Social Lives of Plants: How plants connect―as friends or foes―with other plants, microorganisms, animals, and humans

Thông tin sách: Social Lives of Plants: How plants connect―as friends or foes―with other plants, microorganisms, animals, and humans (Hardcover, 200 trang) – Springer, 2025. Ngôn ngữ: Tiếng Anh.

What if plants could share food, communicate with other organisms, or even raise their young? In Social Lives of Plants, readers will discover that plants are far more than silent, solitary beings—they are active participants in a dynamic world that paints the Earth green.

Plants live among many neighbors—other plants, microorganisms, animals, and humans. Despite being immobile and surrounded by numerous organisms that might exploit them, plants successfully defend themselves and reproduce. But they do more than just endure—they also actively use other organisms to support their growth and ensure their survival. The strategies plants employ for these interactions are astonishingly diverse and innovative. Through these interactions, plants and their social partners evolve, bring about changes in ecosystems and enrich them.

This book presents up-to-date information on the full spectrum of plant interactions—ranging from cooperation to competition, manipulation, and even biological warfare. It also explores how human activity influences plant survival, the challenges posed by climate change, and how we might move toward more sustainable agriculture.

Designed for curious readers and aspiring plant scientists alike, the book is written in clear, accessible language without sacrificing accuracy. References cited throughout the text offer pathways for deeper exploration. Detailed and informative illustrations support readers in understanding the content.

Editorial Reviews From the Back Cover

What if plants could share food, communicate with other organisms, or even raise their young? In Social Lives of Plants, readers will discover that plants are far more than silent, solitary beings—they are active participants in a dynamic world that paints the Earth green.

Plants live among many neighbors—other plants, microorganisms, animals, and humans. Despite being immobile and surrounded by numerous organisms that might exploit them, plants successfully defend themselves and reproduce. But they do more than just endure—they also actively use other organisms to support their growth and ensure their survival. The strategies plants employ for these interactions are astonishingly diverse and innovative. Through these interactions, plants and their social partners evolve, bring about changes in ecosystems and enrich them.

This book presents up-to-date information on the full spectrum of plant interactions—ranging from cooperation to competition, manipulation, and even biological warfare. It also explores how human activity influences plant survival, the challenges posed by climate change, and how we might move toward more sustainable agriculture.

Designed for curious readers and aspiring plant scientists alike, the book is written in clear, accessible language without sacrificing accuracy. References cited throughout the text offer pathways for deeper exploration. Detailed and informative illustrations support readers in understanding the content. About the Author

Youngsook Lee is a Professor Emeritus at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), South Korea. Trained in plant physiology and cell biology at Seoul National University and the University of Connecticut, she completed postdoctoral research at Harvard University.

Her research has advanced our understanding of ABC transporters, plant responses to environmental stress, and the mechanisms of lipid accumulation in microalgae. Dr. Lee served as an editor of New Phytologist and held leadership roles in national science policy in Korea. Her achievements have been recognized with the Korea Science Award, the Cozzarelli Prize from the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the Corresponding Member Award from the American Society of Plant Biologists, and the Samsung Happiness for Tomorrow Award.

Outside academia, she has shared joyful moments of daily life with her Shiba dog, Bokja, on her YouTube channel @ShibadogBokja, where past videos are available.

Bae Young Choi is an Assistant Professor at the Korea National University of Transportation (KNUT), South Korea. He earned his Ph.D. in plant physiology from the Department of Life Sciences at POSTECH, following his summa cum laude graduation from the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST). He completed his postdoctoral research in bioinformatics at Chungnam National University. He has been recognized with the Excellent Publication Award for graduate students from POSTECH and the Young Scientist Award from the Korean Society for Plant Biotechnology. His research focuses on decoding plant genomes and elucidating their physiological responses using systems biology approaches, integrating bioinformatics and plant science. During his leisure hours, he enjoys engaging in activities such as swimming, skiing, cycling, and playing the board game Go.