Plant Ecology

by Crawley, Michael J.

• ISBN13: 9780632036394
• ISBN10: 0632036397
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-01-31
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

Plant ecology is the scientific study of the factors influencing the distribution and abundance of plants. This benchmark text, extremely well received in its first edition, shows how pattern and structure at different levels of plant organization--from ecophysiology through population dynamics to community structure and ecosystem function--are influenced by abiotic factors (eg, climate and soils) and by biotic factors (eg, competition and herbivory). Adopting a dynamic approach, this book combines descriptive text with theoretical models and experimental data. It will be invaluable reading for both student and practising ecologist alike.In this second edition, the structure of the book has been completely revised, moving from the small scale to the large scale, in keeping with contemporary teaching methods. This fresh approach allows consideration of several new and important topics such as plant secondary chemistry, herbivory, sex, and breeding systems. Additional chapters address topical applied issues in plant ecology including global warming, pollution and biodiversity. The latest edition of a very widely adopted textbook Written by a team of leading experts and edited by an international authority in the field

Author Biography

Michael J. Crawley, FRS, is with the Department of Biological Sciences, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine. He is the author of three bestselling Wiley statistics titles and five life science books.

Table of Contents

List of Contributors	xi
Preface to the Second Edition	xiii
Preface to the First Edition	xv
Photosynthesis	1	(27)
Harold A. Mooney
James R. Ehleringer
Introduction
Background
Photochemical reactions
Biochemical reactions
Environmental influences on photosynthetic capacity
Light
Carbon dioxide
Temperature
Photosynthesis with respect to water use
Energy balance considerations
Nutrients
Atmospheric pollutants
Seasonality of photosynthesis
Individual leaves
Whole plants
Photosynthetic capacity and defence against herbivores
Variations on the basic photosynthetic pathway
Ecological consequences of different photosynthetic pathways
Water-use efficiency
Significance of temperature
Climate change and photosynthesis
Photosynthesis in the recent past and near-future CO2 environments
Climate change and the evolution of photosynthetic pathways
Conclusions
Plant Water Relations	28	(23)
John Grace
Introduction: water and life
Water as a physical and chemical medium
State of water in the plant
Acquiring and conserving water on land
Water as a limiting resource
Transpiration rate
Energetics
Stomatal conductance
Soil-plant-atmosphere continuum
Pathway
Pipe model of hydraulic architecture
How vulnerable is the pipeline?
Water relations and plant distribution patterns
Water, carbon and nutrient relations
Concluding remarks
Nutrient Acquisition	51	(22)
Alastair Fitter
Availability of nutrients
Nutrient uptake by root systems
Transport through the soil
Transport across the root
Responses to nutrient deficiency
Modifying the rhizosphere
Resource allocation
Symbioses
Heterogeneity
Patchiness
Responses to patches
Turnover
Summary
Life History and Environment	73	(59)
Michael J. Crawley
Introduction
Neighbourhoods
Life history
The growth forms of plants
Annual plants
Monocarpic perennials
Herbaceous perennial plants
Trees and shrubs
Trade-offs
Colonization/competitive ability
Root growth/shoot growth
Palatability/competitive ability
Seed size/seed number
Seed size/seedling performance
Seed size/dormancy
Dormancy/dispersal
Longevity/growth rate
Longevity/reproductive output
Resource extraction/growth rate
Defence/growth rate
Growth/reproduction
Male/female reproductive function
Shade growth rate/shade death rate
Gap/forest regeneration niche
Sun leaves/shade leaves and water/light
Growth rate/nutrient retention
Fruit weight/seed weight
Pollen quantity/pollen quality
Flammability/competitive ability
Canopy architecture
Modular growth
Integration of plant growth
Allometry
Plant height
Leaf arrangement
Phyllotaxis
Switch from growth to reproduction
Ageing and senescence
Environmental factors affecting plant performance
Fire
Drought
Waterlogging
Shade
Disturbance
Low nutrient availability
Soil acidity
Heavy metals in soil
Salinity
Atmospheric pollutants
Exposure
Trampling
Extremes of heat
Mutualists
Enemies
Nurse plants
Conclusions
Plant Secondary Metabolism	132	(24)
Jeffrey B. Harborne
Introduction
Secondary metabolites
Terpenoid metabolites
Monoterpenoids
Sesquiterpenoids
Triterpenoids
Nitrogen-containing metabolites
Phenolic metabolites
Conclusions
Sex	156	(58)
Michael J. Crawley
Introduction
Sex: why bother?
Costs of sex
Benefits of sex
Variable progeny and individual fitness
Mating systems
Inbreeding and outbreeding
Population genetics of inbreeding
Inbreeding depression
Heterosis (hybrid vigour)
Outbreeding depression
Kinds of self-pollination
Sex types
Incompatibility systems
Prevention of self-pollination
Evolution of self-pollination from a cross-pollinating ancestor
Limits to reproductive output
Resource-limited fecundity
Pollen-limited fecundity
Population regulation
Monocarpy and polycarpy
Pollination by wind
Pollination by animals
Flowering phenology
Nectar reward
Pollen reward
Plant spatial pattern
Sexual investment by hermaphrodites
Measuring the costs of male and female function
Theory of male and female investment
Agamospermy: seeds without sex
Sex ratios and variable sex expression
Sex determination in plants
Labile sex expression and environmental conditions
Monoecy
Dioecy
Population genetics and genetic neighbourhoods
Minimum viable population (MVP)
Genetic drift
Effective population size
Mutation
Selection
Components of variance
Gene flow through migration
Gene flow through pollen
Assortative and disassortative mating
Venereal diseases of plants
Gene flow through seed dispersal
Sex on islands
Local mate competition
Mate choice in plants
Conflicts of interest
Case studies
Paternity analysis
Male fitness and pollen flow
Selfing and inbreeding depression
Conclusions
Seed Dormancy	214	(25)
Mark Rees
Introduction
Types of seeds
Definitions of dormancy
Seeds and the environment
Effects of light
Effects of the chemical environment
Effects of temperature
Other germination cues
Seed banks
Temporal dynamics
Physical structure
Population persistence
Population dynamics and coexistence
Evolution of dormancy
Relationships between regenerative and established plant traits
Conclusions
Mechanisms of Plant Competition	239	(23)
David Tilman
Introduction
Competition in natural plant communities
Competition in a grassland field
Limiting resources
Competition for nitrogen and light
A single limiting resource
The R* concept ('R star')
Resource dynamics
Competition for a limiting resource
Tests of the R* hypothesis
Competition for two resources
Resource isoclines
Resource consumption vectors
Resource supply vectors
Coexistence and displacement
Experimental tests
Multispecies communities
Spatially discrete individuals
Spatial heterogeneity
Resource fluctuations and non-equilibrium conditions
Multiple trophic levels
Conclusions
Ecology of Pollination and Seed Dispersal	262	(22)
Henry F. Howe
Lynn C. Westley
Introduction
Challenges of a sedentary existence
Adaptive trends
Flowers and pollinators
Fruits and frugivores
Coevolution or co-occurrence?
Reproductive imperatives of success and failure
Pollen success and failure
Fertilized, unfertilized and aborted ovules
Dispersed and undispersed seeds
Adjusting to physical and biological reality
Physical environment
Adjusting to neighbours
Conclusions
Plant Chemistry and Herbivory, or Why the World is Green	284	(41)
Susan E. Hartley
Clive G. Jones
Why is the world green?
Plants are poor food: they have `cruddy' ingredients
Nitrogen limitation of herbivores
Secondary metabolites and herbivores
Last thoughts on secondary metabolism and how green the world is
Plants are poor food: they are unpredictable
Intrinsic heterogeneity
Extrinsic heterogeneity
Last thoughts on unpredictability and how green the world is
Herbivores are between the devil and the deep blue sea
Conclusions
The Structure of Plant Populations	325	(34)
Michael J. Hutchings
Introduction
Performance structure in plant populations
Plant weights
Other aspects of performance
Spatial structure of plant populations
Spatial structure of seed and seedling populations
Spatial structure of populations of established plants
Age structure in plant populations
The seed bank: dispersal in time
Age structure of the growing plants in populations
Age structure of populations of modules
Genetic structure of plant populations
Abiotic influences on population structure
Plant Population Dynamics	359	(42)
Andrew R. Watkinson
Introduction
Population flux
Population regulation
The individual and the population
The fates of individuals
Fates of seeds
Fates of individuals classified according to age and stage
Population models
Matrix models
Difference equations
Density-dependence
Population dynamics
Annual plants
Perennial plants
Interactions in mixtures of species
Interspecific competition
Mutualism
Concluding remarks
Plant-Herbivore Dynamics	401	(74)
Michael J. Crawley
Introduction
Herbivores and plant performance
Seedling growth and survival
Shoot growth
Root growth
Plant shape
Flowering
Fruiting and fruit dispersal
Seed production
Seed predation
Mast fruiting and predator satiation
Mature plant death rate
Herbivores and plant vigour
Herbivory and plant productivity
Plant stress hypothesis
Plant vigour hypothesis
Herbivore-plant-herbivore interactions
Plant compensation
Reduced rates of fruit and seed abortion
Grasses
Trees
Shrubs
Herbs
Hebivores and plant fitness
Overgrazing
Herbivores and plant genetics
Herbivores and atmospheric CO2
Herbivores and plant population dynamics
Herbivory and plant competition
Herbivores and plant demography
Generalists and specialists
Plant growth
Herbivore functional responses
Herbivore numerical responses
Herbivore density dependence
Granivory: the dynamics of seed predation
Case studies
Keystone herbivores: the kangaroo rats of southern Arizona
Exclusion experiments using fences against large vertebrate herbivores
Cyclic herbivore populations
Weed biocontrol
Exclusion experiments involving insect herbivores and chemical pesticides
Herbivores and plant diversity
Selective herbivory and the identity of the dominant plant species
Selective herbivory and plant species richness
Herbivores and plant succession
Primary succession
Secondary succession
Summary
The Structure of Plant Communities	475	(57)
Michael J. Crawley
Introduction
Definition of plant community
Clements' view of community structure
Gleason's view of community structure
The modern synthesis
The niche concept
Species richness
Spatial heterogeneity
Temporal variation
Competitive ability/dispersal trade-off
Niche separation and resource partitioning
Herbivory and the palatability/competitive ability trade-off
Disturbance
Refuges
Alpha, beta and gamma diversity
Species richness in the Park Grass Experiment: a case study
Evenness and relative abundance
Species-area effects
Biogeography
Species abundance distributions
Physical structure of plant communities
Life-forms in plant communities
Vertical structure of plant communities
Spatial structure of plant communities
Allelopathy and spatial patterns
Quantitative methods for describing spatial patterns
Spatial patterns and quadrat size
Spatial patterns reflecting temporal changes
Succession
Interglacial cycles
Primary succession
Secondary succession
Models of spatial dynamics
Metapopulation models
Patch models
Reaction diffusion models
Cellular automata
Coupled map lattice
Conclusions
Dynamics of Plant Communities	532	(24)
Stephen W. Pacala
Introduction
Simple models of ideas
Competition/colonization trade-off
Resource partitioning
Temporal partitioning: the storage effect
Janzen-Connell hypothesis
Empirical tests
Models of natural systems
Spatial segregation hypothesis
Empirical evidence for the spatial segregation hypothesis
Conclusions
Plants in Trophic Webs	556	(12)
James P. Grover
Robert D. Holt
Plants and Pollution	568	(14)
Mike Ashmore
Introduction
Effects on individual plants
Effects on species interactions
Evolutionary responses
Community-level effects
Concluding remarks
Climate Change and Vegetation	582	(13)
J. Philip Grime
Introduction
Importance of land use
Current predictions
World vegetation patterns
Regional vegetation patterns
Current research
A research protocol
Screening of plant attributes
Formal searches for plant functional types
Monitoring of vegetation responses to climate
Manipulative experiments
Conclusions
Biodiversity	595	(38)
Michael J. Crawley
Introduction
The number of plant species
Origins of plant biodiversity
Postglacial changes in plant biodiversity
Current geographical distribution of biodiversity
Biodiversity hot-spots
Cape floral kingdom of South Africa
Island floras
Variation in plant biodiversity within the British Isles
Threats to biodiversity
Species loss in Britain
Species loss in tropical environments
Urbanization
Enforcement of conservation legislation
Alien plants
Notions of invasive and non-invasive species
Problem plants
What are the problem plants?
Problem plants in other countries
Overview of problem plants
Plant conservation
Parks and nature reserves
Habitat restoration
Botanic gardens
Gene banks
Food plant conservation
Economics of plant conservation
Conclusions
References	633	(68)
Index	701