DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Documenting Early Eocene environmental and climatic change in southwestern Wyoming from a paleobotanical perspective

怀俄明州西南部的布里奇组(~49 Ma)是研究始新世古植物学和气候变化的理想地点。虽然这种结构在理解已灭绝的哺乳动物和爬行动物方面发挥了重要作用，但丰富的植物化石在很大程度上被忽视了，尽管它们有记录环境的潜力。布里杰化石植物群提供了异常完整地重建原始植物群的机会，因为它保存了所有的植物器官，包括叶、木材、花、水果、种子和花粉。将结合植物学、古生物学和地质学的方法对这些植物化石进行检查，以评估物种组成、古气候和古生态。这些结果将与来自大落基山脉和北美西海岸的其他始新世植物群进行比较。这项工作很重要，因为布里杰植物群可能有许多物种进化并对北美西部的现代植被做出了贡献。此外，这项工作还将记录应对气候变化的植被变化。研究成果将在即将到来的会议上发表，并在适当的期刊上发表，此外，还将在怀俄明州实地附近举办免费讲座，吸引更多的公众。还将建立一个网站，定期更新实地和实验室情况。合作者皮艾伦将设计一个小型临时展览，展示布里杰植物群，在佛罗里达自然历史博物馆展出，并将继续在那里担任志愿者讲解导游。艾伦还将指导一名本科生，为他/她提供获得真正研究经验的机会。

The Bridger Formation (~49 Ma) in southwestern Wyoming is ideally situated for examining paleobotanical and climate changes in the Eocene. While this formation has played an important role in the understanding of extinct mammals and reptiles, the abundant fossil plants have been largely overlooked, despite their potential for documenting the environment. The Bridger fossil flora provides the opportunity for unusually complete reconstruction of the original flora, because it preserves all plant organs including leaves, wood, flowers, fruits, seeds, and pollen. The fossilized plants will be examined to assess the species composition, paleoclimate, and paleoecology with a combination of botanical, paleontological, and geological approaches. These results will be compared to other Eocene floras from the greater Rocky Mountains and west coast of North America. This work is important because the Bridger flora likely has many species that evolved and contributed to the modern vegetation of western North America. In addition, this work will document vegetational changes in response to climate shifts. Research results will be presented at upcoming conferences and published in appropriate journals in addition to engaging the greater public with a free lecture in Wyoming near the field site. A website will also be created for regular field and lab updates. Co-PI Allen will design a small, temporary exhibit showcasing the Bridger flora for display at the Florida Museum of Natural History and will continue to serve there as a volunteer interpretive guide. Allen will also mentor an undergraduate to provide him/her an opportunity to gain real research experience.