Paleocene Spread of Deciduous Hardwood Forest in North America and Asia: Megafossil and Palynological Correlations

古新世是白垩纪末期后，被子植物现代科进化和落叶双子叶植物在北半球迅速传播的重要时期。该研究将提高亚洲中纬度地区古新世与北美西部地区关键属的系统和地层分辨率。与南京地质古生物研究所合作，将对中国西北和东北地区的古新世植物区系进行描述，特别关注与北美古新世共有的叶片和花粉分类群。怀俄明州的地层剖面已经提供了有用的孢粉地层序列，为了将巨型化石与孢粉带联系起来，将收集树叶、水果和花朵的地层剖面。将特别关注在古新世经历进化辐射的金蚕科，包括核桃科、桦木科、榆木科和Platanaceae。此外，将尝试用陆地哺乳动物阶段和/或放射性年代单位来校准孢粉和巨型花区。

The Paleocene was an important interval in the evolution of modern families of angiosperms and in the rapid spread of deciduous dicotyledons in the Northern Hemisphere following the terminal Cretaceous event. This study will improve the systematic and stratigraphic resolution of key genera shared between the Paleocene of mid-latitude Asia and western North America. In cooperation with the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, selected Paleocene floras in northwestern and northeastern China will be described with particular attention to leaf and pollen taxa that are shared with the Paleocene of North America. Stratigraphic sections in Wyoming that have already provided useful palynostratigraphic sequences will be recollected for leaves, fruits and flowers in order to link megafossils with the palynological zonation. Special attention will be given to families of the Hamamelidae that were undergoing evolutionary radiations through the Paleocene, including Juglandacea, Betulaceae, Ulmacea, and Platanaceae. In addition, attempts will be made to calibrate palynological and megafloral zones with land mammal stages and/or radiometrically dated units.