The plant diversity and its relationship with paleoenvironment since 2.78 Ma revealed by pollen records in the Heqing deep drilling core

Multifold palynological diversity indices calculated by pollen data of the Heqing deep drilling core are synthetically analyzed, the results show that the plant diversity rapidly increased and its fluctuant amplitude and frequency evidently largened during the stages of 2.729–2.608 Ma, 1.176–0.342 Ma and since 0.118 Ma respectively, while during the other periods the plant diversity was relatively low with a gentle fluctuation. To discuss further the relation between ancient plant diversity and paleoenvironment, it is considered that the plant diversity in the Heqing region lies on increase or decrease of vertical vegetational belts in mountains around the studied area and richness of components of these vegetational belts, and is controlled by amplitude of tectonic uplift of mountains and climatic changes. The high plant diversity during 2.729–2.608 Ma responded to the strong uplift of mountains at the stage, while the plant diversity greatly increased and its fluctuant amplitude and frequency markedly largened at about 1.176 Ma was obviously response to the Middle Pleistocene Transition. The plant diversity and its fluctuant amplitude and frequency increased further at about 0.991 Ma may be superposably affected by both the Middle Pleistocene Transition and the tectonic uplift. The plant diversity increased since 0.118 Ma may indicate that the southwest monsoon strengthened and humid climate more fitted many kinds of plants to grow. Supported by Key Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40331003, 40702029 and 40672210)