Avian Growth and Development Evolution within the Altricial-Precocial Spectrum

by Starck, J. Matthias; Ricklefs, Robert E.

• ISBN13: 9780195106084
• ISBN10: 0195106083
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1998-02-26
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

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.

Table of Contents

Contributors	xi
1 Patterns of Development: The Altricial-Precocial Spectrum	3	(28)
J. Matthias Starck
Robert E. Ricklefs
1.1 Introduction	3	(1)
1.2 Classification of hatchlings	3	(6)
1.3 The altricial-precocial spectrum and avian systematics	9	(4)
1.4 The fossil record of the altricial-precocial spectrum	13	(1)
1.5 A new metric of avian hatchlings?	13	(9)
1.6 A mammalian perspective	22	(4)
1.7 Conclusions	26	(5)
2 Embryonic Growth and Development	31	(28)
Robert E. Ricklefs
J. Matthias Strack
2.1 Introduction	31	(1)
2.2 Sources of data, taxonomic treatment, and mode of development	32	(1)
2.3 Incubation period, egg size, and adult body size	32	(2)
2.4 Embryo growth	34	(5)
2.5 Normal stages of embryonic development	39	(2)
2.6 Maturation of embryonic tissues	41	(10)
2.7 Discussion	51	(4)
2.8 General conclusions	55	(4)
3 Structural Variants and Invariants in Avian Embryonic and Postnatal Development	59	(30)
J. Matthias Starck
3.1 Introduction	59	(1)
3.2 Extraembryonic organs	59	(5)
3.3 The development of the skeleton	64	(10)
3.4 Muscle	74	(2)
3.5 Epidermal structures	76	(3)
3.6 Development of sensory organs	79	(1)
3.7 Development of the brain	80	(2)
3.8 Development of the intestine in precocial and altricial birds	82	(3)
3.9 Conclusions	85	(4)
4 Energy Metabolism, Gas Exchange, and Ventilation	89	(28)
Carol M. Vleck
Theresa L. Bucher
4.1 Introduction	89	(1)
4.2 Embryonic stage	89	(8)
4.3 Perinatal stage	97	(3)
4.4 Hatching process and energy costs	100	(1)
4.5 Hatchling stage	100	(11)
4.6 Summary and conclusion	111	(6)
5 Development of Temperature Regulation	117	(40)
G. Henk Visser
5.1 Introduction	117	(1)
5.2 Interrelated time budgets of chicks and parents	117	(2)
5.3 Newtonian cooling models: Methodological considerations for measurements on chicks	119	(4)
5.4 Degree of homeothermy at hatch and during subsequent growth	123	(7)
5.5 Metabolic rate	130	(12)
5.6 Heat transfer between chick and environment	142	(4)
5.7 Costs of homeothermy	146	(3)
5.8 Tolerance to low body temperatures: Poikilothermy as a thermal strategy	149	(1)
5.9 Summary	150	(7)
6 Development of Locomotion and Endothermy in Altricial and Precocial Birds	157	(17)
Esa Hohtola
Henk Visser
6.1 Introduction	157	(1)
6.2 Muscles: Growth and maturation	158	(3)
6.3 Muscles and locomotion: The effect of temperature	161	(3)
6.4 Muscles thermogenesis: Patterns of development in altricial and precocial birds	164	(6)
6.5 Conclusions	170	(4)
7 The Endocrine System	174	(29)
F.M. Anne McNabb
Colin G. Scanes
Michal Zeman
7.1 Basic concepts	174	(1)
7.2 Hormones that play major roles in development and their actions	175	(4)
7.3 The patterns of avian endocrine development	179	(5)
7.4 Endocrine system effects on anatomical and physiological components of development	184	(5)
7.5 Development of endocrine homeostatic mechanisms	189	(1)
7.6 Development of rhythms in hormone secretion	189	(4)
7.7 Conclusions, speculations, and future research	193	(10)
8 The Immune System	203	(20)
Victor Apanius
8.1 Introduction	203	(1)
8.2 Parasite resistance and immunity	203	(2)
8.3 Ontogeny of the lymphoid compartment in Galliformes	205	(3)
8.4 Parental contributions to immunity of neonates	208	(1)
8.5 Ontogeny of the immune function in Galliformes	209	(1)
8.6 Variation within and between Galliformes	210	(3)
8.7 Comparisons between the precocial Galliformes and Anseriformes	213	(2)
8.8 Altricial-precocial comparisons	215	(2)
8.9 Future studies	217	(6)
9 Development of Behavior	223	(24)
Heinz Duttmann
H. Heiner Bergmann
Wiltraud Englander
9.1 Introduction	223	(1)
9.2 Timing of emergence of several noncommunicative motor patterns	223	(4)
9.3 Sensory capacities in behavioral ontogeny	227	(1)
9.4 Embryonic motor patterns and hatching behavior	227	(1)
9.5 Behaviors related to parental care	228	(1)
9.6 Comfort behavior	229	(3)
9.7 Locomotion	232	(1)
9.8 Displays	232	(6)
9.9 Imprinting and song learning	238	(1)
9.10 Play	239	(1)
9.11 Summary	240	(7)
10 Variation, Constraint, and Phylogeny, Comparative Analysis of Variation in Growth	247	(19)
J. Matthias Starck
Robert E. Ricklefs
10.1 Introduction	247	(1)
10.2 Phylogenetic constraint and phylogenetic effect	248	(1)
10.3 Phylogenetic effects in growth data	248	(12)
10.4 Taxon-dependent diversification of growth rate	260	(4)
10.5 Conclusions	264	(2)
11 Internal Constraints on Growth in Birds	266	(22)
Robert E. Ricklefs
J. Matthias Starck
Marek Konarzewski
11.1 Introduction	266	(1)
11.2 Selection on growth	267	(1)
11.3 Is growth rate related to mortality rate?	268	(3)
11.4 Growth rate and body size	271	(1)
11.5 Detecting constraints	272	(1)
11.6 Internal constraints on growth rate: Resource supply	273	(4)
11.7 Nutrient limitation	277	(1)
11.8 Functional maturity and growth rate of tissues	278	(3)
11.9 Symmorphosis and constraint	281	(1)
11.10 Testing constraint hypotheses	282	(1)
11.11 A research agenda	282	(1)
11.12 Summary and conclusions	283	(5)
12 Developmental Plasticity	288	(17)
William A. Schew
Robert E. Ricklefs
12.1 Introduction	288	(1)
12.2 Imposed and induced variation	289	(1)
12.3 Selective factors	290	(2)
12.4 Sources of variation in food provisioning	292	(1)
12.5 Quantifying food limitations	293	(1)
12.6 Responses to short-term undernutrition	294	(1)
12.7 Experimental and empirical studies of short-term undernutrition	294	(3)
12.8 Responses to long-term undernutrition	297	(1)
12.9 Growth and development during realimentation	298	(1)
12.10 Concluding comments and future research	299	(1)
12.11 Summary	300	(5)
13 Genetic Aspects of Growth	305	(19)
Arie van Noordwijk
Henry L. Marks
13.1 Introduction	305	(1)
13.2 Genetic background	305	(4)
13.3 Describing growth in a single parameter	309	(1)
13.4 Heritability of growth in domestic species	309	(6)
13.5 Studies in natural populations	315	(2)
13.6 Control over the end of growth	317	(1)
13.7 Extensions and complications	318	(1)
13.8 Genetics of growth and development in altricial and precocial species	319	(1)
13.9 Conclusions	319	(5)
14 Causes of Growth Variation and Its Consequences for Fitness	324	(16)
Sabine Gebhardt-Henrich
Heinz Richner
14.1 Introduction	324	(1)
14.2 Variation of growth in birds	325	(9)
14.3 Body size variation in birds	334	(1)
14.4 Connection between growth rate and final body size	335	(1)
14.5 Unresolved questions	335	(5)
15 Models for Avian Growth and Development	340	(26)
Marek Konarzewski
Sebaastian A.L.M. Kooijman
Robert E. Ricklefs
15.1 Introduction	340	(1)
15.2 Dynamic energy budgets	341	(8)
15.3 Optimal changes of tissue maturation level: A dynamic modeling approach	349	(5)
15.4 The evolutionary optimization of growth and development	354	(7)
15.5 Discussion	361	(5)
16 The Evolution of the Developmental Mode in Birds	366	(15)
Robert E. Ricklefs
J. Matthias Starck
16.1 Introduction	366	(1)
16.2 The altricial-precocial spectrum	366	(1)
16.3 Neonate function and the altricial-precocial spectrum	367	(2)
16.4 Selective factors	369	(2)
16.5 The relative advantage of altricial and precocial development	371	(4)
16.6 Hybrid strategies	375	(1)
16.7 The distribution of taxa on the altricial-precocial spectrum	376	(2)
16.8 Size and developmental mode	378	(1)
16.9 General conclusions and what we do not know	379	(2)
17 Data Set of Avian Growth Parameters	381	(43)
J. Matthias Starck
Robert E. Ricklefs
17.1 Materials and Methods	381	(2)
17.2 Avian growth parameters	383	(41)
Systematic Index	424	(9)
Subject Index	433