未来10年(2000-2010)美国古生物学研究方向 --地球-生命耦合系统的动力学历史

阐述了美国2000—2010年古生物研究的4个主要方向: ①生物多样性的驱动机制，这些机制所适用的时空尺度；②主要的生物演变时、空分布的不均一性；③生物系统如何影响地表的物、化性质，生物地球化学循环如何随时间发生变化？④生物圈对区域尺度和全球尺度环境变化的反应，以及每一个方向包含的主要科学问题.。最后阐述了运用古生物知识认识当代环境变化。

RESEARCH DIRECTIONS IN PALEONTOLOGY IN THE NEXT DECADE-- Dynamic History of the Earth-Life System

The four paleontological major research directions in the United States from 2000 to 2010 are introduced :1.What rules govern biodiversity dynamics, and do those rules apply at all temporal and patial scales? 2.Why are major evolutionary innovations unevenly distributed in space and time? 3.How have biological systems influenced the physical and chemical nature of the Earth's surface, and how has biogeochemical cycling changed through time? 4.How does the biosphere respond to environmental perturbations at regional and global scales?, including key scientific question. Finally, it is introduced that applications of paleontology to understanding current environmental perturbations.