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daumari's review against another edition
3.0
The de-extinction crowd would like this if they haven't already read it (it's been out for 13 years, so probably already have). Why do gingkos smell of rotten meat, and why do the honey locust pods persist on the ground more than a year after falling? The answer, according to Jantzen & Martin in a 1982 paper is that their ecological partners are missing- animals with a gullet large enough to swallow the massive avocado seed and dump it with a nice patch of fertilizer, carnivores willing to take a chance on some pleasantly aroma'd fruit. Barlow looks at some interesting likely anachronisms in the American landscape- would be interesting to see how ecologists' views have shifted if any in the time between publication and this.
dantastic's review against another edition
4.0
The Ghosts of Evolution is an account of fruits and their missing seed dispersers.
Ever wonder what eats crazy-looking fruits like the Osage Orange? It could be that nothing living does, that the preferred organism for spreading the seed has been lost to the sands of time. Connie Barlow investigates fruits from around the world and points out the probable ecological anachronisms.
For instance, the avocado seems to be intended to be devoured whole by some megafauna, possible a ground sloth, but no such megafauna exists in its range. Fortunately for some of the tastier species, mankind has taken on the role of seed dispersement but some species aren't so lucky.
The Ghosts of Evolution was one of the more interesting non-fiction books I've ever read. It made me harken back to my pre-teen days of wanting to be a scientist, several years before deciding having friends was more important than being the smartest kid in the room. What was I thinking?
Anyway. The Ghosts of Evolution is a fascinating exploration of the ecosystem and what happens when it gets disrupted. Four out of five stars.
Ever wonder what eats crazy-looking fruits like the Osage Orange? It could be that nothing living does, that the preferred organism for spreading the seed has been lost to the sands of time. Connie Barlow investigates fruits from around the world and points out the probable ecological anachronisms.
For instance, the avocado seems to be intended to be devoured whole by some megafauna, possible a ground sloth, but no such megafauna exists in its range. Fortunately for some of the tastier species, mankind has taken on the role of seed dispersement but some species aren't so lucky.
The Ghosts of Evolution was one of the more interesting non-fiction books I've ever read. It made me harken back to my pre-teen days of wanting to be a scientist, several years before deciding having friends was more important than being the smartest kid in the room. What was I thinking?
Anyway. The Ghosts of Evolution is a fascinating exploration of the ecosystem and what happens when it gets disrupted. Four out of five stars.
mixedblessings89's review against another edition
4.0
It's an excellent book. At one point it's very slightly repetitive and the last chapter (the one about the memorial service) is a bit self-indulgent, therefore 4 stars.
However, I must confess the book brought me a new perspective on all the trees I see on a daily basis, and the fruits I often eat. I recommend it to anyone interested in finding out more about our world as it is and as it was, and human impact on it.
However, I must confess the book brought me a new perspective on all the trees I see on a daily basis, and the fruits I often eat. I recommend it to anyone interested in finding out more about our world as it is and as it was, and human impact on it.
oldlizmar's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
2.5
Fascinating concept, good to have USA examples but just read the original paper instead
zanthems's review against another edition
4.0
This is a fascinating book with some occasionally irritating foibles.
The broad concepts here are intriguing and open a new window into the history of our natural world. The basic premise is that a number of plants in North America evolved to form partnerships with the megafauna that once dominated the landscape, but which is now largely extinct. This has resulted in a number of ecological "anachronisms"—plants whose seeds are nestled in large fruits no current animals can swallow whole, or whose fruit pulp is noxious to all current animal residents. The author examines and describes a wide range of examples in great detail.
I enjoyed this aspect immensely, and began to recognize some anachronisms in my own neighborhood. I was even more struck by Barlow's proposal that the recent reintroduction of megafauna to some North American ecosystems, in the form of horses and cattle, might be actively beneficial, partially replacing the animals that humans rendered extinct. (Barlow notes that horses and camels actually evolved first in North America, before spreading to other continents, and were endemic here until humans arrived. She makes a decent case that the American west would be better off now if it still had camels.)
Intermixed with the natural history lesson, however, is an extensive discussion of the history of this idea, and its reception in the scientific community. This, too, is interesting and worthwhile, up to a point. But she goes on about it rather past that point, until it seems like she's either hung up on vindicating her academic mentors, or desperate for material to pad this out to book length. Certainly it could have been shorter without sacrificing worthwhile content.
And finally, there's a lot of poetic description and personal anecdote woven in. Some of this is colorful and gives some life to the text. Some of it is goofy, and occasionally even cringe-worthy. Combined with occasional academic fuzziness (things don't "devolve," Barlow, they just evolve in a different direction), it lends a slightly sloppy air to the book.
But with that said, the book is largely an engaging introduction to a fascinating concept in natural history, and I definitely recommend it.
The broad concepts here are intriguing and open a new window into the history of our natural world. The basic premise is that a number of plants in North America evolved to form partnerships with the megafauna that once dominated the landscape, but which is now largely extinct. This has resulted in a number of ecological "anachronisms"—plants whose seeds are nestled in large fruits no current animals can swallow whole, or whose fruit pulp is noxious to all current animal residents. The author examines and describes a wide range of examples in great detail.
I enjoyed this aspect immensely, and began to recognize some anachronisms in my own neighborhood. I was even more struck by Barlow's proposal that the recent reintroduction of megafauna to some North American ecosystems, in the form of horses and cattle, might be actively beneficial, partially replacing the animals that humans rendered extinct. (Barlow notes that horses and camels actually evolved first in North America, before spreading to other continents, and were endemic here until humans arrived. She makes a decent case that the American west would be better off now if it still had camels.)
Intermixed with the natural history lesson, however, is an extensive discussion of the history of this idea, and its reception in the scientific community. This, too, is interesting and worthwhile, up to a point. But she goes on about it rather past that point, until it seems like she's either hung up on vindicating her academic mentors, or desperate for material to pad this out to book length. Certainly it could have been shorter without sacrificing worthwhile content.
And finally, there's a lot of poetic description and personal anecdote woven in. Some of this is colorful and gives some life to the text. Some of it is goofy, and occasionally even cringe-worthy. Combined with occasional academic fuzziness (things don't "devolve," Barlow, they just evolve in a different direction), it lends a slightly sloppy air to the book.
But with that said, the book is largely an engaging introduction to a fascinating concept in natural history, and I definitely recommend it.
cspiwak's review
3.0
The topic is interesting, but I was maybe not as deeply interested as I needed to be to truly enjoy. I liked the general information about adaptations such as pulp or thorns, the exhaustive listing of the various examples was more than I was looking for.
Good Information, and sobering, in its examination of future “widows”
Good Information, and sobering, in its examination of future “widows”
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