Evolution in Isolation : The Search for an Island Syndrome in Plants

By providing a thorough review of the quantitative evidence for repeated patterns in the evolution of island plants, this book establishes whether plants display an 'island syndrome' similar to animals. It will be of particular interest to graduate students as well as practising researchers in botany, biogeography, ecology and evolution.

Oceanic islands are storehouses for unique creatures. Zoologists have long been fascinated by island animals because they break all the rules. Speedy, nervous, little birds repeatedly evolve to become plump, tame and flightless on islands. Equally strange and wonderful plants have evolved on islands. However, plants are very poorly understood relative to animals. Do plants repeatedly evolve similar patterns in dispersal ability, size and defence on islands? This volume answers this question for the first time using a modern quantitative approach. It not only reviews the literature on differences in defence, loss of dispersal, changes in size, alterations to breeding systems and the loss of fire adaptations, but also brings new data into focus to fill gaps in current understanding. By firmly establishing what is currently known about repeated patterns in the evolution of island plants, this book provides a roadmap for future research.