Evolution of the Arborescent Gymnosperms, Volume 1: Northern Hemisphere Focus Pattern, Process and Diversity

About this book

The arborescent gymnosperms are the most prevalent trees in one-third of the world's forests, and have dominated the Earth's forest ecosystems through much of evolutionary time. They encompass over 70 living genera and nearly 700 species of evergreen conifers and related trees, and include the largest and longest-lived organisms on this planet.

This two-volume treatise, the manuscript for which was completed shortly before the author's death, is the culmination of 54 years of research, teaching and field study. It provides detailed descriptions of each genus based on first-hand surveys of their structure, adaption, ecology, function and development. It also incorporates evidence from molecular studies, palaeobotany and environmental data to provide a holistic understanding of their overall evolution and diversity. Covering the world's temperate and tropical forests, Volume 1 principally focuses on Northern Hemisphere genera while Volume 2 covers those with a predominantly Southern Hemisphere range. Together, the set provides a comprehensive, global reference for researchers in palaeobotany, plant science, geobiology, evolutionary biology, ecology and plant genetics, as well as arboriculturists and conservation managers.

Contents

Preface and acknowledgements
Structure of the two volumes

Part I. Aims, Approaches and Methodologies
Part II. Phylogenetic Bases and Revised Taxonomic Structure

Part III. Living Arborescent Gynosperm Genetic Presentations
1. Ginkgo
2. Picea
3. Cathaya
4. Pinus
5. Larix
6. Pseudotsuga
7. Abies
8. Nothotsuga
9. Tsuga
10. Keteleeria
11. Pseudolarix
12. Cedrus
13. Taxus
14. Pseudotaxus
15. Austrotaxus
16. Cephalotaxus
17. Amentotaxus
18. Torreya
19. Sciadopitys
20. Cupressus
21. Hesperocyparis
22. Chamaecyparis
23. Fokienia
24. Thujopsis
25. Thuja
26. Xanthocyparis
27. Juniperus
28. Platycladus
29. Microbiota
30. Calocedrus
31. Neocallitropsis
32. Callitris
33. Actinostrobus
34. Widdringtonia
35. Tetraclinis
36. Libocedrus
37. Papuacedrus
38. Austrocedrus
39. Pilgerodendron
40. Diselma

Part IV. From Ecosystem Services to Conservation and Sustainability

Bibliography
Genus index

Customer Reviews

Biography

Christopher N. Page (1942-2022) held a first-class bachelor's degree in geology and a PhD in cytogenetics. Following positions at the University of Queensland and the University of Oxford, he joined the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh as a specialist tree scientist. This provided him with a base for half a century of global study of conifers and ferns, including more than 10 cumulative years spent in the field on every continent except Antarctica. After leaving Edinburgh, he joined the University of Exeter in his retirement, where he continued to study ancient plant groups by integrating multi-sourced plant data with phylogenetic arrays. The author of 8 books and 150 journal papers, Dr Page was best known for bridging fields as diverse as geology, palaeobotany, evolutionary biology, biodiversity, genetics and modern molecular studies in order to develop environmental-evolutionary interpretations and applications. He was awarded two scientific Gold Medals - fittingly one for plant biology from the Indian Pteridological Society and one for geology from the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall. This treatise on gymnosperms, the manuscript for which was completed shortly before his death, is the culmination of 54 years of research, teaching and field study.