Advance in quantitative explanation of patterns and processes of terrestrial ecosystems since the Late Cretaceous
定量研究晚白垩世以来陆地生态系统演化格局和过程的新进展

The origin and evolution of land plants is closely related to their surrounding global environments.They exhibit dynamic trends through the Phanerozoic.Angiosperms appeared in the Early Cretaceous,and dominated the vegetation on the Earth in the Late Cretaceous.They had a great impact on the patterns and processes of evolution of global terrestrial ecosystems.Numerous angiosperm leaf remains deposited in the strata are believed to document biological information such as physiognomic characteristics,and it can be employed to account for the processes.This article briefly reviews the research activities of quantitative analysis of palaeoclimate and palaeogeograghy using leaf physiognomy.In the early 1990s,Climate\|Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program(CLAMP)was developed.CLAMP is characteristic of accuracy and precision pertaining to the estimates of palaeoclimate,and very important to quantitative reconstruction of the patterns and processes of evolution of global terrestrial ecosytems.Future research directions are also prospected.