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

合作建议：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晚古新世标志着许多重要开花植物科早期多样化的关键时期。这一时期的植物出现在生物从白垩纪-第三纪灭绝事件中恢复之后，但在古新世/始新世过渡的主要气候变化之前不久。来自北达科他州的晚古新世Almont和Beicegel Creek植物群提供了一个无与伦比的机会来研究这个时期发生的变化的植物群，并扩展了罕见的古新世元素的文献，特别是大多数温带科（毛茛科，毛茛科）和属（山茱萸科）和槭属（枫树）)的出现。因为这些保存异常的植物区系记录了植物化石遗骸的内部解剖结构和外部表面特征，它们可以作为比较同一时代的两种不同类型化石的基准：欧洲的种子和果实组合以及北美西部和亚洲的叶片压缩区系。这项资助的研究将为其他关注温带科（猕猴桃科、桦木科、毛茛科）的进化史以及北美和亚洲植物区系的生物地理历史和发展的研究提供宝贵的信息。这个项目将提供一个极好的推广机会。第一届研究生和本科生，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，博物馆的公开讲座，以及K-12学校的活动（通过GC&amp；SU的学术推广计划）。最后，一个关于Almont植物群的展览将在GC&amp；SU的新博物馆中建立，展示生物与环境科学系五位从事新生代动植物研究的教员的研究成果。

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.