Profile
I did my BSc in biology from 1999 to 2003 at China West Normal
University, People's Republic of China. I graduated with a PhD degree
from Wuhan University in June 2009. I moved to China West Normal
University as a biological teacher beginning July 2009. I was as a
professor in China West Normal University beginning December 2012. I
joined EGRU as a visiting researcher in July 2013.
Research Project
My research interests lie in fields of life-history traits, sexual selection
and population differentiation of anurans. Specially, my past studies
involve three aspects: (1) geographical variation in age structure, growth
and body size of Chinese frogs, (2) mate choice and competition among
males of toads, and (3) variation in SSD of anurans at inter-or intraspecies level. Now, I am studying variation in brain size in anurans and
molecular evolution of toad at different populations.
Selected publications
Liao, W.B. 2013. Evolution of sexual size dimorphism in a frog obeys
the inverse of Rensch’s rule. Evolutionary Biology, 40: 493-499.
Liao, W.B., Zeng, Y., Zhou, C.Q. 2013. Sexual size dimorphism in
anurans fails to obey Rensch's rule. Frontiers in Zoology, 10: 10.
Liao, W.B., Lu, X. 2012. Adult body size = f (initial size + growth rate 
age): explaining the proximate cause of Bergman’s cline in a toad along
altitudinal gradients. Evolutionary Ecology, 26: 579-590.
Liao, W.B., Chen, W. 2012. Inverse Rensch-rule in a frog with femalebiased sexual size dimorphism. Naturwissenschaften, 99: 427-431.
Liao, W.B., Lu, X. 2012. Variation in mating patterns in the Andrew’s
toad Bufo andrewsi along an elevational gradient in southwestern China.
Ethology Ecology and Evolution, 24: 174-186.
Liao, W.B., Lu, X. 2011. Proximate mechanisms leading to large malemating advantage in the Andrew's toad Bufo andrewsi. Behaviour, 148:
1087-1102.
Liao, W.B., Lu, X. 2011. Variation in body size, age and growth in a
subtropical treefrog (Rhacophorus omeimontis) along an altitudinal
gradient in western China. Ethology Ecology and Evolution, 23: 248-261.
Liao, W.B., Lu, X. 2010a. Age and growth of a subtropical highelevation torrent frog, Amolops mantzorum, in western China. Journal of
Herpetology, 44: 172-176.
Liao, W.B., Lu, X. 2010b. Age structure and body size of the Chuanxi
Tree Frog Hyla annectans chuanxiensis from two different elevations in
Sichuan (China). Zoologischer Anzeiger, 248: 255-263.
Liao, W.B., Zhou, C.Q., Yang, Z.S. Hu, J.C., Lu, X. 2010. Age, size and
growth in two populations of the Dark-Spotted Frog Rana nigromaculata
at different altitudes in southwestern China. Herpetological Journal, 20:
77-82.
Liao, W.B., Lu, X. 2009a. Male mate choice in the Andrew's toad Bufo
andrewsi: a preference for larger females. Journal of Ethology, 27: 413417.
Liao, W.B., Lu, X. 2009b. Sex recognition by male Andrew’s toad Bufo
andrewsi in a subtropical montane region. Behavioural Processes, 82:
100-103.
Liao, W.B., Li, C., Hu, J.C., Lu, X. 2008. Roosting behaviour of the
endangered Sichuan Hill-partridge Arborophila rufipectus during the
breeding season. Bird Conservation International, 18: 260-266.
Liao, W.B., Li, C., Hu, J.C., Lu, X. 2007. Habitat utilization of the
Sichuan hill-partridge Arborophila rufipectus in the non-breeding season
in Laojunshan Nature Reserve. Zoological Research, 28: 172-178.