DARWIN'S ABOMINABLE MYSTERY - THE ORIGIN OF THE ANGIOSPERMS

Lecture Schedule

Lecture

Rise of the Angiosperms

Dominance of the Angiosperms
Darwin's "abominable mystery" - see historical perspective

When did Angiosperms arise?
What were the first Angiosperms?
Where did Angiosperms arise?
What were the ancestors of Angiosperms?
Why did the Angiosperms become dominant?

Fossil record of the Angiosperms - see geological time scale

Pollen

First records
3 lineages of Angiosperm pollen
Dominance and diversification of Angiosperm pollen

Leaves

First records
Diversification of Angiosperm leaf fossils

Flowers and fruits

Problems with preconceived ideas on primitive Angiosperm flowers/fruits
Diversity of flowers and inflorescences - see recent surprises
What were the earliest floral fossils? - see reading of Sun et al. & picture
Summary of flower/fruit fossil record

Controversies with the origin of Angiosperms

The primitive Angiosperm - see molecular phylogeny
The place and time of the origin of Angiosperms - see other views
Phylogenetic evidence for closest relatives
Putative Gymnosperm ancestor

Gnetales - not anymore!
Bennettitales and other "seed ferns"

Rise to dominance of the Angiosperms

Co-evolution of Angiosperms and insects

Anenomophily to entomophily
Beetle pollination and rewards
Cenozoic rise of insects

Pollination syndromes
Floral co-evolution