Biology of the Ubiquitous House Sparrow From Genes to Populations

by Anderson, Ted R.

• ISBN13: 9780195304114
• ISBN10: 019530411X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-08-10
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

After the chicken, the House Sparrow is the most widely distributed bird species in the world, occurring on all continents except Antarctica and on most human-inhabited islands. Although its Latin name is Passer domesticus, it is certainly not domesticated. In fact, it is widely regarded as a pest species and is consequently not protected in most of its extensive range. This combination of ubiquity and minimal legal protection has contributed to its wide use in studies by avian biologists throughout the world. The purpose of this book is to review and summarize the results of these global studies on House Sparrows, and to provide a springboard for future studies on the species. House Sparrows have been used to study natural selection in introduced species, circadian rhythms, and the neuroendocrine control of the avian annual cycle. One current question of considerable interest concerns the catastrophic House Sparrow population declines in several urban centers in Europe. Is the House Sparrow a contemporary canary in the mine? Other topics of broad interest include the reproductive and flock-foraging strategies of sparrows, and sexual selection and the function of the male badge in the species. Anderson also explores the role of the House Sparrow in disease transmission to humans and their domesticated animals.

Author Biography

Ted R. Anderson is Emeritus Professor of Biology at McKendree College in Lebanon, Illinois.

Table of Contents

1 TAXONOMY AND DISTRIBUTION	3	(28)
The Genus Passer	5	(4)
The Origin of P. domesticus	9	(3)
Passer domesticus	12	(9)
Distribution of the House Sparrow	21	(7)
Range Expansion in the House Sparrow	28	(3)
2 EVOLUTION AND GENETICS	31	(39)
Professor Bumpus and His Sparrows	32	(5)
Geographic Variation in Introduced House Sparrows	37	(15)
Natural Selection in Introduced Sparrows	52	(4)
Genetics of the House Sparrow	56	(14)
3 ANNUAL CYCLE	70	(65)
The Gonadal Cycle	74	(24)
Circadian Rhythmicity	98	(37)
4 BREEDING BIOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE STRATEGY	135	(66)
Age at First Reproduction	135	(1)
Mating System	136	(12)
Timing of Breeding	148	(3)
Nest Sites and Nests	151	(7)
Egg Laying and Clutch Size	158	(15)
Egg Size and Composition	173	(5)
Incubation and Hatching	178	(8)
Nestling Growth and Survival	186	(9)
Number of Broods and Cessation of Breeding	195	(3)
Reproductive Lifespan	198	(1)
Captive Breeding	199	(2)
5 PLUMAGES AND MOLT	201	(45)
Plumage Description	202	(5)
Pterylosis	207	(3)
Molt	210	(9)
Ptilochronology	219	(1)
Plumage Maintenance	220	(2)
Incubation Patch	222	(2)
Badge Size in Males	224	(22)
6 FORAGING BEHAVIOR AND FOOD	246	(37)
Foraging Strategy of the House Sparrow	249	(18)
Diet of the House Sparrow	267	(16)
7 SOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND VOCALIZATIONS	283	(13)
Vocalizations	284	(7)
Displays	291	(2)
Communal Roosting	293	(3)
8 POPULATION DYNAMICS AND MOVEMENTS	296	(48)
Decline in House Sparrow Numbers	298	(6)
Predation	304	(7)
Parasitism and Disease	311	(8)
Interspecific Competition	319	(9)
Changes in Agricultural Practices	328	(1)
Survival Rates	329	(3)
The Sex Ratio Conundrum	332	(4)
Movements	336	(6)
Where Have All the Sparrows Gone?	342	(2)
9 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY	344	(79)
Integumentary System	345	(8)
Skeletal System	353	(1)
Muscular System	354	(5)
Nervous System	359	(12)
Endocrine System	371	(14)
Circulatory System	385	(7)
Respiratory System	392	(3)
Digestive System	395	(17)
Excretory System	412	(6)
Reproductive System	418	(3)
Body Mass and Composition	421	(2)
10 HUMAN COMMENSALISM AND PEST MANAGEMENT	423	(16)
Obligate Commensal?	424	(1)
Pest Status	425	(5)
Pest Management	430	(3)
Positive Impacts of Sparrows	433	(4)
Sociology of Sparrows	437	(2)
APPENDIX: PARASITIC AND DISEASE ORGANISMS OF THE HOUSE SPARROW	439	(16)
LITERATURE CITED	455	(84)
INDEX	539