The ecophysiology of desert birds (Google eBook)

Gordon L MacLean

Springer, 1996 - Nature - 181 pages

The scientific study of birds in arid regions has been conducted more or less intensively for about 40 years. This is an appropriate time to draw together the threads of the diverse research on birds living in such an extreme environment.
Topics include: Desert Avifaunas; Food and Energy; Water - Drinking; Water Regulation; Thermoregulation; Timing of Breeding; Ecology of Breeding.

Contents

• Introduction: 1
• 11 Preadaptation of Birds to the Arid Zone: 8
• Desert Avifaunas: 9
• 21 Coloration: 15
• Food and Energy: 21
• 31 Seeds as a Food Resource: 22
• 32 Small Passerines: 24
• 33 The Ostrich Struthio camelus: 26
• 34 Sandgrouse and Doves: 29
• 35 The Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus: 33
• 36 Torpidity in Insectivorous Birds: 34
• Water 1 Drinking: 35
• 42 Doves: 43
• 43 Sandgrouse: 44
• 44 Other Species: 46
• 45 Conclusions: 48
• Water 2 Water Regulation: 49
• 52 Thirst: 52
• 53 Water Sources and Water Quality: 53
• 54 Pathways of Water Loss: 57
• 542 Evaporative Water Loss EWL: 68
• 55 AridAdapted vs NonAridAdapted Birds: 72
• 56 Some Case Studies: 76
• 561 Ostrich Struthio camelus: 77
• 562 Sand Partridge Ammoperdix heyi and Chukar Partridge Alectoris chukar: 78
• 564 Sandgrouse Pterodes spp: 80
• 565 Rock Dove Feral Pigeon Columba livia: 81
• 567 Ground Dove Columbina passerina: 82
• 5610 Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus: 83
• 5611 WhiteThroated Silverbill Lonchura malabarica: 84
• 5613 Sage Sparrow Amphispiza belli: 85
• 5614 BlackThroated Sparrow Amphispiza bilineata and Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus: 86
• 57 Conclusions: 87
• Thermoregulation: 89
• 62 Heat Loss: 91
• 622 NonEvaporative Heat Loss: 93
• 63 Metabolic Rate: 94
• 64 Some Case Histories: 95
• 642 The Zebra Finch Poephila guttata: 98
• 643 Passerines in the Namib Desert: 99
• 645 The Sociable Weaver Philetairus socius: 100
• 647 Ratites: 102
• 648 Sandgrouse: 104
• 649 Columbids: 106
• 6410 Charadriiformes Other Than Sandgrouse: 109
• 6412 Cuculiformes: 111
• 65 Conclusions: 112
• Breeding 1 Timing of Breeding: 113
• 72 South America: 115
• 73 Australia: 116
• 731 The Zebra Finch Poephila guttata: 117
• 733 The Inland Dotterel Peltohyas australis: 119
• 74 Africa: 120
• 75 Africa and Australia Compared: 126
• 76 North America: 127
• 762 The Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus: 128
• 763 Breeding Seasons: 129
• 77 Moult: 130
• Breeding 2 Ecology of Breeding: 133
• 82 Other Charadriiformes: 140
• 83 Pigeons: 143
• 84 The Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus: 144
• 85 Larks: 145
• 86 The Sociable Weaver Philetairus socius: 149
• 87 Other Small Passerines: 150
• 88 Conclusions: 153
• Into Tomorrow: 155
• References: 159
• Subject Index: 169

Popular passages

Page 162 - An analysis of the avifauna of the southern Kalahari Gemsbok National Park.‎

Page 161 - Erörterungen zur Definition und Anwendbarkeit der Begriffe 'Ultimate Factor', 'Proximate Factor‎

Page 162 - G. (1994). The amplitude of circadian body temperature rhythms in three rodents (Aethomys namaquensis, Thallomys paedulcus and Cryptomys damarensis) along the arboreal-subterranean gradient. Australian Journal of Zoology 42: 65-78.‎

Page 162 - The breeding biology and behaviour of the Double-banded Courser Rhinoptilus africanus (Temminck).‎

Page 161 - Weinstein Y (1986) Metabolic heat production and evaporative heat loss in desert phasianids: Chukar and Sand Partridge. Physiol Zool 59:592-605 Gatter W (1971) Wassertransport beim Flufiregenpfeifer (Charadrius dubius).‎

Page 161 - K (1970) Environmental factors controlling reproduction in African and Australian birds - a comparison. Ostrich Suppl 8:193-204 Immelmann K (1971) Ecological aspects of periodic reproduction.‎

Bibliographic information

• Title: The ecophysiology of desert birds; Adaptations of desert organisms; Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology
• Author: Gordon L MacLean
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Springer, 1996
• ISBN: 3540592695, 9783540592693
• Length: 181 pages
• Subjects: Nature / Birdwatching Guides