Introduction To Plant Population Biology

This completely revised, fourth edition of Introduction to PlantPopulation Biology continues the approach taken by its highlysuccessful predecessors. Ecological and genetic principles areintroduced and theory is made accessible by clear, accurateexposition with plentiful examples. Models and theoreticalarguments are developed gradually, requiring a minimum ofmathematics. The book emphasizes the particular characteristics of plantsthat affect their population biology, and evolutionary questionsthat are particularly relevant for plants. Wherever appropriate, itis shown how ecology and genetics interact, presenting a roundedpicture of the population biology of plants. Topics covered include variation and its inheritance, geneticmarkers including molecular markers, plant breeding systems,ecological genetics, intraspecific interactions, populationdynamics, regional dynamics and metapopulations, competition andcoexistence, and the evolution of breeding systems and lifehistory. An extensive bibliography provides access to the recentliterature that will be invaluable to students and academicsalike. Effective integration of plant population ecology, populationgenetics and evolutionary biology. The new edition is thoroughly revised and now includesmolecular techniques. The genetics chapters have been completely rewritten by a newco-author, Deborah Charlesworth.

Variation and its inheritance., Ecological genetics., Intraspecific interactions., Population dynamics., Dynamics of structured populations., Metapopulations., Competition and coexistence., Life history evolution: sex and mating., Life history evaluation: birth, growth and death.

"This relatively new approach to the study of plant ecology introduces the idea that vegetation can be analysed in terms of the plant populations of which it is composed and in terms of the births, deaths and development of individuals in these populations" -- Back cover.

This book, written in 1977, brought together for the first time, the current knowledge of plants that might be relevant to understanding their population biology. ¿This monumental volume did more than summarize the state of plant biology; ¿it linked the conceptual and theoretical developments in population ecology, mostly derived from the study of animals, with field observations and experimental evidence of population regulation and life history evolution in plants. ¿ ¿The field of population biology was already well established in the 1960s although with a clear zoocentric emphasis, however, it is because of Harper¿s work that the field experienced a veritable explosion, reached maturity and became a mainstream scientific endeavour worldwide. This field is so vast now that it would be pointless, if not impossible, for someone to summarise it. It is precisely because of this that PBP is as relevant now as it was in 1977. John Harper¿s style of highlighting unanswered questions and the limitations of both theory and empirical evidence served and still serves as foundation for research agendas worldwide. Much remains to be done in this field and this alone makes PBP an essential element in the library of every student/researcher of population biology, whether interested in plants or animals.¿ From the ¿Preface to the 2010 Printing¿ written by José Sarukhán, Rodolfo Dirzo and Miguel Franco.