Avian Groth and Development Evolution ithin the Altricial-Precocial Spectrum [Hardcover]

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.

Contributors
1. Patterns of Development: The Altricial-Precocial Spectrum,J. Matthias Starck and Robert E. Ricklefs
2. Embryonic Growth and Development,Robert E. Ricklefs and J. Matthias Starck
3. Structural Variants and Invariants in Avian Embryonic and Postnatal Development,J. Matthias Starck
4. Energy Metabolism, Gas Exhchange, and Ventilation,Carl M. Vleck and Theresa L. Bucher
5. Development of Temperature Regulation,G. Henk Visser
6. Development of Locomotion and Endothermy in Altricial and Precocial Birds,Esa Hohtola and Henk Visser
7. The Endocrine System,F. M. Anne McNabb, Colin G. Scanes, and Michal Zeman
8. The Immune System,Victor Apanius
9. Development of Behavior,Heinz D?ttmann, H. Heiner Bergmann, and Wiltraud Engl?nder
10. Variation, Constraint, and Phylogeny. Comparative Analysis of Variation in Growth,J. Matthias Starck and Robert E. Ricklefs
11. Internal Constraints on Growth in Birds,Robert E. Ricklefs, J. Matthias Starck, and Marek Knoarzewski
12. Developmental Plasticity,William A. Schew and Robert E. Ricklefs
13. Genetic Aspects of Growth,Arie van Noordwijk andl.