壳斗科植物属种丰富，广泛分布于北半球温带、亚热带和热带地区，以亚洲东南部为多样性分布中心。壳斗科化石以往的研究主要集中在北美西部和东南部、俄罗斯远东及我国北方和西南等地区，而华南低纬度热带-亚热带地区，作为现代壳斗科植物多样性分布中心的一部分，却几乎没有相关化石报道。本项目将全面研究华南地区古近纪（包括海南岛长昌盆地始新世、广东茂名盆地始新世至渐新世及广西南宁盆地渐新世）壳斗科的系统分类、多样性组成、区系成分及系统演化，同时结合北美西部和东南部及俄罗斯远东等其它地区的化石材料，全面系统地探讨壳斗科的植物地理史。由于古近纪全球气候经历了古新世-始新世最热事件和始新世-渐新世气候变冷事件，对壳斗科植物多样性的形成影响深远。因此，本项目不仅对全面认识新生代壳斗科的多样性分化、系统演化以及分布格局的形成具有重要意义，同时也可为进一步研究华南地区新生代古气候和古环境等提供重要的化石依据。

Fagaceae has abundant genera and species, widely distributed in the temperate, subtropical and tropical areas of the northern hemisphere, with the diversity distribution center in southeastern Asia. Previous paleobotanical study on Fagaceae mainly focused on the materials from western and southeastern North America, Far East Russia and northern and southwestern China, while the relevant study in the low latitude tropical and subtropical areas of South China which is a part of the diversity distribution center is rarely investigated. The project will comprehensively study the systematics, diversity, floristic compositions and evolution of Fagaceae from the Paleogene of South China (including the Eocene Changchang Basin of Hainan Island, the Eocene-Oligocene Maoming Basin of Guangdong and Oligocene Nanning Basin of Guangxi), and make comprehensive and systematical discussion on phytogeographic history of Fagaceae by comparing the fossils from western and southeastern North America, Far East Russia and other areas. Global climate change occurs in the Paleogene, including the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum and Eocene-Oligocene Climate Transition, which made significant effect on the diversity of Fagaceae. Therefore, this project not only has significance in understanding the diversity, evolution and formation of distribution pattern of the Cenozoic Fagaceae, but also provides important fossil evidence for the further study on paleoclimate and paleoenvironment in the Cenozoic of South China.