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The Evolutionary Ecology of Ant-Plant Mutualisms

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title The Evolutionary Ecology of Ant-Plant Mutualisms
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Andrew James Beattie
SeriesCambridge Studies in Ecology
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:194
Dimensions(mm): Height 229,Width 152
Category/GenreEcological science
ISBN/Barcode 9780521272728
ClassificationsDewey:595.79604524
Audience
Professional & Vocational
Illustrations Worked examples or Exercises

Publishing Details

Publisher Cambridge University Press
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publication Date 26 August 2010
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

Mutualistic interactions between ants and plants involve rewards offered by plants and services performed by ants in a mutually advantageous relationship. The rewards are principally food and/or nest sites, and ants in turn perform a number of services for plants: they disperse and plant seeds; they protect foliage, buds, and reproductive structures from enemies such as herbivores and seed predators; they fertilize plants with essential nutrients; and they may sometimes function as pollinators. In this book, initially published in 1985, Professor Beattie reviews the fascinating natural history of ant-plant interactions, discusses the scientific evidence for the mutualistic nature of these relationships, and reaches some conclusions about the ecological and evolutionary processes that mold them. This important work explores the natural history, experimental approach, and integration with contemporary evolutionary and ecological literature of the time will appeal to a wide variety of biologists.

Reviews

"...a significant contribution to understanding ant and plant ecology. The author has done a superior job of blending these two sciences into an easy to read and very enjoyable text." Bulletin of the ESA "The relaxed and interesting narrative style makes this book a pleasure to read...I highly recommend this book to everyone interested in evolutionary ecology and especially those interested in the evolution of interactions between animals and plants." Evolution "...an excellent review of our current understanding of the diverse and sometimes subtle mutualisms between ants and plants." Bartonia