研究植物性狀對地質(zhì)歷史時期氣候變化的響應(yīng)不僅有助于了解植物演化的歷史還可為研究植物演化的機制及應(yīng)對未來氣候變化提供理論基礎(chǔ),?；鳛檫^去生命的直接證據(jù),，是研究植物演化及對氣候變化響應(yīng)的一把鑰匙,。
中科院西雙版納熱帶植物園古生態(tài)研究組博士后星耀武在合作導師周浙昆研究員的指導下,，與研究組其他科研人員合作,，詳細研究了云南晚中新世先鋒植物群中的櫟屬化石,，通過對比化石與現(xiàn)生櫟屬的葉結(jié)構(gòu),、葉表皮微形態(tài)特征,，認為化石與黃毛青岡具有最近的親緣關(guān)系。對比化石種與黃毛青岡的氣孔密度發(fā)現(xiàn),，化石種的氣孔密度高于現(xiàn)生黃毛青岡,，暗示了晚中新世時期的二氧化碳密度可能比現(xiàn)代低，這也與新生代二氧化碳濃度重建的結(jié)果相吻合。
植物葉表皮毛往往認為是對干旱環(huán)境的一種適應(yīng),，在此研究中,，化石種的毛被密度高于現(xiàn)生黃毛青岡，但該地古氣候重建的結(jié)果表明,，晚中新世時期遠比現(xiàn)代濕潤,，因此黃毛青岡表皮毛的演化不僅僅受降水量的影響。
相關(guān)研究成果發(fā)表在國際專業(yè)期刊Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology上,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦的英文摘要
Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology doi: 10.1016/j.revpalbo.2013.02.001
A new Quercus species from the upper Miocene of southwestern China and its ecological significance
Yaowu Xing, Jinjin Hu, Frédéric M.B. Jacquesa, Li Wang, Tao Su, Yongjiang Huang, Yu-Sheng (Christopher) Liu, Zhekun Zhou
Quercus praedelavayi Xing Y.W. et Zhou Z.K. sp. nov. is reported from the upper Miocene of the Xianfeng flora in central Yunnan, southwestern China. The fossil species is identified based on the detailed leaf morphological and cuticular examinations. The primary venation is pinnate and the major secondary venation is craspedodromous with regular spacing. Stomata are anomocytic and occur on abaxial epidermis. Trichome bases are unicellular and multicellular. The new fossil species shows the closest affinity with Quercus delavayi, an extant species distributing in southwestern China. The responses of the functional leaf traits to the climate change were studied by comparing the leaf characters of fossil species and its nearest living relative. The stomatal density of Q. praedelavayi is higher than Q. delavayi, which suggests a lower palaeoatmospheric CO2 concentration during the late Miocene. The trichome base density of Q. praedelavayi is higher than the extant Q. delavayi. Considering the palaeoclimatic reconstruction of Xianfeng flora, it rejected the hypothesis that increase in trichome density is an adaptation to the drier environment.
