中国东北地区更新世晚期大型哺乳动物消亡的时间及驱动因素研究

第四纪晚期大型哺乳动物灭绝（LQME）是距今时间最近的一次生物灭绝事件，其对地球生态环境的影响可以延续至今。然而，关于LQME发生的机制仍存在争议，关注的焦点在于主导因素是人类影响还是气候环境变化。我国东北地区保存有丰富的更新世晚期哺乳动物化石，也是旧石器古人类活动的重要区域，可作为研究LQME发生机制的理想实验场。本项目以东北地区典型的化石埋藏地点作为主要研究对象，通过系统的发掘，理清哺乳动物化石的埋藏地层；在精确控制地层以及化石的年代基础上，利用孢粉等环境指标重建更新世晚期时段的植被与气候环境演变过程;将气候环境变化与化石的考古学研究相结合，理解气候-植被-动物-人类之间的相互作用机制，进而认识LQME在我国东北地区发生的时间过程及驱动因素。本项研究将为理解全球LQME发生机制，以及气候变化和人类影响背景下东北地区生物多样性的保护提供科学参考。

The late Quaternary megafauna extinction (LQME) is the most recent extinction event in the earth, and its impacts on the ecosystems almost certainly linger to present. However, the mechanisms of LQME remain highly contested, with human impacts or climate change cited as principal drivers. Abundant late Pleistocene mammal fossils are preserved in NE China, which is an important habitat for Paleolithic human, thus can be used as an ideal experimental field to study the mechanisms of LQME. . In this project, typical fossil sites will be selected to study the timeframe and principal factors of LQME in NE China. The burial strata of mammal fossils will be sorted out by systematic excavation. Based on accurate dating of stratigraphic and fossil ages, the vegetation and climatic history during late Pleistocene will be reconstructed using palynology and other environmental indicators. Understanding the interaction mechanisms of climate-vegetation-megafauna-humans by combining the environmental changes with the archaeological study of fossils, will decipher the timeframe and drivers of LQME in NE China. This study can provide scientific reference for understanding the mechanisms of global LQME and the conservation of modern biodiversity in NE China under the context of climatic changes and human disturbance.