Avian Growth and Development: Evolution within the Altricial-Precocial Spectrum (Oxford Ornithology Series) - Hardcover

 
9780195106084: Avian Growth and Development: Evolution within the Altricial-Precocial Spectrum (Oxford Ornithology Series)
Hardcover
ISBN 10: 0195106083 ISBN 13: 9780195106084
Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1998

Synopsis

This is the first re-appraisal in 50 years of concepts of development made in birds. This book is a case study in evolutionary diversification of life histories. Although birds have a rather uniform body plan and physiology, they exhibit marked variation in development type, parental care, and rate of growth. Altricial birds are fully dependent on their parents for warmth and nutrition and begin posthatching life in a more or less embryonic condition. At the other extreme, such superprecocial species as the megapodes are independent of all parental care from hatching, and the neonate, able to fly, resembles an adult bird. This book thus attempts to present an integrative perspective of organism biology, ecology, and evolution.

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About the Author

J. Matthias Starck is at Zoology Institute, University of Tübingen. Robert E. Ricklefs is at University of St. Louis.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
Oxford University Press
Publication date
1998
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0195106083
ISBN 13 
9780195106084
Binding
Hardcover
Edition number
1
Number of pages
456
Editor
Starck J. Matthias, Ricklefs Robert E.