The Auks Alcidae

by Gaston, Anthony J.; Jones, Ian L.; Lewington, Ian

• ISBN13: 9780198540328
• ISBN10: 0198540329
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1998-06-04
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

The auks are marine birds widespread in the cooler parts of northern seas. Often regarded as the northern hemisphere's counterparts to penguins, they are accomplished underwater swimmers, able to dive to great depths. Among bird families, they exhibit an unusual degree of variability in their breeding sites, which range from old-growth, temperate forests to barren sea-cliffs and rocky outcrops among mountain glaciers. Chick development is equally variable: in some species chicks leave for the sea soon after hatching, while in others they grow to full size at the nest site. This diversity of behavior makes the auks an excellent subject for the study of adaptation. The authors, who have extensive field experience with auks, provide descriptions of the major features of the family and an engaging discussion of the adaptive significance of various traits. Part I contains general chapters on auk evolution, ecology, behavior, chick development, populations, and conservation. These chapters are illustrated with black-and-white drawings, summary graphs and tables. Part II follows with the twenty-three species accounts, giving comprehensive information on the birds in their natural state, including distribution maps. All species are illustrated in color, in superb plates by Ian Lewington especially commissioned for this volume. The Auks is part of Oxford's multi-volume Bird Families of the World , a new series of handbooks for professional scientists and amateur ornithologists. Each volume gives a comprehensive synthesis of current knowledge on one bird family or several related families; the complete series will be the definitive source for information on species of birds.

Table of Contents

List of colour plates	xi	(1)
List of abbreviations	xii	(1)
Plan of the book	xiii	(6)
Topographical diagrams	xix
PART I General chapters	3	(118)
1 Auks and their world	3	(21)
2 Systematics and evolution	24	(20)
3 Distribution and biogeography	44	(15)
4 Auks in ecosystems	59	(19)
5 Social behaviour	78	(13)
6 Chick development and the transition from land to sea	91	(14)
7 Populations and conservation	105	(16)
PART II Species accounts	121	(183)
Genus Pinguinus	121	(5)
Great Auk Pinguinus impennis	121	(5)
Genus Alca	126	(7)
Razorbill Alca torda	126	(7)
Genus Uria	133	(28)
Common Murre Uria aalge	133	(14)
Thick-billed Murre Uria lomvia	147	(14)
Genus Alle	161	(7)
Dovekie Alle alle	161	(7)
Genus Cepphus	168	(23)
Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle	168	(10)
Pigeon Guillemot Cepphus columba	178	(8)
Spectacled Guillemot Cepphus carbo	186	(5)
Genus Brachyramphus	191	(14)
Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus	191	(9)
Kittlitz's Murrelet Brachyramphus brevirostris	200	(5)
Genus Synthliboramphus	205	(22)
Xantus' Murrelet Synthliboramphus hypoleucus	205	(6)
Craveri's Murrelet Synthliboramphus craveri	211	(3)
Ancient Murrelet Synthliboramphus antiquus	214	(8)
Japanese Murrelet Synthliboramphus wumizusume	222	(5)
Genus Ptychoramphus	227	(8)
Cassin's Auklet Ptychoramphus aleuticus	227	(8)
Genus Cyclorhynchus	235	(7)
Parakeet Auklet Cyclorhynchus psittacula	235	(7)
Genus Aethia	242	(28)
Crested Auklet Aethia cristatella	242	(10)
Least Auklet Aethia pusilla	252	(10)
Whiskered Auklet Aethia pygmaea	262	(8)
Genus Cerorhinca	270	(12)
Rhinoceros Auklet Cerorhinca monocerata	270	(12)
Genus Fratercula	282	(22)
Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica	282	(11)
Horned Puffin Fratercula corniculata	293	(5)
Tufted Puffin Fratercula cirrhata	298	(6)
Bibliography	304	(34)
Index	338