Evolution in isolation : the search for an island syndrome in plants / Kevin C. Burns, Victoria University of Wellington.

By:

Burns, Kevin C, 1970- [author.]

Material type: Text

TextPublisher: Cambridge, United Kingdom ; New York, NY : Cambridge University Press, 2019Description: xi, 226 pages : illustrations ; 24 cmContent type:

text

Media type:

unmediated

Carrier type:

volume

ISBN:

9781108422017 (hardback)

Subject(s):

Island plants -- Evolution

DDC classification:

578.752 BUR

Contents:

Chapter 1 : Introduction: emblematic island animals ; Chapter 2 : Differences in defense ; Chapter 3 : Differences in dispersal ; Chapter 4 : Reproductive biology ; Chapter 5 : Size changes ; Chapter 6 : Loss of fire-adapted traits ; Chapter 7 : Conclusion: emblematic island plants.

Summary: Oceanic islands are storehouses for unique creatures. Zoologists have long been fascinated by island animals because they break all the rules. Speedy, nervous, little birds repeatedly evolve to become plump, tame and flightless on islands. Equally strange and wonderful plants have evolved on islands. However, plants are very poorly understood relative to animals. Do plants repeatedly evolve similar patterns in dispersal ability, size and defence on islands? This volume answers this question for the first time using a modern quantitative approach. It not only reviews the literature on differences in defence, loss of dispersal, changes in size, alterations to breeding systems and the loss of fire adaptations, but also brings new data into focus to fill gaps in current understanding. By firmly establishing what is currently known about repeated patterns in the evolution of island plants, this book provides a roadmap for future research.

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Holdings
Item type	Current library	Collection	Call number	Status	Date due	Barcode
Books	H.T. Parekh Library	SIAS Collection	578.752 BUR (Browse shelf(Opens below))	Available		K2677

GPB 59.99/-

Includes bibliographical references (pages 192-222) and index.

Oceanic islands are storehouses for unique creatures. Zoologists have long been fascinated by island animals because they break all the rules. Speedy, nervous, little birds repeatedly evolve to become plump, tame and flightless on islands. Equally strange and wonderful plants have evolved on islands. However, plants are very poorly understood relative to animals. Do plants repeatedly evolve similar patterns in dispersal ability, size and defence on islands? This volume answers this question for the first time using a modern quantitative approach. It not only reviews the literature on differences in defence, loss of dispersal, changes in size, alterations to breeding systems and the loss of fire adaptations, but also brings new data into focus to fill gaps in current understanding. By firmly establishing what is currently known about repeated patterns in the evolution of island plants, this book provides a roadmap for future research.

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