COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: Silicified Paleocene Plants from North Dakota: Phylogenetic and Biogeographic Significance

合作方案：来自北达科他州的硅化古新世植物：系统发育和生物地理意义亚利桑那州立大学的凯瑟琳·皮格；佐治亚州大学的梅勒妮·德沃尔EAR-0345838和EAR-0345569摘要古新世晚期标志着许多重要的开花植物家族早期多样化的关键时期。此时的植物发生在白垩纪-第三纪灭绝事件的生物恢复之后，但不久于古新世/始新世过渡的主要气候变化之前。北达科他州晚古新世的阿尔蒙特植物群和贝塞格尔克里克植物群为研究当时发生的变化的植物群和扩大更稀有的古新世成分的文献提供了一个无与伦比的机会，特别是出现了主要是温带的科(毛茅科)和属[山茱萸、山茱萸和宏(枫树)]。由于这些保存异常完好的植物群记录了植物化石遗迹的内部解剖和外部表面特征，它们可以作为比较同一时代两种不同类型化石的基准：欧洲种子和果实组合以及北美西部和亚洲的叶压植物群。这项资助的研究将为其他侧重温带科(猕猴桃科、桦树科、毛茅科)的进化史以及北美和亚洲植物区系的生物地理史和发展的研究提供宝贵的信息。第一批研究生和本科生，包括女性和代表性不足的群体，将接受古生物学培训。其次，还有许多其他的推广途径，包括将信息纳入正式课程，从环境科学入门到社区生态学和植物解剖学，在博物馆举办公开讲座，以及为K-12学校举办活动(通过GC&amp；Su的学术推广计划)。最后，将为GC&amp；Su的新博物馆设立一个关于阿尔蒙特植物群的展览，展示生物和环境科学系五名从事新生代植物群和动物群工作的教职员工的研究。

COLLABORATIVE PROPOSAL: Silicified Paleocene plants from North Dakota: phylogenetic and biogeographic significanceKathleen Pigg, Arizona State University; Melanie DeVore, Georgia CollegeEAR-0345838 and EAR-0345569ABSTRACTThe Late Paleocene marks a pivotal time in the early diversification of many important flowering plant families. Plants of this time occur after the biotic recovery from the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction events, yet shortly before the major climate changes of the Paleocene/Eocene transition. The Late Paleocene Almont and Beicegel Creek floras from North Dakota provide an unparalleled opportunity to study the changing flora that occurred at this time and to expand the documentation of rarer Paleocene elements, especially the emergence of mostly temperate families (Ranunculaceae, the buttercup family) and genera [Cornus, (the dogwoods) and Acer (maples)]. Because these unusually preserved floras document both internal anatomy and external surface features of fossil plant remains, they can serve as a benchmark with which to compare two disparate types of fossils of the same age: European seed and fruit assemblages and leaf compression floras of western North America and Asia. The funded research will provide invaluable information useful for other studies focusing on the evolutionary history of temperate families (Actinidiaceae, Betulaceae, Ranunculaceae) and the biogeographic history and development of North American and Asian floras.This project will provide an excellent opportunity for outreach. First graduate and undergraduate students, including women and underrepresented groups will be trained in paleobiology. Second, there are a number of other avenues for outreach including incorporation of information in formal courses ranging from introductory environmental science to community ecology and plant anatomy, public lectures in museums, and activities for K-12 schools (through GC&SU's Academic Outreach Program). Finally, an exhibit on the Almont Flora will be established for GC&SU's new museum showcasing the research of the Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences five faculty members who work with Cenozoic floras and faunas.