Evolutionary Biology A Plant Perspective

About this book

Many of the characteristics that distinguish plants from other living organisms can be traced to their origin early in the history of life. Features such as a multicellular haploid life stage, prevalent hermaphroditism, self-fertilization, and general dependence on biotic and abiotic vectors for reproduction stem directly from the ability of plants to obtain energy from the sun. This novel mode of energy capture had far-ranging implications for plant evolution. It not only fueled the tremendous diversification of life on Earth, but also had far-ranging implications for the evolution of early photosynthetic organisms and eventually land plants. Understanding the evolutionary processes for the proliferation and diversification of plants requires an appreciation of their unique biological features. While the processes of mutation, selection, genetic drift, and gene flow are the same for both plants and animals, there are specific characteristics of plants that affect their evolution.

Unique traits of plants affect everything from the fate of mutations, to exposure to selection in the haploid life stage, to the distribution of genetic variation within and among populations, and ultimately the rates and patterns of diversification. Evolutionary Biology: A Plant Perspective examines the origins of the unique features of plants and the implications of these features for evolutionary processes. Author Mitchell B. Cruzan provides discussion of contemporary topics such as population genetics, phylogeography, phylogenetics, ecological genetics, and genomics. The content covered is essential to a wide range of advanced courses in plant biology.

Contents

Preface
Introduction

Origins of Diversity
1. Origin of Plant Life
2. Diversification of Land Plants

Mechanisms of Diversification
3. Origins of Variation
4. Distribution of Genetic Variation
5. Selection

Patterns of Diversity
6. Phenotypic Variation
7. Quantifying Phenotypes
8. Intraspecific Variation

Process of Diversification
9. Reproduction
10. Reproductive Isolation and Hybridization
11. Speciation and Diversification

Literature Cited
Index

Customer Reviews

Biography

Mitchell B. Cruzan is Professor of Biology at Portland State University.