Changes in organismic diversification rates with regard to the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and associated climate and vegetation changes

我们的目的是比较青藏高原（QTP）地区（地球上最重要的地形特征之一）主要地质、气候和古植被变化中不同生物群（植物、鸟类、卵菌和溪流昆虫）多样化率的时间变化。通过研究古近纪至更新世的生物演化，我们希望解决以下问题：(1)QTP地区各分类类群多样性的变化是否与主要的地质/构造或气候事件在时间上一致？(2)青藏高原地区的分类类群多样性是否高于世界其他高海拔地区？QTP生物多样性热点是其生物多样性增加的结果吗？(3) QTP地区古植被的重大变化是否影响了部分而非全部研究类群（如鸟类）的多样化率？

We aim at comparing temporal shifts in diversification rates across various organismic groups (plants, birds, oomycetes and stream insects) with regard to major geological, climatic and palaeo-vegetation changes in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) region, one of the earth's most significant topographic features. By focusing on the evolution of organisms from the Palaeogene up to the Pleistocene, we want to address the following questions: (1) Do changes in diversification rates of various taxonomic groups temporally coincide with major geological/tectonic or climatic events in the QTP region? (2) Are diversification rates higher for taxonomic groups occurring in the QTP region than in other high elevation areas of the world? Is the QTP biodiversity hotspot a result of increased diversification rates of its biotas? (3) Did major changes in palaeo-vegetation in the QTP region influence diversification rates of some, but not all of the study groups (e.g. birds)?