Chapter Questions
How can gene flow (in the narrow sense) be defined?
Draw a diagram of the haplodiplontic life cycle of land plants, with regard to gene flow over multiple generations.
How do mosses, ferns, conifers, and an annual flowering plant differ with respect to this gene flow?
How are plants capable of undergoing asexual reproduction?
What is a lineage?
What is the difference between tokogenetic and phylogenetic relationships?
What is the difference between a lineage segment and a clade?
What is a gene genealogy/lineage versus a species tree?
What is lineage sorting? How can lineage sorting be incomplete, and what is a result of this?
Define introgression, hybridization, and polyploidy and their significance in plant evolution.
What is meant by phylogeography, and what methodology can be used to study it?
Define the biological (isolating) species concept.
Name some barriers to gene exchange that are pre-mating, post-mating, and post-zygotic.
How is the emphasis of the recognition species concept different from that of the biological (isolating) species concept?
What are cohesion species and how are they maintained?
How are evolutionary species defined?
What is a taxonomic/morphological species? How are these often the starting point for species assessment?
What is a phylogenetic species? In what two ways can these be defined?
Explain the concept of a metaspecies. How does this differ from a paraphyletic species?
Why might paraphyletic species be not uncommon in nature?
What is a genealogical species? Asexual species?
Define cryptic species. How might they be made less "cryptic"?
What are infraspecies and what are the two most common ranks used in their classification?
What three things, in terms of evolutionary processes, might infraspecies represent?
Describe in detail how species might undergo an evolutionary progression over time, indicating the transition and overlap among different species types or concepts.
What is the distinction between synchronic and diachronic species?
Review how species can be evaluated practically in plant systematics studies.
What is the concern of conservation biology?
What is the difference between species richness and species evenness?
In what four ways might plant systematics impact or relate to conservation biology?
How is taxon diagnosis fundamental to conservation biology?
How are floristic studies important in the conservation of plants?
What is a disjunct? An endemic?
Why are voucher specimens essential to any rigorous floristic survey?
What is the difference between extinct and extirpated taxa?
What is a keystone species?
How are endangered and threatened species defined?
Give two examples as to how phylogenetic studies can be valuable in making conservation decisions.
What are paleoendemics? Neoendemics?
Describe in an essay how plant systematists may act to save biodiversity, and elaborate if you believe we have a moral or practical obligation to do so.