Address |
(Office): Rm 201A, Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory |
![]() |
Phone |
(Office): (852) 3943 3057 |
|
Fax | (852) 2603 5391 | |
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
||
Web | https://www.mmeelab.com/ | |
|
Education
2010 | PhD (Biology), The Chinese University of Hong Kong |
2007 | MPhil (Biology), The Chinese University of Hong Kong |
2005 | BSc (Biology), The Chinese University of Hong Kong |
Positions
- 2025-present Associate Professor, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- 2018-2025 Assistant Professor, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- 2016-2018 Associate Professor, Institute of Marine Biology, National Taiwan Ocean University
- 2013-2016 Assistant Professor, Institute of Marine Biology, National Taiwan Ocean University
- 2010-2013 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Research Interests
- Phylogeny and genome evolution of crustaceans
- Molecular ecology of marine invertebrates
- Marine biodiversity, biogeography and conservation
Representative Publications
- Tsang CTT, Hui TKL, Chung NM, Yuen WT, Tsang LM* (2024) Comparative analysis of gut microbiome of mangrove brachyuran crabs revealed patterns of phylosymbiosis and codiversification. Molecular Ecology 33: e17377<.
- Hui TKL, Lo ICN, Wong KKW, Tsang CTT, Tsang LM* (2024) Metagenomic analysis of gut microbiome illuminates the mechanisms and evolution of lignocellulose degradation in mangrove herbivorous crabs. BMC Microbiology 24:57.
- Chow LH, Ahyong ST, Tsang CTT, Lam YF, Naruse T, Ng PKL, Tsang LM* (2023) Shift in symbiotic lifestyle as the major process shaping the evolution of pinnotheroid crabs (Decapoda: Brachyura). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 188:107904.
- Chow LH, Yu VPF, Kho ZY, See GCL, Wang A, Baker DM, Tsang LM* (2022) An updated checklist of sea slugs (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia) from Hong Kong supported by citizen science. Zoological Studies 61:52.
- Tsang CTT, Schubart CDS, Chu KH, Ng PKL, Tsang LM* (2022) Molecular phylogeny of Thoracotremata crabs (Decapoda, Brachyura): Toward adopting monophyletic superfamilies, invasion history into terrestrial habitats and multiple origins of symbiosis. Molecular Phylogenetic and Evolution 177:107596.
- Chow LH, De Grave S, Tsang LM* (2021) Evolution of protective symbiosis in palaemonid shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea) with emphases on host spectrum and morphological adaptations (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea). Molecular Phylogenetic and Evolution 162:107201.
- Lee BY, Wakabayashi K, Sin SYW, Ohtsuka S, Tsang LM* (2021) DNA metabarcoding revealed interspecific dietary difference and prey selectivity in juvenile horseshoe crabs Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda and Tachypleus tridentatus from Hong Kong. Frontiers in Marine Science 8:752806.
- Ma KY, Qin J, Lin C-W, Chan T-Y, Ng PKL, Chu KH, Tsang LM* (2019) Phylogenomic analyses of brachyuran crabs support early divergence of primary freshwater crabs. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 135:62-66.
- Tsang LM, Schubart CD, Ahyong ST, Lai JCY, Au EYC, Chan TY, Ng PKL, Chu KH (2014) Evolutionary history of true crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) and the origins of freshwater crabs. Molecular Biology and Evolution 31:1173-1187.
- Tsang LM, Chan T-Y, Ahyong ST, Chu KH (2011) Hermit to king, or hermit to all: Multiple transitions to crab-like forms from hermit crab ancestors. Systematic Biology 60:616-629.
Research Grants
- 2025-2027, Research Grants Council (RGC) GRF, A genus-level tree of life for Decapoda: disentangling the factors driving speciation and diversity distribution in marine invertebrates, HK$1,545,203
- 2024-2026, Research Grants Council (RGC) GRF, Multi-omics study on the lignocellulose degradation by holobionts in mangrove sesarmid crabs: a game-changer for terrestrialization, HK$1,565,590
- 2023-2025, Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF), Discovering Hong Kong sea slug diversity, distribution and habitat preference through joint effort of scientific survey and citizen scientist programme, HK$1,365,000
- 2023-2025, Lantau Conservation Fund (LCF), Investigating the impacts of flow regulation on the ecosystem functioning and fauna connectivity in ecologically important freshwater streams of Lantau: implications to habitat restoration and biodiversity enhancement, HK$1,725,880
- 2022-2024, Marine Conservation Enhancement Fund (MCEF), Study on the diversity and distribution of octocoral community and associated invertebrates in southern waters of Hong Kong, HK$1,359,600
- 2022-2023, Marine Ecology Enhancement Fund (MEEF), Genetic connectivity of octocoral populations in South and Western Hong Kong water: implications to conservation management of deep-water community, HK$595,100
- 2021-2024, Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF), Study on coral reef crustaceans - Identifying the biodiversity hotspot and promoting marine conservation, HK$1,191,800
- 2020-2024, Research Grants Council (RGC) GRF, On the origin of Southwest China biodiversity hotspot: A biogeographic study of atyid shrimps, HK$996,285
- 2020-2022, Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF), Integrated systematics and conservation genomics of Platygyra and Porites corals in Hong Kong - Resolving taxonomic uncertainties and promoting coral conservation, HK$1,040,600
- 2020-2022, Research Grants Council (RGC) GRF, Phylosymbiosis of mangrove dominant Sesarmidae crabs (Crustacea: Brachyura): insights into mechanisms of adaptive radiation in herbivorous crustaceans, HK$1,039,124
Award
- 2012, Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Award, in the category of Natural Sciences (Second Class), from the Ministry of Education (MoE), China