The Ghosts Of Evolution: Nonsensical Fruit, Missing Partners, and Other Ecological Anachronisms

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Basic Books, Aug 5, 2008 - Science - 352 pages
A new vision is sweeping through ecological science: The dense web of dependencies that makes up an ecosystem has gained an added dimension-the dimension of time. Every field, forest, and park is full of living organisms adapted for relationships with creatures that are now extinct. In a vivid narrative, Connie Barlow shows how the idea of "missing partners" in nature evolved from isolated, curious examples into an idea that is transforming how ecologists understand the entire flora and fauna of the Americas. This fascinating book will enrich and deepen the experience of anyone who enjoys a stroll through the woods or even down an urban sidewalk. But this knowledge has a dark side too: Barlow's "ghost stories" teach us that the ripples of biodiversity loss around us now are just the leading edge of what may well become perilous cascades of extinction.
 

Contents

Ecological Anachronisms and Their Missing Partners
27
The Megafaunal Dispersal Syndrome
51
Advancing the Theory
71
A Fruitful Longing
95
Extreme Anachronisms
119
Armaments from Another Era
149
Who Are the Ghosts?
181
Consequences
207
The Great Work
227
Epilogue
241
Notes
247
References
267
Index
285
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About the author (2008)

Connie Barlow is an editor and author of several books including Green Space, Green Time. She lives in Rockland County, New York.

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