Tod F. Stuessy – författare

Designed to help students make better taxonomic judgments, this case book contains exercises and case studies which describe how to recognize similarities and differences in sets of comparative data. It explains interpretation with reference to the various ranks in the Linnean hierarchy.

Scientists are becoming increasingly concerned that only 15% of plant and animal diversity has been catalogued to date. In this text, 21 leading experts in systematic botany outline a plan for mapping phytodiversity in the next half century. The book opens with a historical overview and a consideration of societal and scientific needs from plant collections. The contributors provide a comprehensive look at the protocols and procedures for collecting, documenting, storing and preserving specimens and consider methods of retaining images for plants that cannot be sampled. The book closes with a discussion of techniques for dealing with specimens that have already been collected, considering that many storage environments may need to be improved.

The field of plant taxonomy has transformed rapidly over the past fifteen years, especially with regard to improvements in cladistic analysis and the use of new molecular data. The second edition of this popular resource reflects these far-reaching and dramatic developments with more than 3,000 new references and many new figures. Synthesizing current research and trends, Plant Taxonomy now provides the most up-to-date overview in relation to monographic, biodiversity, and evolutionary studies, and continues to be an essential resource for students and scholars. This text is divided into two parts: Part 1 explains the principles of taxonomy, including the importance of systematics, characters, concepts of categories, and different approaches to biological classification. Part 2 outlines the different types of data used in plant taxonomic studies with suggestions on their efficacy and modes of presentation and evaluation. This section also lists the equipment and financial resources required for gathering each type of data. References throughout the book illuminate the historical development of taxonomic terminology and philosophy while citations offer further study.Plant Taxonomy is also a personal story of what it means to be a practicing taxonomist and to view these activities within a meaningful conceptual framework. Tod F. Stuessy recalls the progression of his own work and shares his belief that the most creative taxonomy is done by those who have a strong conceptual grasp of their own research.

Oceanic island archipelagos are profoundly interesting ecosystems in which to ask questions about evolutionary patterns and processes, and may rightly be considered as one of the best places on earth to seek an understanding of the origin and elaboration of biological diversity. This 1998 volume brings together contributions covering a range of important issues in contemporary oceanic island plant biology, focusing on patterns and processes in Pacific and other islands (with emphasis on the Bonin, Hawaiian and Juan Fernandez Islands) to provide a stimulating view of the state of research and a possible agenda for future investigations. Topics addressed include chromosomal variation, macromolecular divergence, island biogeography theory, isolating mechanisms, modes of speciation and evolution of secondary plant products, resulting in a volume which reveals the special opportunities offered by oceanic archipelagos for investigating evolutionary phenomena in vascular plants.

Oceanic island archipelagos are profoundly interesting ecosystems in which to ask questions about evolutionary patterns and processes, and may rightly be considered as one of the best places on earth to seek an understanding of the origin and elaboration of biological diversity. This 1998 volume brings together contributions covering a range of important issues in contemporary oceanic island plant biology, focusing on patterns and processes in Pacific and other islands (with emphasis on the Bonin, Hawaiian and Juan Fernandez Islands) to provide a stimulating view of the state of research and a possible agenda for future investigations. Topics addressed include chromosomal variation, macromolecular divergence, island biogeography theory, isolating mechanisms, modes of speciation and evolution of secondary plant products, resulting in a volume which reveals the special opportunities offered by oceanic archipelagos for investigating evolutionary phenomena in vascular plants.

Bringing together results from over 30 years of research on the Juan Fernández Archipelago off the coast of Chile, this book offers comprehensive coverage of the plants of these special islands. Despite its remote setting in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, the Juan Fernández Archipelago is in many ways an ideal place to ask and attempt to answer basic questions regarding the evolution of vascular plants in an oceanic island environment. By building upon a firm taxonomic base for the flora, a new level of understanding regarding evolution, biogeography, and conservation of the plants is presented. This book is an extensive investigation of the origin and evolution of the flora of an oceanic archipelago, and it serves as a valuable resource for researchers and scholars of island biology as well as for conservation biologists worldwide.

The older island has undergone more substantial changes, due to both natural causes and human impacts. After the discovery of Robinson Crusoe Island in 1574, people began cutting down forests for lumber to construct boats and homes, for firewood, and to make room for pastures.

The older island has undergone more substantial changes, due to both natural causes and human impacts. After the discovery of Robinson Crusoe Island in 1574, people began cutting down forests for lumber to construct boats and homes, for firewood, and to make room for pastures.

This book focuses on plant systematics and evolution, with special interest on the history and philosophy of botanical classification.

Chromosomal change has been important in the evolution of flowering plants. Cytogenetic modifications resulting in dysploid and polyploid alterations of plant genomes have often led to the formation of new species. A genus that represents an excellent example of such changes during its evolutionary history is Melampodium (Asteraceae), occurring primarily in Mexico, Central America, and the southwestern United States. This book is a detailed presentation of the diversity of species in Melampodium, their ecological requirements and phylogenetic relationships, the biogeographic patterns and migrational pathways, chromosomal diversity, and evolutionary origins of species, especially the tetraploids and hexaploids through allopolyploidy. It is an instructive case study of evolution through chromosomal change in a broadly distributed genus of importance in the ecosystems of Mexico and adjacent regions.

Chromosomal change has been important in the evolution of flowering plants. Cytogenetic modifications resulting in dysploid and polyploid alterations of plant genomes have often led to the formation of new species. A genus that represents an excellent example of such changes during its evolutionary history is Melampodium (Asteraceae), occurring primarily in Mexico, Central America, and the southwestern United States. This book is a detailed presentation of the diversity of species in Melampodium, their ecological requirements and phylogenetic relationships, the biogeographic patterns and migrational pathways, chromosomal diversity, and evolutionary origins of species, especially the tetraploids and hexaploids through allopolyploidy. It is an instructive case study of evolution through chromosomal change in a broadly distributed genus of importance in the ecosystems of Mexico and adjacent regions.