About the Book
A unique and personal insight into the ecology and evolution of pollinators, their relationships with flowers, and their conservation in a rapidly changing world.
The pollination of flowers by insects, birds and other animals is a fundamentally important ecological function that supports both the natural world and human society. Without pollinators to facilitate the sexual reproduction of plants, the world would be a biologically poorer place in which to live, there would be an impact on food security, and human health would suffer.
Written by one of the world’s leading pollination ecologists, this book provides an introduction to what pollinators are, how their interactions with flowers have evolved, and the fundamental ecology of these relationships. It explores the pollination of wild and agricultural plants in a variety of habitats and contexts, including urban, rural and agricultural environments. The author also provides practical advice on how individuals and organisations can study, and support, pollinators.
As well as covering the natural history of pollinators and flowers, the author discusses their cultural importance, and the ways in which pollinator conservation has been portrayed from a political perspective. The book draws on field work experiences in South America, Africa, Australia, the Canary Islands and the UK.
For over 30 years the author has spent his career researching how plants and pollinators evolve relationships, how these interactions function ecologically, their importance for society, and how we can conserve them in a rapidly changing world. This book offers a unique and personal insight into the science of pollinators and pollination, aimed at anyone who is interested in understanding these fascinating and crucial ecological interactions.
Table of Contents:
Preface and Acknowledgements
1. The importance of pollinators and pollination
2. More than just bees: the diversity of pollinators
3. To be a flower
4. Fidelity and promiscuity in Darwin's entangled bank
5. The evolution of pollination strategies
6. A matter of time: from daily cycles to climate change
7. Agricultural perspectives
8. Urban environments
9. The significance of gardens
10. Shifting fates of pollinators
11. New bees on the block
12. Managing, restoring and connecting habitats
13. The politics of pollination
14. Studying pollinators and pollination
References
Index
About the Author :
As a scientist and educator for over 30 years, Jeff Ollerton has developed an international profile in the field of biodiversity, focused particularly on understanding and conserving plant-pollinator interactions. His highly-cited, ground-breaking research has been used by national and international agencies to support efforts to conserve pollinators and their pollination services.
Review :
Wonderful... This is a book that deserves to be read by anyone interested in the topic.
Perfect as a comprehensive introduction to the topic, from one of the UK’s most highly respected experts on pollinators and pollination, Jeff Ollerton. I recommend it to anyone looking for a primer in this topic and an enjoyable read.
SUPERB. It contains everything I’ve spent the last 10 years trying to grasp, all in one book, AND written in a way I can understand! It makes such a difference to a non-scientist (like me) to be able to grasp the facts, and the science behind the facts, without having to first look up dozens of terms I don’t understand.
This is a highly readable text on pollination ecology, very useful for students and anyone who needs to get up to speed on this topic and its surrounding issues... Written in a personal and engaging style and with many clear diagrams and illustrations – this excellent text provides much useful insight.
Accessible and informative… Comprehensive and in-depth enough to be of interest to someone like me with a little academic experience, and at the same time concise enough to cover the key discussions without being a massive quarto textbook.
Fascinating, thought-provoking and often entertaining… An easy and enjoyable read with much to offer the general reader.
Most of his 30-year’s research is poured into this major work and it has plenty of graphs as an evidence base for his ideas and theories. This is not just about bees and pollination – though it may seem that way as Apis mellifera is a major pollinator – it is about all pollinators, birds, reptiles, mammals and invertebrates.
Entertaining… readable… Jeff provides facts and personal observations behind the science without the use of specialized terms that only biologists can understand.
An easy and pleasant read and there is a long and very useful reference list.
Accessible and appealing
A very fine introduction to the biology – and politics – of pollination. Highly recommended.
Entertaining, pleasant to read and presented in an attractive pocketbook format keeping everything short and concise. It supplies appealingly prepared, interesting scientific information and attractive pictures of pollinators... A very timely book.
This book is scholarly yet personal and very readable... A wonderful way to learn more about why pollinators are important, how they interact with flowers and how we can better help them.
Few pollination biologists have played a more pivotal role in the expansion of the pollination tent than Jeff Ollerton... Pollinators and Pollination is unique in providing a thorough overview of some of the most important (and rapidly changing) themes in pollination biology, while showcasing the author’s zest for engagement with his students, colleagues, and fellow citizens.
Interesting and useful. Many excellent photos, charts and graphs go far in helping define the issues discussed.
It’s aimed at the serious reader and covers the latest research, but is never inaccessible and has something for everyone. It’s extremely up-to-date and even delves into such areas as the politics of pollination, as well as assessing opportunities for citizen science to which every gardener can contribute. I thoroughly recommend this book.
This is a book that I would like to see on not only Naturalist’s bookcases, but is a book that I would like to see on every newspaper’s editor and TV newsroom book case, and then we can all know that the honey bee isn’t the only pollinator.
Very timely, jargon free and an easy read…Chapters discuss(ing) managing, restoring, and connecting habitats and the politics of pollination are both highly informative and useful.
Ollerton makes an excellent contribution to the literature in this volume. Fourteen well-written chapters concisely and coherently summarize what pollinators are, why they are essential to plant reproduction, flower characteristics that promote pollination, how pollination evolved, environmental and behavioral factors that affect pollination rates, pollination strategies, pollination in wild ecologies as opposed to urban and agricultural pollination, and the changing future of pollinators and pollination…Highly recommended for undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and professionals.
For a young scientist like me who is interested in pollination biology, it is vitally important to build up expert knowledge from the basics. Pollinators & Pollination by Jeff Ollerton is the perfect primer for this.
Ollerton combines a thorough synopsis of pollinators and pollination with an engaging narrative voice to appeal to junior and senior scientists as well as the general public.
