Economic Botany

More Speciation

Rapid Life Cycles and Efficient Vascular Systems + Seed Dispersal contributed to the rise of diversification in Angiosperms.

• In contrast to Gymnosperms (Slow LC) and has shown little to no evolutionary changes since the Permian Period.

Adaptive Radiation: Rapid evolution of diversely adapted species from a common ancestor.

• Ex. Hawaiian Silver Swords (Cretaceous Period)

  • Notable for adaptations to different environments like volcanic rock.

• Originated in California and diverged across the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii)

Founder Effect:

• A type of genetic drift (allopatric) caused by colonization of a new area by a small number of individuals.

• Each founding population can have a very different gene pool than the parent population, potentially flipping allele frequencies.

Bottleneck Effect:

• A significant reduction in population size leading to a loss of genetic diversity.

Economic Botany

The Transition from Hunter-Gathers → Agriculture occurred 10,000 to 15,000 years ago (post ice age).

• The Fertile Crescent (ME): 1st areas of plant domestication. Had crops like wheat, lentils, and barley

Artificial Selection: Humans selects certain traits of a crop/plant that’s beneficial for agriculture.

• Ex. Brassica species used to make Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage, etc. by selecting parts of plant.

Domestication

Old World

• Asia:

  • Rice (8000 ya) + Soybean (13,000 ya) are important cultivated crops in China

• Tropical Asia:

  • Citrus, Taro, and Bananas. Bananas reached Africa 2000 ya & then the New World after Columbus.

• Africa:

  • Cultivations of Yams, Okra, Cotton, and Coffee

New World

• The Americas:

  • North - 1st cultivators of Squash. Also cultivated Maize, Kidney + Lima Beans

  • Mexico- Independent cultivation of cotton. Cultivated Chili peppers, Avocados, tobacco, cacao, etc.

Brewing of Beer (6000 years ago)

• Traced back to the Sumerians, honoring the goddess of brewing, Ninkasi.

• Used barely varieties like bappir.