Insects+flowers:biology of Partnership

9780691025230

0691025231

This is an absolutely delightful book. Barth, an outstanding sensory physiologist, has written the story of the partnership between insects and flowers with a much needed emphasis on the insects' sensory world.--Bert Hlldobler, Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology, Harvard University The author's style, excellently conveyed in translation, is sprightly and engaging. Numerous descriptions of experimental procedures and frequent references to the prominent investigators take the book beyond a 'facts-only' approach.--Alexander F. Motten, The Quarterly Review of Biology The sometimes bizarre and fantastic ways in which flowers ensure pollination has been the material for numerous excellent books, most of them written from a botanical perspective. There is also, however, an equally interesting zoological side to the story.... Barth's book serves as an introduction to this world of insects and plants, highlighting many recent discoveries about their coevolution.--Bernd Heinrich, Orion Nature Quarterly Wonderfully interesting.... This book should reach the hands of all kinds of biologists, nature enthusiasts, and those gardeners who wonder about the whys and hows of their growing plants.--Alma L. Moldenke, Phytologia Once in a long while, a book comes along that is an unqualified delight. Insects and Flowers is such a book.... Examples of flower/insect partnerships are presented in lucid prose reminiscent of the best of Charles Darwin's expositions. This is scientific writing of an uncommonly high order.--R. F. Sutton, The Forestry Chronicle