Evolution of Plant-pollinator Relationships

What are the evolutionary mechanisms and ecological implications behind a pollinator choosing its favourite flower? Sixty-five million years of evolution has created the complex and integrated system which we see today and understanding the interactions involved is key to environmental sustainability. Examining pollination relationships from an evolutionary perspective, this book covers both botanical and zoological aspects. It addresses the puzzling question of co-speciation and co-evolution and the complexity of the relationships between plant and pollinator, the development of which is examined through the fossil record. Additional chapters are dedicated to the evolution of floral displays and signalling, as well as their role in pollination syndromes and the building of pollination networks. Wide-ranging in its coverage, it outlines current knowledge and complex emerging topics, demonstrating how advances in research methods are applied to pollination biology.

Sbastien Patiny is a scientific collaborator in the Laboratory of Zoology, Universit de Mons, Belgium. A large part of his research focuses on desert species of bees, their distribution, and the importance of biogeographical features in some species-level radiations. He is currently developing a series of papers dedicated to the inference of large phylogenetic topologies.