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6 - Metabolic adaptation in avian species

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 September 2009

Lewis Stevens
Affiliation:
University of Stirling
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Summary

Introduction

The ability of most birds to fly is the clearest behavioural feature distinguishing birds from most other vertebrates. Although not all species of birds are able to fly, e.g. ratites and penguins have lost the ability to fly, even the flightless birds have wings, although not so well developed. The ratites are believed to have diverged from the main stream of evolving birds some 100 million years ago (Cracraft, 1974). There is a wide range of flying ability amongst birds, from those that spend most of their time on the ground, e.g. Galliformes, to those that spend most of their time in flight, catching and eating their food on the wing, e.g. Apodiformes. Flight gives increased mobility, enabling birds to take advantage of seasonally available food resources in different geographical locations. Many migratory birds are able to fly long distances using only endogenous energy reserves. The ability to fly also has a constraining influence on anatomical evolution. Birds are shaped on aerodynamic lines, and their power to weight ratio has to be high enough if they are to become airborne. Flying requires a higher rate of energy production than other methods of locomotion.

The first section of this chapter considers metabolic adaptation required for flight. This includes ATP generation necessary for muscle contraction and the supply of nutrients and oxygen to muscle. Longdistance migration without refuelling requires premigratory storage of a large fat reserve.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 1996

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