Abstract Data from a new comprehensive macrofossil-based compilation of early plant genera are analyzed via a Q-mode factor analysis. This compilation ranges from the Silurian to the earliest Carboniferous and illustrates the key vegetation changes that took place during the configuration of early terrestrial ecosystems. Results reveal that four factors can be used to explain more than 90% of the variance in the data. These factors are interpreted as the major phases of the early land plant evolution: a first Eotracheophytic flora (Silurian-Lochkovian) dominated by basal eutracheophytes and rhyniophytoids, an early Eophytic Flora (Early Devonian) dominated by zosterophylls, a transitional late Eophytic Flora (Middle Devonian-earliest Carboniferous) dominated by lycopsids and cladoxylopsids, and finally, the earliest phase of the Palaeophytic Flora (Late Devonian-earliest Carboniferous) dominated by the first seed plants. These floras present different but complementary diversity patterns, which help us to understand the overall trajectory of changes in plant diversity. Results further show how the maximum peaks of diversity appear linked to the rise of each new flora but, interestingly, these diversifications are not associated with any exponential declines of the previously dominant one. This new four-phase diversification model reflects the early steps of Earth's greening.

中文翻译：

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模拟陆地植被早期多样化的因子分析方法

摘要 通过 Q 模式因子分析分析了来自新的基于大型化石的早期植物属综合汇编的数据。该汇编涵盖了从志留纪到最早的石炭纪，并说明了在早期陆地生态系统构造过程中发生的主要植被变化。结果表明，四个因素可用于解释数据中 90% 以上的方差。这些因素被解释为早期陆生植物进化的主要阶段：以基底真气管植物和唇形植物为主的第一个始生气管植物群（志留纪-洛克科维），以带状叶植物为主的早期生生植物群（早泥盆世），过渡性晚期成生植物群（中泥盆纪-最早的石炭纪）以石松类和枝木类为主，最后，古植物区系（晚泥盆世-最早石炭纪）的最早阶段，以第一批种子植物为主。这些植物群呈现出不同但互补的多样性模式，有助于我们了解植物多样性变化的整体轨迹。结果进一步显示了多样性的最大峰值如何与每个新植物群的兴起有关，但有趣的是，这些多样化与以前占主导地位的植物群的任何指数下降无关。这种新的四阶段多样化模型反映了地球绿化的早期步骤。结果进一步显示了多样性的最大峰值如何与每个新植物群的兴起有关，但有趣的是，这些多样化与以前占主导地位的植物群的任何指数下降无关。这种新的四阶段多样化模型反映了地球绿化的早期步骤。结果进一步显示了多样性的最大峰值如何与每个新植物群的兴起有关，但有趣的是，这些多样化与以前占主导地位的植物群的任何指数下降无关。这种新的四阶段多样化模型反映了地球绿化的早期步骤。