Diversity and Distribution of Fossil Floras from Southern Victoria Land, Antrctica

本次调查的重点是收集和研究南极干旱河谷地区的植物化石。尽管在该地区工作的地质学家注意到了植物化石，但到目前为止，还没有系统地尝试收集和描述这些植物群的详细情况。该地区的植物群年龄从泥盆纪到侏罗纪不等，并以挤压/印记化石的形式保存下来，还有一些石化木材的例子。调查将包括在两个野外季节对38个地点进行系统和详细的收集。由于南极洲的植物群是世界上最鲜为人知的植物群之一，对这些化石的系统研究提供了一个独特的机会来比较大地质时期的花卉多样性和组成。在它们发生的地质背景下对这些植物群进行评估，将提供一个重要的数据来源，可用于广泛的研究，包括生物地层学、古生态学和古气候学。

This investigation focuses on the collection and study fossil plants from the Dry Valley region of Antarctica. To date there has been no systematic attempt to collect and describe these floras in detail, although fossil plants have been noted by geologists working in the area. Floras from the area range in age from Devonian to Jurassic and are preserved as compression/ impression fossils with some examples of petrified wood. The investigation will include systematic and detailed collections from 38 localities over two field seasons. Since the floras from Antarctica are some of the most poorly known in the world, a systematic study of these fossils provides a unique opportunity to compare floral diversity and composition over a large span of geologic time. An evaluation of these floras in the context of the geological setting in which they occur will provide an important source of data that can be used in wide-ranging studies, including biostratigraphy, paleoecology and paleoclimatology.