Plant Animal Interactions

Interactions between plants and animals are incredibly diverse and complex and span terrestrial, atmospheric and aquatic environments. The last decade has seen the emergence of a vast quantity of data on the subject and there is now a perceived need among both teachers and undergraduate students for a new textbook that incorporates the numerous recent advances made in the field. The book is intended for use by advanced level undergraduate and beginning graduate students, taking related courses in wider ecology degree programmes.

• Very few books cover this subject and those that do are out of date.

Contributors, vii

Preface, viii

Acknowledgements, ix

Geochronological Perspective, xii

Part 1 Introduction

1 Species interactions and the evolution of biodiversity, 3
Peter W. Price

2 The history of associations between plants and animals, 26
Conrad C. Labandeira

Part 2 Mostly Antagonisms

3 Plant–insect interactions in terrestrial ecosystems, 77
Sharon Y. Strauss and Arthur R. Zangerl

4 Mammalian herbivory in terrestrial environments, 107
Kjell Danell and Roger Bergström

5 Granivory, 132
Philip E. Hulme and Craig W. Benkman

Part 3 Mostly Mutualisms

6 Pollination by animals, 157
Olle Pellmyr

7 Seed dispersal by vertebrates, 185
Carlos M. Herrera

Part 4 Synthesis

8 Ant–plant interactions, 211
Andrew J. Beattie and Lesley Hughes

9 Plant–animal interactions: future directions, 236
John N. Thompson

Appendix: Supplementary information for Chapter 2, 248

References, 263

Index, 294

Colour plate falls between p. 84 and p. 85

"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

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.

Ever since Darwin’s depiction on the final page of The Origin of Species of a tangled bank teeming with plants and animals, the importance of species interactions in molding their ecology ad evolution has become ever more apparent. Attraction, deception, attack, defense, escape and tolerance- all are core terms of evolutionary ecology that convey the central role of interactions. The diversity of structure, behavior, psychology, and ecology among plants and animals reflects the outcomes of antagonistic and mutually beneficial relationships. In fact, much of the extraordinary diversity of plants and animals on the planet derives from their interactions.

Plant-Animal Interactions: an evolutionary approach is intended for graduate and upper-level undergraduate courses. Following a general introduction emphasizing the role of interactions in the evolution of biodiversity, chapters are devoted to the fossil record-plant-animal interactions, herbivory by insects and vertebrates, seed predation, pollination and seed dispersal by animals, ant-plant interaction, and synthesis that describes emerging areas of study, including the pivotal role of plant-animal interactions in conservation biology.