CAREER: Exploring the Neogene Plant Record of Global Vegetational and Climatic Changes in eastern North America - Research and Education Program

职业：探索北美东部全球植被和气候变化的新近纪植物记录？刘玉生(东田纳西州立大学生物科学系；项目主要研究了中新世晚期-上新世早期(7 ？来自田纳西州东北部灰色化石遗址的450万年前的植物化石。这项研究的一个重要组成部分将包括收集化石，包括保存完好的种子、水果、树叶、木材、木炭、花粉和孢子。这些植物的系统、古生态学、地语学和生物地理学意义将被评估。新近纪气候已成为重要的研究热点。然而，我们对北美东部新近纪气候条件的认识是有限的。定量的古气候重建在很大程度上是未知的。由于化石植物可以提供古代气候的证据，并且利用化石植物进行定量气候重建的一些技术已经得到了改进，对Gray古植物区系的研究将有助于了解北美东南部新近纪气候的性质和模式。这些方面的研究将通过叶片面相分析和共存方法来解决。这项提议的影响体现在教育和推广活动上，它将古生物学的兴奋带给了大学生、K-12学生和教师，以及公众。随着Gray遗址的发现，东田纳西州立大学（ETSU）致力于开发新课程，在遗址附近建造自然历史博物馆，并为当地、地区、国家甚至国际观众提供适当的公共宣传项目。在这两门新课程中，？古植物学吗?每年春季会开设一门生物学本科高级课程吗？中国的化石资源？是一门以实地考察为主的暑期海外学习课程。博物馆外展活动包括为K-12学生提供实践活动，为公众提供自然历史培训，为行政人员、K-12教师和游客提供公开讲座/讲习班。研究成果将纳入教育活动，在专业会议上发表，并在同行评审的期刊上发表。该研究项目将在资助期内支持至多三名研究生和五名本科生的培训。这些学生将参与野外工作、数据收集、实验室化石处理和科学解释，并鼓励发表成果和参加专业会议。他们还将参与博物馆的外展工作，并在实验室部分提供帮助。古植物学吗?课程。这两门新课程每年将影响多达45名在校学生，博物馆的教育项目将影响更多来自当地、全国和国际游客的观众。

CAREER: Exploring the Neogene Plant Record of Global Vegetational and Climatic Changes in eastern North America ? Research and Education Program Yusheng LIU (Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University. Email: liuc@etsu.edu)The proposed project centers on the collection, identification, paleoclimatic reconstruction, paleoecologic analysis, and biogeographical implication of latest Miocene-earliest Pliocene (7 ? 4.5 million years old) plant fossils from the Gray Fossil Site in northeast Tennessee. A significant component of the research will involve collecting fossils including well-preserved seeds, fruits, leaves, wood, charcoal, pollen, and spores. The systematic, paleoecologic, taphonomic, and biogeographic implications of the plants will be assessed. Neogene climate has become an important research focus. Our understanding on the Neogene climate conditions in eastern North America, however, is limited. Quantitative paleoclimatic reconstruction in this region is largely unexplored. Because fossil plants can provide evidence of ancient climates and several techniques for quantitative climatic reconstruction using fossil plants have been improved, study of the Gray paleoflora will contribute toward understanding the nature and patterns of Neogene climate in southeastern North America. These aspects of the research will be addressed by employing leaf physiognomy analysis and coexistence approach.The impacts of this proposal are manifest in educational and outreach initiatives that bring the excitement of paleontology to college students, K-12 students and teachers, and the public. Following the discovery of the Gray site, East Tennessee State University (ETSU) committed to its development by the development of new courses, the construction of a Natural History Museum adjacent to the site, and with appropriate public outreach programs to local, regional, national, even international audiences. Of the two new courses, ?Paleobotany? will be a biology undergraduate upper-level course to be offered every spring, while ?Fossil Resources of China? is a field-oriented study-abroad summer course. Museum outreach include a hands-on activity for K-12 students, training on natural history for the public, and public talks/workshops for people ranging from administrators, K-12 teachers, to tourists. Research results will be incorporated into education activities, presented at professional meetings, and published in peer-reviewed journals. The research project will support the training of up to three graduate and five undergraduate students at ETSU within funding years. These students will participate in field work, data gathering, fossil processing in the lab, and scientific interpretation and will be encouraged to publish outcomes and participate in professional meetings. They will also involve in museum outreach and help with lab sections of ?Paleobotany? course. The two new courses will impact up to 45 students per year on campus and the museum education programs will affect even larger audiences from local, national, and international visitors.