Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 546,, 109676.
(15) Wang Haiyang, Zihu Zhang, Chao Li*, Thomas J. Algeo, Meng Cheng and Wei Wang. 2020. Spatiotemporal redox heterogeneity and transient marine shelf oxygenation in the Mesoproterozoic ocean. Geochimica et Coschimica Acta. 270, 201-217.
(14) Jin, C., Li, C.*, Algeo, T.J., Wu, S., Cheng, M., Zhang, Z. and Shi, W. (2020) Controls on organic matter accumulation on the early-Cambrian western Yangtze Platform, South China. Mar. Petrol. Geol. 111, 75-87.
(13) Zhang, F.*, Xiao, S., Romaniello, S.J., Hardisty, D., Li, C., Melezhik, V., Pokrovsky, B., Cheng, M., Shi, W., Lenton, T.M. and Anbar, A.D. (2019) Global marine redox changes drove the rise and fall of the Ediacara biota. Geobiology. 17, 594-610.
(12) Li, N., Li, C.*, Fan, J., Algeo, T.J., Yan, D., Zhu, G., Wu, S., Tang, S., Cheng, M. and Jin, C. (2019) Sulfate-controlled marine euxinia in the semi-restricted inner Yangtze Sea (South China) during the Ordovician-Silurian transition. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 534. 109281.
(11) Zihu Zhang, Chao Li*, Meng Cheng, Thomas J. Algeo, Chengsheng Jin, Feng Tang, and Junhua Huang. 2018. Evidence for highly complex redox conditions and strong water-column stratification in an early Cambrian continental-margin sea. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. 19 (8), 2397-2410.
(10) Chao Li*, Meng Cheng, Maoyan Zhu and Timothy W. Lyons. Heterogeneous and dynamic marine shelf oxygenation and coupled early animal evolution. Emerging Topics in Life Sciences. doi: 10.1042/ETLS20170157.
(9) Chengsheng Jin, Chao Li*, Thomas J. Algeo, Brennan O'Connell, Meng Cheng, Wei Shi, Jun Shen, Noah J. Planavsky. 2018. Highly heterogeneous “poikiloredox” conditions in the early Ediacaran Yangtze Sea. Precambrian Research. 311: 157-166.
(8) Wei Shi, Chao Li*, Genming Luo, Junhua Huang, Thomas J. Algeo, Chengsheng Jin, Zihu Zhang, Meng Cheng. 2018. Sulfur isotope evidence for transient marine-shelf oxidation during the Ediacaran Shuram Excursion. Geology. 46:267-270.
(7) Chao Li*, Chengsheng Jin, Noah J Planavsky, Thomas J Algeo, Meng Cheng, Xinglian Yang, Yuanlong Zhao, Shucheng Xie. 2017. Coupled oceanic oxygenation and metazoan diversification during the early–middle Cambrian? Geology. 45: 743-746.
(6) Li-Dan Lei, Jun Shen, Thomas J. Algeo, Zhong-Qiang Chen, Qing-Lai Feng, Meng Cheng, Cheng-Sheng Jin, Jun-Hua Huang*, Chao Li*. 2017. Controls on regional marine redox evolution during Permian-Triassic transition in South China. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 486: 17-32.
(5) Cheng-Sheng Jin, Chao Li*, Thomas J. Algeo, Meng Cheng, Li-Dan Lei, Zi-Hu Zhang, Wei Shi. 2017. Evidence for marine redox control on spatial colonization of early animals during Cambrian Age 3 (c. 521-514 Ma) in South China. Geological Magazine. 154: 1360-1370.
(4) Chao Li*, Dalton S. Hardisty, Genming Luo, Junhua Huang, Thomas J. Algeo, Meng Cheng, Wei Shi, Zhihui An, Jinnan Tong, Shucheng Xie, Nianzhi Jiao, Timothy W. Lyons. 2017. Uncovering the spatial heterogeneity of Ediacaran carbon cycling. Geobiology. 15:211-224.
(3) Chao Li*, Noah J. Planavsky, Wei Shi, Zihu Zhang, Chuanming Zhou, Meng Cheng, Lidya G. Tarhan, Genming Luo, Shucheng Xie. 2015. Ediacaran Marine Redox Heterogeneity and Early Animal Ecosystems. Scientific Reports. 5: 17097.
(2) Chao Li*, Meng Cheng, Thomas J. Algeo, Shucheng Xie. 2015. A theoretical prediction of chemical zonation in early oceans (>520 Ma). Science China Earth Sciences. 58(11): 1901-1909.
(1) 李超*,程猛,Thomas J. Algeo,谢树成. 2015. 早期地球海洋水化学分带的理论预测. 中国科学:地球科学. 45(12): 1829-1838. (In Chinese with English abstract)
