Selected peer-reviewed publications
1.Zhao YS, Wang TX, Xiao SM, Li SF, Huang J: Fossil pods of tropical tree Peltophorum (Caesalpinioideae, Fabaceae) from southwestern China. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 2025, 334.
2.Zhao JG, Li SF, Huang J, Ding WN, Wu MX, Su T, Farnsworth A, Valdes PJ, Chen LL, Xing YW et al: Heterogeneous occurrence of evergreen broad-leaved forests in East Asia: Evidence from plant fossils. Plant Diversity 2025, 47(1):1-12.
3.Zhang R, Guo JQ, Bradshaw CD, Xu XY, Shen TT, Li SF, Nie JS, Zhang CX, Li XY, Liu Z et al: Vegetation feedbacks accelerated the late Miocene climate transition. Science Advances 2025, 11(18).
4.Yu CC, Mo ZQ, Lu JY, Hu JJ, Yang JB, Li SF, Jia LB: Revisiting the molecular circumscription of Sladeniaceae sensu lato (Ericales): Insights from phylogenetic discordance. American Journal of Botany 2025, 112(12).
5.Yao XR, Gao Y, Yang RD, Meng JB, Li SF, Su T: The late Eocene pine seed cones from Mangkang Basin, southeastern Xizang (Tibet) and their biogeographic significance. Palaeoworld 2025, 34(5).
6.Wu MX, Zhou ZK, Su T, Huang J, Li SF, Kunzmann L: Gone with the wind: Wind-dispersed seeds and fruits at two early Oligocene sites in the Czech Republic and China, and their palaeoecological implications. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology 2025, 675.
7.Witkowski CR, Lauretano V, Farnsworth A, Li SF, Li SH, Mayser JP, Naafs BDA, Wei JY, Spicer RA, Su T et al: Dynamic environment but no temperature change since the late Paleogene at Lühe Basin (Yunnan, China). Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology 2025, 668.
8.Meng JB, Zhao JG, Chen LL, Valdes PJ, Farnsworth A, Popova S, Kayseri-Özer MS, Srivastava G, Huang J, Su T et al: Climate evolution and its driving factors in the Tethys Sea region during the Cenozoic. Science China-Earth Sciences 2025, 68(6):1937-1959.
9.Liu SY, Yang YY, Tian Q, Yang ZY, Li SF, Valdes PJ, Farnsworth A, Kates HR, Siniscalchi CM, Guralnick RP et al: An integrative framework reveals widespread gene flow during the early radiation of oaks and relatives in Quercoideae (Fagaceae). Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 2025, 67(4):1119-1141.
10.Liu JH, Ruan QJ, Ge JY, Huang YJ, Zhang XL, Liu J, Li SF, Shen H, Wang Y, Stidham TA et al: 300,000-year-old wooden tools from Gantangqing, southwest China. Science 2025, 389(6755):78-83.
11.Li XY, Nam GS, Li SF, Averyanova A, Yang Y, Yoon MB, Jia LB: Fossil evidence and ecological niche modelling reveal trait evolution and biogeography of the Ilex cornuta lineage. J Palaegeogr 2025, 14(3).
12.Li XB, Yang Q, Ji XP, Li SF, Zhou RJ, Zou ZN, Yang WS, Wang ZZ, Zheng HB: Subtropical humid forests as a refuge for Late Miocene hominoids in Yunnan, southwestern China. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology 2025, 679.
13.Karim R, Li SF, Su T, Ayugi BO, Babaousmail H, Xiao SM: Future Climate Changes on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Under CMIP6 Global Climate Models. International Journal of Climatology 2025, 45(11).
14.Hung NB, Huang J, Del Rio C, Hoa NTM, Van Truong D, Pha PD, Su T, Li SF: 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.
15.Gao Y, Song A, Cai WJ, Spicer RA, Zhang R, Liu J, Srivastava G, Yao XR, Qin XY, Tang H et al: 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.
16.Chen WY, Su T, Li SF: The leaf physiognomy of evergreen and deciduous species exhibits different responses to climate: Implications for palaeoclimate reconstruction in China. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology 2025, 660.
17.Bradshaw CD, Fletcher T, Reichgelt T, Akgün F, Cantrill DJ, Casas-Gallego M, Doláková N, Erdei B, Kayseri-Özer MS, Kovácová M et al: MioVeg1: A Global Middle Miocene Vegetation Reconstruction for Climate Modeling. Paleoceanogr Paleoclimatology 2025, 40(11).
18.Zhang R, Huang LL, Li SF, Su T, Oskolski AA: Fossil woods of Cryptocarya (Lauraceae) from the middle Miocene of Southwest China. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 2024, 324.
19.Xu SL, Kodrul T, Romanov MS, Bobrov A, Maslova N, Li SF, Fu QY, Huang WY, Quan C, Jin JH et al: Diversity of Symplocos (Symplocaceae, Ericales) at low latitudes in Asia during late Oligocene and Miocene. Plant Diversity 2024, 46(6):812-816.
20.Xiao SM, Li SF, Huang J, Wang XJ, Wu MX, Karim R, Deng WYD, Su T: Influence of climate factors on the global dynamic distribution of Tsuga (Pinaceae). Ecological Indicators 2024, 158.
21.Wu MX, Kunzmann L, Li SF, Teodoridis V, Zhou ZK, Su T: Vegetation changes across the Eocene-Oligocene transition: Global signals vs. regional development. Science China-Earth Sciences 2024, 67(9):2937-2952.
22.Thongsangtum N, Huang J, Li SF, Thasod Y, Su T: Calophyllum (Calophyllaceae) from late Oligocene-Early Miocene of Li Basin, northern Thailand and its biogeographic and paleoclimatic implications. Palaeoworld 2024, 33(4):1105-1118.
23.Tang H, Cui H, Li SF, Spicer RA, Li SH, Su T, Zhou ZK, Witkowski CR, Lauretano V, Wei GJ: Orbital-paced silicate weathering intensity and climate evolution across the Eocene-Oligocene transition in the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Global and Planetary Change 2024, 234.
24.Nguyen HB, Huang J, Van Do T, Nguyen HMT, Li SF, Nguyen MT, Doan HD, Zhou ZK, Spicer RA, 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.
25.Huang LL, Li SF, Huang WY, Jin JH, Oskolski AA: Late Pleistocene glacial expansion of a low-latitude species Magnolia insignis: Megafossil evidence and species distribution modeling. Ecological Indicators 2024, 158.
26.Zhou ZK, Liu J, Chen LL, Spicer RA, Li SF, Huang J, Zhang ST, Huang YJ, Jia LB, Hu JJ et al: Cenozoic plants from Tibet: An extraordinary decade of discovery, understanding and implications. Science China-Earth Sciences 2023, 66(2):205-226.
27.Tiwari A, Adhikari A, Fan ZX, Li SF, Jump AS, Zhou ZK: Himalaya to Hengduan: dynamics of alpine treelines under climate change. Regional Environmental Change 2023, 23(4).
28.Nguyen HB, Huang J, Van Do T, Srivastava G, Nguyen HMT, Li SF, Chen LL, Nguyen MT, Doan HD, Zhou ZK et al: Pod fossils of Albizia (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae) from the late Miocene of northern Vietnam and their phytogeographic history. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 2023, 308.
29.Li SF, Zhao JG, Farnsworth A, Valdes PJ, Liu J, Huang J, Zhou ZK, Su T: The growth of the Tibetan Plateau shaped hydrologic cycle and ecosystem in eastern Asia: Progress and perspectives. Chin Sci Bull-Chin 2023, 68(12):1567-1579.
30.Huang YJ, Momohara A, Li SF, Ji XP, Qiu J, Jia LB, Hu JJ, Ji YH, Zhou ZK: Wildfire associated with a deciduous broadleaved forest from the Neogene Baoshan Basin at the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. J Palaegeogr 2023, 12(3):448-462.
31.Huang LL, Li SF, Huang WY, Xiang HLL, Jin JH, Oskolski AA: Glacial expansion of cold-tolerant species in low latitudes: megafossil evidence and species distribution modelling. National Science Review 2023, 10(4).
32.Huang LL, Li SF, Huang WY, Jin JH, Oskolski AA: Cryptocarya chinensis from the Upper Pleistocene of South China and its biogeographic and paleoecological implications. iScience 2023, 26(8).
33.Farnsworth A, Valdes PJ, Ding L, Spicer RA, Li SH, Su T, Li SF, Witkowski CR, Xiong ZY: Limits of oxygen isotope palaeoaltimetry in Tibet. Earth Planet Sci Lett 2023, 606.
34.Zhao JG, Li SF, Farnsworth A, Valdes PJ, Reichgelt T, Chen LL, Zhou ZK, 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.
35.Zhang XW, Gélin U, Spicer RA, Wu FX, Farnsworth A, Chen PR, Del Rio C, Li SF, Liu J, Huang J et al: Rapid Eocene diversification of spiny plants in subtropical woodlands of central Tibet. Nature Communications 2022, 13(1).
36.Xiao SM, Li SF, Wang XJ, Chen LL, Su T: Cedrus distribution change: past, present, and future. Ecological Indicators 2022, 142.
37.Wu MX, Huang J, Spicer RA, Li SF, Zhao JG, Deng WYD, Ding WN, Tang H, Xing YW, Tian YM et al: The early Oligocene establishment of modern topography and plant diversity on the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Global and Planetary Change 2022, 214.
38.Li WC, Huang J, Chen LL, Spicer RA, Li SF, Liu J, Gao Y, Wu FX, Farnsworth A, Valdes PJ et al: Podocarpium (Fabaceae) from the late Eocene of central Tibetan Plateau and its biogeographic implication. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 2022, 305.
39.Huang J, Spicer RA, Li SF, Liu J, Do TV, Nguyen HB, Zhou ZK, Su T: Long-term floristic and climatic stability of northern Indochina: Evidence from the Oligocene Ha Long flora, Vietnam. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology 2022, 593.
40.Liu J, Wang TX, Zhang XW, Song A, Li SF, Huang J, Spicer T, Spicer RA, Wu FX, Su T et al: Snapshot of the Pliocene environment of West Kunlun region, Northwest China. Palaeobiodiversity Palaeoenvironments 2021, 101(1):163-176.
41.Li SF, Valdes PJ, Farnsworth A, Davies-Barnard T, Su T, Lunt DJ, Spicer RA, Liu J, Deng WYD, Huang J et al: Orographic evolution of northern Tibet shaped vegetation and plant diversity in eastern Asia. Science Advances 2021, 7(5).
42.Jia LB, Nam GS, Su T, Stull GW, Li SF, Huang YJ, Zhou ZK: Fossil fruits of Firmiana and Tilia from the middle Miocene of South Korea and the efficacy of the Bering land bridge for the migration of mesothermal plants. Plant Diversity 2021, 43(6):480-491.
43.Jia LB, Huang J, Su T, Spicer RA, Zhang ST, Li SF, Pan B, Nam GS, Huang YJ, Zhou ZK: Fossil infructescence from southwestern China reveals Paleogene establishment of Cladrastis in Asia. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 2021, 292.
44.Huang YJ, Shen H, Jia LB, Li SF, Su T, Nam GS, Zhu H, Zhou ZK: Macroscopic fossil charcoals as proxy of a local fire linked to conifer-rich forest from the late Pliocene of northwestern Yunnan, Southwest China. Palaeoworld 2021, 30(3):551-561.
45.Farnsworth A, Valdes PJ, Spicer RA, Ding L, Witkowski C, Lauretano V, Su T, Li SF, Li SH, Zhou ZK: Paleoclimate model-derived thermal lapse rates: Towards increasing precision in paleoaltimetry studies. Earth Planet Sci Lett 2021, 564.
46.Chen LL, Deng WD, Su T, Li SF, Zhou ZK: Late Eocene sclerophyllous oak from Markam Basin, Tibet, and its biogeographic implications. Science China-Earth Sciences 2021, 64(11):1969-1981.
47.Averyanova A, Tarasevich V, Popova S, Utescher T, Li SF, Mosbrugger V, Xing YW: Rupelian Kazakhstan floras in the context of early Oligocene climate and vegetation in Central Asia. Terra Nova 2021, 33(4):383-399.
48.Tang H, Li SF, Su T, Spicer RA, Zhang ST, Li SH, Liu J, Lauretano V, Witkowski CR, Spicer TE et al: Early Oligocene vegetation and climate of southwestern China inferred from palynology. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology 2020, 560.
49.Su T, Spicer RA, Wu FX, Farnsworth A, Huang J, Del Rio C, Deng T, Ding L, Deng WYD, Huang YJ et al: A Middle Eocene lowland humid subtropical "Shangri-La" ecosystem in central Tibet. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2020, 117(52):32989-32995.
50.Huang J, Su T, Li SF, Wu FX, Deng T, Zhou ZK: Pliocene flora and paleoenvironment of Zanda Basin, Tibet, China. Science China-Earth Sciences 2020, 63(2):212-223.
51.Zhao F, Fan ZX, Su T, Li SF, Tang H, Spicer TEV, Zhou ZK: Tree-ring δ18O inferred spring drought variability over the past 200 years in the Hengduan Mountains, Southwest China. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology 2019, 518:22-33.
52.Xu CL, Su T, Huang J, Huang YJ, Li SF, Zhao YS, Zhou ZK: Occurrence of Christella (Thelypteridaceae) in Southwest China and its indications of the paleoenvironment of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and adjacent areas. Journal of Systematics and Evolution 2019, 57(2):169-179.
53.Tang H, Liu J, Wu FX, Spicer T, Spicer RA, Deng WYD, Xu CL, Zhao F, Huang J, Li SF et al: Extinct genus Lagokarpos reveals a biogeographic connection between Tibet and other regions in the Northern Hemisphere during the Paleogene. Journal of Systematics and Evolution 2019, 57(6):670-677.
54.Su T, Spicer RA, Li SH, Xu H, Huang J, Sherlock S, Huang YJ, Li SF, Wang L, Jia LB et al: Uplift, climate and biotic changes at the Eocene-Oligocene transition in south-eastern Tibet. National Science Review 2019, 6(3):495-504.
55.Su T, Farnsworth A, Spicer RA, Huang J, Wus FX, Liu J, Li SF, Xing YW, Huang YJ, Deng WYD et al: No high Tibetan Plateau until the Neogene. Science Advances 2019, 5(3).
56.Tang CQ, Matsui T, Ohashi H, Dong YF, Momohara A, Herrando-Moraira S, Qian SH, Yang YC, Ohsawa M, Luu HT et al: Identifying long-term stable refugia for relict plant species in East Asia. Nature Communications 2018, 9.
57.Su T, Li SF, Tang H, Huang YJ, Li SH, Deng CL, Zhou ZK: Hemitrapa Miki (Lythraceae) from the earliest Oligocene of southeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its phytogeographic implications. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 2018, 257:57-63.
58.Linnemann U, Su T, Kunzmann L, Spicer RA, Ding WN, Spicer TEV, Zieger J, Hofmann M, Moraweck K, Gärtner A et al: New U-Pb dates show a Paleogene origin for the modern Asian biodiversity hot spots. Geology 2018, 46(1):3-6.
59.Li SF, Xing YW, Valdes PJ, Huang YJ, Su T, Farnsworth A, Lunt DJ, Tang H, Kennedy AT, Zhou ZK: Oligocene climate signals and forcings in Eurasia revealed by plant macrofossil and modelling results. Gondwana Research 2018, 61:115-127.
60.Jian HY, Li SF, Guo JL, Li SB, Wang QG, Yan HJ, Qiu XQ, Zhang YH, Cai ZQ, Volis S et al: High genetic diversity and differentiation of an extremely narrowly distributed and critically endangered decaploid rose (Rosa praelucens): implications for its conservation. Conservation Genetics 2018, 19(4):761-776.
61.Xu CL, Huang J, Su T, Zhang XC, Li SF, Zhou ZK: The first megafossil record of Goniophlebium (Polypodiaceae) from the Middle Miocene of Asia and its paleoecological implications. Palaeoworld 2017, 26(3):543-552.
62.Tiwari A, Fan ZX, Jump AS, Li SF, Zhou ZK: Gradual expansion of moisture sensitive Abies spectabilis forest in the Trans-Himalayan zone of central Nepal associated with climate change. Dendrochronologia 2017, 41:34-43.
63.Li SF, Hughes AC, Su T, Anberrée JL, Oskolski AA, Sun M, Ferguson DK, Zhou ZK: Fire dynamics under monsoonal climate in Yunnan, SW China: past, present and future. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology 2017, 465:168-176.
64.Sun M, Su T, Zhang SB, Li SF, Anberree-Lebreton J, Zhou ZK: Variations in Leaf Morphological Traits of Quercus guyavifolia (Fagaceae) were Mainly Influenced by Water and Ultraviolet Irradiation at High Elevations on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology 2016, 18(2):266-273.
65.Li SF, Jacques FMB, Spicer RA, Su T, Spicer TEV, Yang J, Zhou ZK: Artificial neural networks reveal a high-resolution climatic signal in leaf physiognomy. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology 2016, 442:1-11.
66.Lebreton-Anberrée J, Li SH, Li SF, Spicer RA, Zhang ST, Su T, Deng CL, Zhou ZK: Lake geochemistry reveals marked environmental change in Southwest China during the Mid Miocene Climatic Optimum. Science Bulletin 2016, 61(11):897-910.
67.Li SF, Mao LM, Spicer RA, Lebreton-Anberrée J, Su T, Sun M, Zhou ZK: Late Miocene vegetation dynamics under monsoonal climate in southwestern China. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology 2015, 425:14-40.
68.Anberrée JL, Manchester SR, Huang J, Li SF, Wang YQ, Zhou ZK: FIRST FOSSIL FRUITS AND LEAVES OF BURRETIODENDRON SL (MALVACEAE SL) IN SOUTHEAST ASIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR TAXONOMY, BIOGEOGRAPHY, AND PALEOCLIMATE. International Journal of Plant Sciences 2015, 176(7):682-696.
Talks and presentations
1. Li S.F., Indian summer monsoon and vegetation dynamics forced byorbital and tectonic factors from the late Pliocene to earlyPleistocene. Biosphere Evolution, Transitions and Resilience.Online, 2022,9,4-7.
2. Li S.F., Valdes P., Farnsworth A., Su T., Spicer RA, Liu J., Tang H., and Zhou Z.K., Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau uplift and growth shape vegetation and biodiversity in Asian monsoon area. The European geosciences union general assembly 2019, Vienna, Austria, 2019.4.6-13.
3. Li, S.F., Xing Y.W.*, Valdes P., Huang Y.J., Su T., Farnsworth A., Lunt D., Tang H., Zhou Z.K.*, Oligocene climate signals and forcings in Eurasia revealed by plant macrofossil and modelling results. The 10th European palaeobotany and palynology conference, Dublin, Iceland, Oral Presentation. 2018.8.12-17.
4. Li, S.F., Xing Y.W.*, Valdes P., Huang Y.J., Su T., Farnsworth A., Lunt D., Tang H., Zhou Z.K.*, The Oligocene climate and forces in Eurasia revealed by plant macrofossil data and modelling results. The Paleoclimate Society Conference (PACS) 2017, Cardiff University, 2017.9.11-12.
5. Li, S.F., Hughes, A.C., Su, T., Zhou Z.K.*, Fire dynamics under monsoonal climate in Yunnan, SWChina: Past, present and future. The XIV International Palynological Congress - X International Organisation of Palaeobotany Conference, Salvador, 2016.10.23-2016.10.28
6. Li, S.F., Hughes, A.C., Su, T., Zhou, Z.K.*, Fire dynamics in Yunnan, SW China: Past, present and future. The Sino-German Meeting: "The Yunnan Biodiversity Hotspot – Its Origin and Climatic Threats", Kunming, China, Oral Presentation. 2015.8.5-9.
7. Li, S.F., Mao, L.-M, Zhou, Z.K.*, Late Miocene climate inferred from palynological data in southwestern China: a case study from Wenshan basin of Yunnan. The 9th European palaeobotany and palynology conference, Padova, Italy, Oral Presentation. 2014.8.26-30.