Biology and Evolution of Ferns and Lycophytes

A thorough overview of the biology and evolution of a fascinating group of organisms.

Tom A. Ranker (Edited by), Christopher H. Haufler (Edited by)

9780521696890, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 19 June 2008

502 pages, 111 b/w illus.
24.6 x 17.4 x 2.4 cm, 1.02 kg

'… an excellent summary of recent knowledge and advances in research of ferns and lycophytes. This book fills a major gap in the literature of the past decade and provides a modern overview of the biology and evolution of these fascinating plants.' Folia Geobotanica

With their team of contemporary scholars, the editors present a thorough coverage of fundamental topics necessary for obtaining an up-to-date understanding of the biology of ferns and lycophytes. The book is organized into major topics that build from the individual and its biochemistry and structure, to genetics and populations, to interactions among individuals and the conservation of species, and concludes with perspectives on evolutionary history and classification. Each chapter is organized to review past work, explore current questions, and suggest productive directions for continued discoveries about these fascinating groups of organisms. Written for upper undergraduates, graduates and academic researchers, Biology and Evolution of Ferns and Lycophytes fills a major gap in biological, organism-level, evolutionary literature by providing a review of the biology and evolution of this important group of vascular land plants.

Preface. Tom A. Ranker and Christopher H. Haufler
Part I. Development and Morphogenesis: 1. Photoresponses in fern gametophytes Masamitsu Wada
2. Alternation of generations Elizabeth Sheffield
3. Meristem organization and organ diversity Ryoko Imaichi
Part II. Genetics and Reproduction: 4. Population genetics Tom A. Ranker and Jennifer M. O. Geiger
5. Antheridiogen Jakob J. Schneller
6. Genomic studies: chloroplast genome Paul G. Wolf and Jessie M. Roper
7. Genomic studies: nuclear genome Takuya Nakazato, Michael S. Barker, Loren H. Rieseberg and Gerald J. Gastony
Part III. Ecology: 8. Phenology and habitat specificity of tropical ferns Klaus Mehltreter
9. Gametophyte ecology Donald R. Farrar, Cynthia Dassler, James E. Watkins, Jr. and Chanda Skelton
10. Conservation biology Naomi N. Arcand and Tom A. Ranker
11. Ex situ conservation Valerie C. Pence
Part IV. Systematics and Evolutionary Biology: 12. Species and speciation Christopher H. Haufler
13. Phylogeny and evolution of ferns: a paleontological perspective Gar W. Rothwell and Ruth A. Stockey
14. Biodiversity, floristics, biogeography Robbin C. Moran
15. Molecular phylogeny Eric Schuettpelz and Kathleen M. Pryer
16. Phylogeny and classification Alan R. Smith, Kathleen M. Pryer, Eric Schuettpelz, Petra Korall, Harald Schneider and Paul G. Wolf.

Subject Areas: Plant ecology [PSTS], Botany & plant sciences [PST], Evolution [PSAJ]