My research focuses on palynology, paleoclimate numerical simulation, and simulation of vegetation and plant diversity. Specifically, I am dedicated to understanding the effects of environmental change on vegetation dynamics throughout the Cenozoic era. At the core of my research lies the fundamental question: "How does long-term environmental change shape the evolution of vegetation and plant diversity?" Through interdisciplinary research integrating data-model simulations, I explore the evolution of vegetation and biodiversity of regions such as Yunnan, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the Eurasian continent. This exploration allows me to uncover the impacts of significant geological structures and environmental climate changes, such as the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the retreat of the Tethys Sea during the Neogene period, on ecosystems, vegetation, and plant diversity.

09/2011- 06/2015 PhD (Ecology), Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan, China. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Zhe-kun Zhou.

PhD thesis: Miocene palaeovegetation, palaeoclimate and palaeofire from Wenshan Basin, Yunnan Province.

Award: Chinese academy of sciences, Zhu Li Yuehua outstanding doctoral scholarship.

09/2002-06/2005 MS (Botany), Xinjiang institute of ecology and geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xinjiang, China.

09/1998-06/2002 BS (Biology), Shihezi University, Xinjiang, China.

Selected peer-reviewed publications

1. Xiao, S. M.; Adams, J. M.*; Li, S. F.*; Slik, F.; Griffith, D. M.; Quaresma, A.; Sultana, A.; Rozak, A. H.; Muñoz, A. A.; Marshall, A. R.; et al. Analogous Environments across the Tropics have Similar Levels of Tree Species Alpha Diversity. National Science Review, 2025, nwaf465.

2. Meng, J. B.; Zhao, J. G.; Chen, L. L.; Valdes, P. J.; Farnsworth, A.; Popova, S.; Kayseri-Özer, M. S.; Srivastava, G.; Huang, J.; Su, T.; Zhou, Z. K.; Li, S. F.*. Climate Evolution and Its Driving Factors in the Tethys Sea Region during the Cenozoic. Science China Earth Sciences, 2025, 68 (6), 1937–1959.

3. 孟江波; 赵佳港; 陈琳琳; Valdes, P. J.; Farnsworth, A.; Popava S.; Kayseri-Özer, M. S.; Srivastava, G.; 黄健; 苏涛; 周浙昆; 李树峰*. 新生代特提斯海区域的气候演变及其驱动因素. 中国科学: 地球科学, 2025, 55 (6), 1992–2015.

4. Yang, R. D.; Song, A.; Wang, L.; Jia, L. R.; Li, S. H.; Zhang, S. T.; Wu, Q. F.; Gao, Y.; Meng, J. B.; Yao, X. R.; Deng, M.; Li, S. F.*; Su, T.*. Palaeogene Sequoia Leaves from Yunnan Province, China and Their Biogeographical Significance. Journal of Palaeogeography, 2025, 100322.

5. Yao, X. R.; Gao, Y.; Yang, R. D.; Meng, J. B.; Li, S. F.*; Su, T.*. The Late Eocene Pine Seed Cones from Mangkang Basin, Southeastern Xizang (Tibet) and Their Biogeographic Significance. Palaeoworld, 2025, 34 (5), 200935.

6. Chen, W. Y.*; Su, T.; Li, S. F.*. The Leaf Physiognomy of Evergreen and Deciduous Species Exhibits Different Responses to Climate: Implications for Palaeoclimate Reconstruction in China. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2025, 660, 112683.

7. Hung, N. B.; Huang, J.*; Del Rio, C.; Hoa, N. T. M.; Van Truong, D.; Pha, P. D.; Su, T.; Li, S. F.*. First Endocarp Record of Miquelia (Icacinaceae) from the Late Miocene of Northern Vietnam and Its Phytogeographical and Paleoecological Implications. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 2025, 335, 105285.

8. Gao, Y.; Song, A.; Cai, W. J.; Spicer, R. A.; Zhang, R.; Liu, J.; Srivastava, G.; Yao, X. R.; Qin, X. Y.; Tang, H.; Li, S. F.*; Su, T.*. Tibetan Plateau Palm Fossils Prove the Kohistan-Ladakh Island Arc is A Floristic Steppingstone between Gondwana and Laurasia. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 2025, 334, 105255.

9. 王楠; 吴梦晓; 唐赫; Valdes, P. J.; Farnsworth, A.; 苏涛; 周浙昆; 李树峰*. 始新世‒渐新世气候转折期（EOT）全球气候与植被变化研究进展. 科学通报, 2025, 71 (3), 637–650.

10. Liu, J. H.; Ruan, Q. J.; Ge, J. Y.; Huang, Y. J.; Zhang, X. L.; Liu, J.; Li, S. F.; Shen, H.; Wang, Y.; Stidham, T. A.; Deng, C. L.; Li, S. H.; Han, F.; Jin, Y. S.; O’Gorman, K.; Li, B.*; Dennell, R.; Gao, X.*. 300,000-Year-Old Wooden Tools from Gantangqing, Southwest China. Science, 2025, 389 (6755), 78–83.

11. Zhang, R.*; Guo, J. Q.; Bradshaw, C. D.; Xu, X. Y.; Shen, T. T.; Li, S. F.; Nie, J. S.; Zhang, C. X.; Li, X. Y.; Liu, Z.; Zhang J.; Jiang D. B.; Hu H. Y.; Sun J. M.*. Vegetation Feedbacks Accelerated the Late Miocene Climate Transition. Science Advances, 2025, 11 (18), eads4268.

12. Zhao, J. G.; Li, S. F.; Huang, J.; Ding, W. N.; Wu, M. X.; Su, T.; Farnsworth, A.; Valdes, P. J.; Chen, L. L.; Xing, Y. W.*; Zhou, Z. K.*. Heterogeneous Occurrence of Evergreen Broad-Leaved Forests in East Asia: Evidence from Plant Fossils. Plant Diversity, 2025, 47 (1), 1–12.

13. Xiao, S. M.; Li, S. F.*; Huang, J.; Wang, X. J.; Wu, M. X.; Karim, R.; Deng, W. Y. D.; Su, T.*. Influence of Climate Factors on the Global Dynamic Distribution of Tsuga (Pinaceae). Ecological Indicators, 2024, 158, 111533.

14. 贾丽荣; 邓敏; 杨毅; 苏涛; 刘佳; 黄健; 唐自华; 李树峰*; 周浙昆*. 植物多样性对古新世-始新世极热事件全球增温的响应——来自化石和模型模拟的证据. 第四纪研究, 2024, 44 (5), 1235–1249.

15. 覃星源; 刘佳; 宋艾; 高毅; 陈君梅; 李树峰*; 苏涛*. 喜马拉雅山脉中段卓奥友峰上新世植物群的再发现及其特征. 第四纪研究, 2024, 44 (6), 1495–1508.

16. 李树峰*; 赵佳港; Farnsworth, A.; Valdes, P. J.; 刘佳; 黄健; 周浙昆; 苏涛*. 新生代青藏高原生长对东亚水循环及生态系统影响评述. 科学通报, 2023, 68 (12), 1567–1579.

17. Nguyen, H. B.; Huang, J.*; Van Do, T.; Nguyen, H. M. T.; Li, S. F.; Nguyen, M. T.; Doan, H. D.; Zhou, Z. K.*; Spicer, R. A.; Su, T. Monsoon Influence on Plant Diversity in Northern Indochina: Evidence from the Late Miocene Yen Bai Flora, Northern Vietnam. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2024, 634, 111925.

18. Xiao, S. M.; Li, S. F.*; Huang, J.; Wang, X. J.; Wu, M. X.; Karim, R.; Deng, W. Y. D.; Su, T.*. Influence of Climate Factors on the Global Dynamic Distribution of Tsuga (Pinaceae). Ecological Indicators, 2024, 158, 111533.

19. Huang, L. L.; Li, S. F.; Huang, W. Y.; Xiang, H. L. L.; Jin, J. H.*; Oskolski, A. A. Glacial Expansion of Cold-Tolerant Species in Low Latitudes: Megafossil Evidence and Species Distribution Modelling. National Science Review, 2023, 10 (4), nwad038.

20. Huang, L. L.*; Li, S. F.; Huang, W. Y.; Jin, J. H.*; Oskolski, A. A. Cryptocarya chinensis from the Upper Pleistocene of South China and Its Biogeographic and Paleoecological Implications. iScience, 2023, 107313.

21. 李树峰*; 赵佳港; Farnsworth, A.; Valdes, P. J.; 刘佳; 黄健; 周浙昆; 苏涛*. 新生代青藏高原生长对东亚水循环及生态系统影响评述. 科学通报, 2023, 68 (12), 1567–1579.

22. Nguyen, H. B.; Huang, J.*; Van Do, T.; Srivastava, G.; Nguyen, H. M. T.; Li, S. F.; Chen, L. L.; Nguyen, M. T.; Doan, H. D.; Zhou, Z. K.; Su, T.*. Pod Fossils of Albizia (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae) from the Late Miocene of Northern Vietnam and Their Phytogeographic History. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 2023, 308: 104801.

23. Xiao, S. M.; Li, S. F.*; Wang, X. J.; Chen, L. L.; Su, T.*. Cedrus Distribution Change: Past, Present, and Future. Ecological Indicators, 2022, 142, 109159.

24. Zhao, J. G.; Li, S. F.*; Farnsworth, A.; Valdes, P. J.; Reichgelt, T.; Chen, L. L.; Zhou, Z. K.; Su, T.*. The Paleogene to Neogene Climate Evolution and Driving Factors on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Science China Earth Sciences, 2022, 65 (7), 1339–1352.

25. 赵佳港; 李树峰*; Farnsworth, A.; Valdes, P. J.; Tammo, R.; 陈琳琳; 周浙昆; 苏涛. 古近纪至新近纪青藏高原的气候演变及其驱动因素. 中国科学: 地球科学, 2022, 52(8), 1562–1576.

26. Chen, L. L; Deng, W. Y. D.; Su, T.; Li, S. F.*; Zhou, Z. K.*. Late Eocene Sclerophyllous Oak from Markam Basin, Tibet, and Its Biogeographic Implications. Science China Earth Sciences, 2021, 64(11), 1969–1981.

27. 陈琳琳; 邓炜煜东; 苏涛; 李树峰*; 周浙昆*. 西藏芒康晚始新世高山栎组化石的发现及其生物地理学意义. 中国科学: 地球科学, 2021, 51 (12), 2150–2162.

28. Li, S. F.*; Valdes, P. J.; Farnsworth, A.; Davies-Barnard, T.; Su, T.; Lunt, D. J.; Spicer, R. A.; Liu, J.; Deng, W. Y. D.; Huang, J.; Tang, H.; Ridgwell, A.; Chen, L. L.; Zhou, Z. K.*. Orographic Evolution of Northern Tibet Shaped Vegetation and Plant Diversity in Eastern Asia. Science Advances, 2021, 7(5), eabc7741.

29. Tang, H.; Li, S. F.*; Su, T.; Spicer, R. A.; Zhang, S. T.; Li, S. H.; Liu, J.; Lauretano, V.; Witkowski, C. R.; Spicer, T. E. V.; Deng, W. Y. D.; Wu, M. X.; Ding, W. N.; Zhou, Z. K.*. Early Oligocene Vegetation and Climate of Southwestern China Inferred from Palynology. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2020, 560, 109988.

30. Li, S. F.; Xing, Y. W.*; Valdes, P. J.; Huang, Y. J.; Su, T.; Farnsworth, A.; Lunt, D. J.; Tang, H.; Kennedy, A. T.; Zhou, Z. K.*. Oligocene Climate Signals and Forcings in Eurasia Revealed by Plant Macrofossil and Modelling Results. Gondwana Research, 2018, 61, 115–127.

31. Li, S. F.; Hughes, A. C.*; Su, T.; Anberree, J. L.; Oskolski, A. A.; Sun, M.; Ferguson, D. K.; Zhou, Z. K.*. Fire Dynamics under Monsoonal Climate in Yunnan, SW China: Past, Present and Future. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2017, 465, 168–176.

32. Li, S. F.; Jacques, F. M.; Spicer, R. A.; Su, T.; Spicer, T. E.; Yang, J.; Zhou, Z. K.*. Artificial Neural Networks Reveal a High-Resolution Climatic Signal in Leaf Physiognomy. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2016, 442, 1–11.

33. Li, S. F.; Mao, L. M.; Spicer, R. A.; Lebreton-Anberrée, J.; Su, T.; Sun, M.; Zhou, Z. K.*. Late Miocene Vegetation Dynamics under Monsoonal Climate in Southwestern China. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2015, 425, 14–40.

2024.1-2027.12 Paleoclimate, paleovegetation and plant diversity changes during the late Paleogene in Jianshui basin, Yunnan, NSFC, No. 42372033

2024.01-2028.12 The evolution of Cenozoic plant diversity in Yunnan and key driving factors, NSFC international cooperation project, NO. 42320104005

2023.01-2027.12 The Young and Middle-aged Academic and Technical Leaders of Yunnan, Department of Science and Technology of Yunnan Province，No. 202305AC160051

2022.12-2027.11 Cretaceous-Paleogene deep carbon cycle and “hot Earth” evolution (Project Three): hot Earth vegetation, plant Diversity, and ecological responses, the National Key Research and Development Program, No. 2022YFF0800800

2019.01-2023.12 Special project of The Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition program: Coevolution of Biology and Plateau Uplift, Ministry of Science and Technology, No. 2019QZKK0705

2018.10-2023.12 Key Periods of Earth's History and Evolutionary Processes of Organisms and Environments: Origin of Modern Plant Diversity in China – Evidence from Fossils， Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Subproject B), No. XDB26000000

2019.1-2022.12 The evolution of paleovegetation and biodiversity in the early Oligocene in the central region of Yunnan, Yunnan Provincial Natural Science Foundation General Project, No. 2019FB061

2018.1-2021.12 Early Oligocene palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate changes from Lühe, Yunnan. NSFC, No. 41772026

2017.1-2020.12 The evolution of vegetation and biodiversity change during the Paleogene and early Neogene. Sina‒UK (NSFC-RCUK_NERC) Collaborative Research, No. 41661134049

2015.7-2018.6 The Miocene palaeofire reconstruction in Wenshan Basin, Yunnan Province. The Foundation of the State Key Laboratory of Paleobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 153107.

已指导学生

肖书妹  硕士研究生  071300-生态学  

陈琳琳  硕士研究生  071300-生态学  

孟江波  硕士研究生  071300-生态学  

现指导学生

肖书妹  博士研究生  071300-生态学  

王楠  博士研究生  071300-生态学  

任世钰  硕士研究生  071300-生态学  

方晓琪  博士研究生  071300-生态学  

The First-Class Natural Science Award of Yunnan Province, 2023

Top Ten Advances in Chinese Palaeontology in 2023

Zhu Li Yuehua Excellent Doctoral Student Scholarship of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2015

Editorial Board Member of Journal of Earth History and Biodiversity

Visiting academic at the University of Bristol, UK

Master's supervisor at Yunnan University