Floral Biology: Studies on Floral Evolution in Animal-Pollinated Plants / Edition 1

by David G. Lloyd, Spencer C.H. Barrett

Overview

Studies in floral biology are largely concerned with how flowers function to promote pollination and mating. The role of pollination in governing mating patterns in plant populations inextricably links the evolution of pollination and mating systems. Despite the close functional link between pollination and mating, research conducted for most of this century on these two fundamental aspects of plant reproduction has taken quite separate courses. This has resulted in suprisingly little cross-fertilization between the fields of pollination biology on the one hand and plant mating-system studies on the other. The separation of the two areas has largely resulted from the different backgrounds and approaches adopted by workers in these fields. Most pollination studies have been ecological in nature with a strong emphasis on field research and until recently few workers considered how the mechanics of pollen dispersal might influence mating patterns and individual plant fitness. In contrast, work on plant mating patterns has often been conducted in an ecological vacuum largely devoid of information on the environmental and demographic context in which mating occurs. Mating-system research has been dominated by population genetic and theoretical perspectives with surprisingly little consideration given to the proximate ecological factors responsible for causing a particular pattern of mating to occur.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780412043413
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	12/31/1995
Edition description:	1996
Pages:	410
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.04(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

Table of Contents

1: Historical Perspective.- 1. Discovery of the Secret of Nature in the Structure and Fertilization of Flowers.- 2. Christian Konrad Sprengel’s Theory of the Flower: The Cradle of Floral Ecology.- 2: Conceptual Issues.- 3. Floral Traits and Plant Adaptation to Insect Pollinators: A Devil’s Advocate Approach.- 4. How Do Flowers Diverge?.- 5. Floral Longevity: Fitness Consequences and Resource Costs.- 6. Pollen Dispersal and Mating Patterns in Animal-Pollinated Plants.- 7. The Ecology of Geitonogamous Pollination.- 8. Flower Size Dimorphism in Plants with Unisexual Flowers.- 3: Model Systems.- 9. Evolution of Floral Morphology and Function: An Integrative Approach to Adaptation, Constraint, and Compromise in Dalechampia (Euphorbiaceae).- 10. The Evolution of Floral Form: Insights from an Alpine Wildflower, Polemonium viscosum (Polemoniaceae).- 11. Deceit Pollination in the Monoecious, Neotropical Herb Begonia oaxacana (Begoniaceae).- 12. Reproductive Success and Gender Variation in Deceit-Pollinated Orchids.- 13. Stylar Polymorphisms and the Evolution of Heterostyly in Narcissus (Amaryllidaceae).- 14. Evolution of Campanula Flowers in Relation to Insect Pollinators on Islands.- Taxonomic Index.

Editorial Reviews

The acquisition of data on pollination biology dates back to the work of Sprengel. This book was conceived in his honour: some of his work is reprinted as the first chapter, and reviewed in historical context in the second. - Trends in Plant Sciences; The acquisition of data on pollination biology dates back to the work of Sprengel. This book was conceived in his honour: some of his work is reprinted as the first chapter, and reviewed in historical context in the second. - Trends in Plant Sciences

From the Publisher

Divided into three sections, the volume begins with a translation of Christian Konrad Sprengel's introduction to Discovery of the Secret Nature of Flowers in the Structure and Fertilization of Flowers (published 1793) with historical analysis of his observations. The second section addresses current conceptual problems in floral biology, concentrating on floral diversification, floral longevity, pollen dispersal and mating patterns, the ecology of geitonogamous pollination, and flower size dimorphism in plants with unisexual flowers. The final chapters examine model systems and include the evolution of floral morphology and function, deceit pollination, reproductive success and gender variation, stylar polymorphisms, and the evolution of flowers in relation to insect pollinators on islands. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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