Plant Animal Interactions

Carlos M. Herrera is an evolutionary ecologist who has worked mainly on plant-disperser and plant-pollinator interactions in Mediterranean habitats of the Iberian Peninsula. Most of his research centers on elucidating the relative significance of ecological, historical and evolutionary determinants in shaping current plant-animal interactions.Olle Pellmyr is a revolutionary biologist whose research focuses on plant-animal interactions, with special emphasis on mutualism and co-evolution. Using phylogenetic and ecological approaches, he explores links between mircoevolutionary processes and microevolutionary patterns. A native of Sweden now residing in the USA, he has done field research in Europe, the Americas, Japan, Africa, and Melanesia.

"This text is designed for more senior undergraduate courses. As such it is a useful summary of work which would find a ready audience in ecology courses. The first chapters looking at fossils and evolution should also be required reading in geological circles as well. Finally, there is a great deal of information for the ecology teacher. The trends in research, detailed examples of interactions and the clear history mean that there is much that can be gained from this text. It deserves a wide readership."Dr Paul S Ganderton, TEGNews Book Review Editor, British Ecological Society "This book provides an excellent synthesis of the patterns and processes underlying plant-animal interactions, with an emphasis on the recent advances in this field of research...The introduction and subsequent chapters dealing with the different levels of interactions between animals and plants are well written and very accessible. Although the book is intended for students in ecology degrees, it will certainly be a valuable shelf reference for anyone interested in plant-animal interactions." Carlos Lopez Vaamonde, Bulletin of the Royal Entomological Society, April 2003 "...very appropriate for the intended audience. It is highly recommmend for libraries that serve advanced undergraduate students and beginning graduate students interested in plant-animal interactions or evolution." E-Streams, vol 6, no 1, January 2003 "...superb collection of essays...highly recommended." Choice, April 2003 "...thorough coverage, balanced approach emphasizing multispecies interactions, and well conceived future directions. This book is likely to guide the development of research projects by students who will be the next generation to study plant-animal interactions." Ecology, March 2003 ".... provides a thorough synopsis for anyone interested in plant-animal interactions ...summarizes recent developments in this exciting field and points to important questions that need to be addressed in the future... it is a useful basis for undergraduate and graudate courses and thanks to the numerous references it directs the way for those who want to learn more about specific topics in the field of plant-animal interactions." Jurg Schonenberger, Plant Evolution, Vol 239, September 2003

• Contributors, viiPreface, viiiAcknowledgements, ixGeochronological Perspective, xiiPart 1 Introduction1 Species interactions and the evolution of biodiversity, 3Peter W. Price2 The history of associations between plants and animals, 26Conrad C. LabandeiraPart 2 Mostly Antagonisms3 Plant–insect interactions in terrestrial ecosystems, 77Sharon Y. Strauss and Arthur R. Zangerl4 Mammalian herbivory in terrestrial environments, 107Kjell Danell and Roger Bergström5 Granivory, 132Philip E. Hulme and Craig W. BenkmanPart 3 Mostly Mutualisms6 Pollination by animals, 157Olle Pellmyr7 Seed dispersal by vertebrates, 185Carlos M. Herrera Part 4 Synthesis8 Ant–plant interactions, 211Andrew J. Beattie and Lesley Hughes9 Plant–animal interactions: future directions, 236John N. ThompsonAppendix: Supplementary information for Chapter 2, 248References, 263Index, 294Colour plate falls between p. 84 and p. 85