自然杂志

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中生代昆虫传粉——来自白垩纪琥珀的证据

赵芊①②,蔡晨阳   

  1. ①中国科学院南京地质古生物研究所 古生物学与油气地层应用全国重点实验室,南京 210008;②中国科学院大学,北京 100049
  • 收稿日期:2026-06-23
  • 基金资助:
    国家重点研发计划(2024YFF0807601)

Insect pollination in the Mesozoic: evidence from Cretaceous amber

ZHAO Qian①②, CAI Chenyang   

  1. ① State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; ② University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2026-06-23

摘要: 白垩纪中晚期被子植物大规模辐射推动了白垩纪陆地生态系统的重组,与植物和昆虫之间传粉互作联系紧密。受化石保存的限制,早期植物—昆虫传粉关系及其协同演化过程仍旧存疑。白垩纪琥珀中保存精美的花粉和昆虫为重建中生代植物—昆虫传粉互作关系提供了重要支撑。本文以近年来白垩纪琥珀中主要传粉昆虫类群为线索,综述白垩纪时期植物—昆虫传粉互作研究的重要进展,涵盖多类现生类群以及部分灭绝昆虫目,揭示了白垩纪裸子植物和早期被子植物与不同昆虫类群之间复杂而多样的传粉生态。相关研究揭示泛化的裸子植物传粉体系在被子植物大规模辐射前就已经存在,并且部分昆虫类群的传粉结构以及裸子植物的奖励机制也得到相应发展。在被子植物大规模辐射初期,已有的部分传粉昆虫逐渐参与到新的植物传粉体系中,这种植物宿主转换可能与之后传粉体系甚至生态系统的重组有密切的联系。白垩纪琥珀化石不仅丰富了该时期植物—昆虫传粉关系的多样性,也为探究被子植物陆地革命期间植物和传粉昆虫的协同演化提供了重要窗口。

关键词: 传粉互作, 被子植物大规模辐射, 协同演化, 白垩纪琥珀

Abstract: The large-scale radiation of angiosperms transformed Cretaceous terrestrial ecosystems, a process closely linked to plantinsect pollination. While early co-evolutionary dynamics are often obscured by fossil limitations, exquisitely preserved Cretaceous amber containing both pollen and insects provides crucial insights. This paper reviews major pollinating insect groups found in Cretaceous amber, including extant orders and some extinct lineages, revealing complex pollination networks involving Cretaceous gymnosperms and early angiosperms. Evidence indicates that generalized gymnosperm pollination systems and corresponding insect adaptations were established well before the angiosperm radiation. During the early stages of this radiation, some existing pollinators shifted to new angiosperm hosts, potentially connected with the subsequent reorganization of terrestrial ecosystems. Ultimately, Cretaceous amber fossils illuminate the critical co-evolution of plants and insects during the Angiosperm Terrestrial Revolution.