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About this book
The main aim of this book is to understand why asexual reproduction per se and its many different forms have uneven distribution within and among different taxonomic groups. This is illustrated with reference to the major groups of land plants - the bryophytes, ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms - although in his search for answers the author has made much use of insights gleaned from studies of asexuality in animals, and the arguments presented can be applied equally to both Kingdoms.
Contents
Part 1 Prologue: preamble; reproduction, growth and the individual; sexual and asexual reproduction. Part 2 Patterns of reproduction in bryophytes and tracheophytes: patterns of reproduction in oogamous eukaryotes; sex organs and gametophyte ontogeny in bryophytes and tracheophytes; sexual and asexual reproduction in bryophytes and tracheophytes. Part 3 The costs, benefits and constraints of asexual reproduction in plants: the costs of sexual and asexual reproduction in homospores and heterospores; the capacity for asexual reproduction in homospores and heterospores. Part 4 Cosexuality, asexuality and the male function: the male function and the fitness of asexual lineages; the male function and the maintenance of asexuality; the male function and geographic parthenogenesis; the male function and pseudogamy. Part 5 The genetic control of apomixis: concepts and conundrums; the components of apomixis and the nature of their control; a model for the genetic control of generative and aposporous apomixis; verification and fine-tuning of the model. Part 6 At the court of the red queen: genetic recombination and offspring fitness; genetic recombination and meitotic reduction; the evolutionary potential of asexual organisms. Part 7 Reflections.
Customer Reviews
By: M Mogie
288 pages, 11 line drawings
Most biologists will find this text to be informational on the current concepts of the evolutionary and ecological consequences of asexuality...Tables and illustrations, references, and a taxonomic and subject index supplement this publication - Biological Abstracts; ... a cohesive, thought-provoking book... Mogies's contribution is a new perspective that will most certainly stimulate research and discussion on the odd and not uncommon phenomenon of obligate asexuality in plants. Plant Science Bulletin; Mogie's dichotomous key to the types of asexual reproduction in Chapter 2 is a good example of his carefully organized, logical approach to the topic. The diversity of background data employed to support the discussions struck me as creative and effective. Readers whose interests include evolutionary biology and especially plant evolutionary ecology will appreciate this book... the language is precise and occasionally even entertaining. I found the book to be well crafted and generally error free. Tables and figures were clear and useful. The effort and attention this book demanded of me was well rewarded; I found it stimulatind, and I recommend it - Ecology; In a book which contains a wealth of interesting and novel ideas, Michael Mogie hs carefully put together an impressive range of arguments to explain the evolution...This is a book that is undoubtedly essential reading for all who have a serious interest in factors that either maintain sexual reproduction or promote asexual reproduction in living organisms - New Phytologists; ...the refreshingly clear style of this book, with its regular pauses to summarize points which have been dealth with, is very welcome - Annals of Botany; ...Mogie's book may well be worth reading for anyone interested in a review of many observations about reproductive systems of plants. - Plant Genetics Newsletter