The most accessible and contemporary book on plant evolution available Brings together information from the plant fossil record with genotypic data from biomolecular studies to explore biological evolution in a coherent, unified way Considers plant evolution in the context of long-term environmental change, especially that brought about by climate change Covers the whole geological timescale, but focuses on periods when major evolutionary changes occurred Special biome maps illustrate the flora covering the Earth at different ages in the past, showing the trends in global plant distribution through time New to this edition Biomolecular approaches and concepts now integrated throughout the book, with biomolecular methodologies introduced in chapter 1 The evolution of photosynthesis is now explored in chapter 2 A consideration of vegetation dynamics in the context of climate change becomes a theme throughout the book Coverage of evolutionary theories and the plant fossil record extensively revised in the light of current understanding New Journal Clubs on the book's web site encourage students to critically engage with published research related to topics explored in the book Plants first colonized the land over 430 million years ago, having evolved from some of the most primitive forms of life. Since then, plants have played a major role in supplying the atmospheric oxygen we all need to survive. But how did plants evolve, how has their distribution and diversity been affected by changes in climate over millions of years - and how can these processes be studied? The Evolution of Plants blends evidence from the fossil record and data from biomolecular studies to tell the story of plant evolution from the earliest forms of life to the present day. Focusing on the key events during the evolution of plants - from the colonization of land to the first forests, the emergence of seed plants to the evolution of flowering plants - its straightforward explanations and clear illustrations provide the reader with the most accessible introduction to plant evolution available. With stunning biome maps illustrating the global distribution of plants during the different periods of life on Earth, the book explains how the diversity of vegetation has changed in response to climate, reinforcing the close link between climate change and the process of biological evolution. It is a contemporary account of a dynamic field, which is perfect for any student looking for a broad, balanced introduction to the subject.
- ISBN: 978-0-19-929223-3
- Editorial: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS.
- Encuadernacion: Rústica
- Páginas: 424
- Fecha Publicación: 19/12/2013
- Nº Volúmenes: 1
- Idioma: