Evolutionary Ecology of Plant-Herbivore Interaction (eBook)

Plant-herbivore interactions are a central topic in evolutionary ecology. Historically, their study has been a cornerstone for coevolutionary theory. Starting from classic ecological studies at the phenotypic level, it has since expanded to molecular and genomic approaches. After a historical perspective, the book's subsequent chapters cover a wide range of topics: from populations to ecosystems; plant- and herbivore-focused studies; in natural and in man-modified ecosystems; and both micro- and macro-evolutionary levels. All chapters include valuable background information and empirical evidence. Given its scope, the book will be of interest to both students and researchers, and will hopefully stimulate further research in this exciting field of evolutionary biology.

Juan Núñez-Farfán has been a Professor at the Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Ecology, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), since 1993. He earned his PhD at UNAM (1991) and completed his postdoctoral studies at the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University (1991-1993). He has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Connecticut (1999-2000), where he worked on plasticity with Professor C.D. Schlichting. Dr. Núñez-Farfán is currently investigating the ecological genetics of plant defenses against herbivores, particularly with the plant Datura stramonium, using population and quantitative genetics. He has served as Director of the Graduate Program in Biology at UNAM, and was the founder President of the Ecological Society of Mexico (SCME). He teaches evolution and quantitative genetics to undergraduate and graduate students. 

Pedro Luis Valverde received his Bachelor's degree from the Metropolitan Autonomous University, Campus Iztapalapa (UAMI) in Mexico City, in 1990. Since 1992 he has been a faculty member at the Department of Biology, UAMI. He completed his Master of Science in Ecology and his Doctorate in Ecology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in 1994 and 2001, respectively. From 2010 to 2012, he conducted research on natural selection and resistance to herbivores at the University of Seville, Spain. His chief research interests are in plant-animal interactions and the evolutionary ecology of plant defenses against herbivorous insects, as well as the reproductive biology and ecology of Cactaceae. Presently, Dr. Valverde is President of the Ecological Society of Mexico (SCME).