Bøger af BLAKE HUGHES

Pollination biology or anthecology is the science concerned with the study of pollination and the association between flowers and pollinators. Pollination is an important process in plant reproduction that is essential to the production of fruits and seeds. The process is mediated through an interaction between flowers and pollen vectors. Pollinators (or pollen vectors) are insects, birds or mammals that move pollen from the anther to the stigma of a flower. This allows the process of fertilization to occur. The study of pollination ecology encompasses pollination studies at many levels, such as the effectiveness of specific pollinators of a plant species, properties of interactions occurring within communities of plants and floral visitors, etc. This book unravels the recent studies in the fields of pollination biology and ecology. Also included in it is a detailed explanation of the various interactions between pollinators and plants. This book is a vital tool for all researching or studying pollination ecology as it gives incredible insights into emerging trends and concepts.

Flowers are structures produced by angiosperms or flowering plants. Their evolutionary history has been shaped by their association with pollinators, primarily insects. The transfer of pollen grains from the stamens to the ovules, or pollination, is an essential aspect of plant reproduction. In flowering plants, the ovules are contained within the pistil, and the pollen is generally deposited on the stigma, which is the receptive surface of the pistil. In conifers and cycads, the ovules are exposed and the pollen is caught in the fluid secreted by the ovule. This process is mediated by insects, vertebrates (bats and birds), certain mammals and some lizards. Such interaction between flowers and their pollinators are mutualistic. These influence floral ecology and are believed to have led to the wide diversity of pollinators today. This book contains some path-breaking studies in pollination and floral ecology. It will also provide interesting topics for research which interested readers can take up. A number of latest researches have been included to keep the readers up-to-date with the global concepts in this area of study.