Plant Life Histories
Ecology, Phylogeny and Evolution

Aimed at understanding how plant diversity evolved and the effects on plants today.

Jonathan Silvertown (Edited by), Miguel Franco (Edited by), John L. Harper (Edited by)

9780521574952, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 18 September 1997

331 pages, 42 b/w illus. 35 tables
22.8 x 15.2 x 1.9 cm, 0.474 kg

'Plant Life Histories has arrived at an apt moment … I enjoyed readingPlant Life Histories and recommend it not only to everybody interested in evolutionary ecology, but also to ecologists who may be classsified as 'too ecological'.' Martin Zobel, Trends in Plant Science

Plant Life Histories re-examines patterns of relationship between plant life history traits in phylogenetic perspective. The re-examination first recognises that because evolution is a branching process, traits are not randomly distributed across taxa and that therefore analysis of trait correlations cannot treat species as independent data points. It then discusses the use of phylogeny to reconstruct the evolutionary pathways of traits. Part I looks at the use of the phylogenetic perspective on trait correlation. Parts II-IV examine traits from the reproductive phase from seed production and dispersal to recruitment and growth. The final section looks at interactions between plants and competitors, herbivores and microbial symbionts, recognising that these interactions may have an ancient evolutionary history. Students and researchers of evolution, ecology and botany will find much of value here.

Preface
Part I. Phylogenetic Perspectives: 1. Comparing plants and connecting traits J. Silvertown, and M. Dodd
2. Phylogenetic uncertainties and sensitivity analyses in comparative biology M. Donoghue, and D. Ackerly
3. Comparative ecology of the native and alien floras of the British Isles M. J. Crawley, P. H. Harvey, and A. Purvis
Part II. Reproductive Traits: 4. The comparative biology of pollination and mating in flowering plants S. C. H. Barrett, L. D. Harder, and A. C. Worley
5. How does self-pollination evolve? Inferences from floral ecology and molecular genetic variation S. C. H. Barrett, L. D. Harder, and A. C. Worley
6. Effects of life history traits on genetic diversity in plant species J. L. Hamrick, and M. J. W. Godt
Part III. Evolutionary Ecology of Seed Dormancy and Seed Size: 7. Evolutionary ecology of seed dormancy and seed size J. L. Hamrick, and M. J. W. Godt
8. Comparative ecology of seed size and dispersal M. Westoby, M. Leishman, and J. Lord
9. Packaging and provisioning on plant reproduction D. L. Venable
Part IV. Recruitment and Growth: 10. Comparative ecology of clonal plants J. M. van Groenendael, L. Klimes, J. Klimesova, and R. J. J. Hendriks
11. Life history variation in plants: an exploration of the fast-slow continuum hypothesis M. Franco and J. Silvertown
12. Life history evolution in heterogenous environments: a review of theory R. M. Sibly
Part V. Interaction: 13. Plant-insect feeding associations D. Futuyma, and C. Mitter
14. Trends in the evolution of root-microbe symbioses A. H. Fitter, and B. Moyersoen
15. Competitive ability: definitions, contingency and correlated traits D. Goldberg
Index.

Subject Areas: Plant ecology [PSTS], Evolution [PSAJ]