WFSC 402 1st Edition Exam 1 Study Guide Lectures 1 8 Lecture 1 August 26 Introduction to Ornithological Societies Name the different Ornithological Societies discussed in lecture and the names of the journal they publish Cooper Bird Club Created in California in the 1893 Began as a club for professionals Name was later changed to Cooper Ornithological Society COS Publish the The Condor American Ornithologists Union AOU Founded in 1883 Similar to Cooper Ornithological Society Publish The Auk Main goals of these 3 societies is to have annual meetings and to publish scientific journals Wilson Ornithological Society WOS Founded in 1888 Used to publish The Wilson Bulletin but have since changed the name to The Wilson Journal of Ornithology National Audubon Society Founded in 1905 Has a Great Egret on its seal Society is more for lay people Main goal is to filter information to the public Publishing is not a priority Lecture 2 August 28 Diversity of Birds How many species of birds are there Why are there so many species of birds How did the Ice Age affect modern birds Why is the American Ornithologists Union important There are approximately 10 000 species of birds and 5 000 species of mammals o Number is constantly changing because of modern genetics There are more species of birds than there are mammals because birds can FLY o Birds are able to travel to other parts of the world creating a different species Characteristics used to identify birds color wing span bill beak length o Birds in North usually are bigger and darker o Birds in South usually are smaller and lighter 150 mya birds began to evolve Range in sizes o 2 grams 100 000 grams o Examples humming birds 2 grams and ostrich 100 000 grams There is about 30 Orders of Birds between 190 200 Families and 10 000 species 10 12 000 years ago the Ice Age advancement and retreats of glaciers o Caused many groups of birds to become isolated which created new species o The isolation of these new species led to some of our modern birds Cline range of variation American Ornithologist Union Have a checklist of all North American birds They standardize common names so there is no need for knowing the scientific names Lecture 3 September 2 Bird History Describe some of the reptilian features that birds have What is Archaeopteryx What are some of the differences between Archaeopteryx and modern birds Reptilian Features of Birds Sclerotic eye ring supports the eye Expanded brain case Single mid ear bone Single occipital condyle structure at base of neck supports the head have greater range of motion as a result of single condyle Lower jaw articulates on quadrate bone Nucleated blood cells Archaeopteryx Ancient Wing 105 mya in Europe The main link between birds and reptiles Bipedal Apart of the genus with the Therapod dinosaurs First specimen was found by Von Meyer in the 1860s in Munich Germany Archaeopteryx vs Modern Birds Smaller brain case with less fusions Evidence of hands Separate pelvic bones Many tail vertebrae which is the pygostyle in modern birds Small sternum Rib cage is not supported the uncinate process in modern birds Not a strong flyer Before Archaeopteryx Protoavis texensis Specimen found in Texas Bipedal Structured keel which was used for flight 210 mya 75 mya older than Archaeopteryx Possibly the first link between birds and reptiles Reptile Ancestors Reptiles evolved from 2 major lineages 1 Thecodonts crocodiles o Diverse group o Primitive reptiles that gave rise to some arboreal reptiles and crocodiles o Evidence elongated scales which could be precursors to feathers Similar characteristics found between modern birds and Triassic reptiles 2 Therapod o Birds derived from dinosaurs o Therapods and early ancestral birds coexist in the fossil record o Share many skeletal characteristics Juvenile dinosaurs and modern birds share distinctive anatomical features in leg bones growth plates for rapid leg bone elongation o Some Therapods had feathers and possessed uncinate processes Speciation splitting of phylogenetic lineages o Adaptive radiation occurs when an evolutionary lineage splits into a suite of closely related species that differ in their ecological niche Thus far about 100 000 species have gone extinct Lecture 4 September 4 Feathers and Flight There are two different theories regarding the evolution of feathers and flight These theories are referred to as the Cursorial Theory and the Arboreal Theory Cursorial Theory Also referred to as the Ground Up theory Ground dwelling ancestors Elongated forelimbs allowed small bipedal therapods to jump and catch insect Wings used for thrust and stability Feathers may have been used to sweep ground for insects Arboreal Theory Also referred to as Tree Down theory Arboreal life spent leaping between trees Parachuting and gliding Elongated feathers could have helped to slow the rate of fall Evolution of Feathers Facilitated flight but evolved before flight Provided other functions insulation Arguments for different theories center on the main differences between feathers and scales Scales are flat and feathers are tubular Type and distribution of proteins keratin differs between the two Lecture 5 September 9 Feathers and Flight continued Plumage flection of feathers Feathers are made up of keratin Several kinds of feathers o Remiges wings o Rectrices tail o Contour body also protection o Down insulation and protection o Filoplume decorative behavior sensory Lecture 6 September 11 Feathers The colors of a bird s feathers are possible as a result of three different pigments that when light is refracted off of the feather a specific color is shown Each color that is refracted is a direct result of one of the three pigments 10 20 000 total feathers on large birds vultures 2 4 000 total feathers on small birds quail humming bird Feathers are determinate stop growing once certain length is reached Feathers occur in tracts on the bird Pigments structural color light refracts creating green blue purple Prisms color changes caused by light 3 types of pigment 1 Melanin browns black gray all birds and virtually all mammals 2 Keratin Carotenoids red orange yellow a a bird s diet can affect their pigment 3 Porphyrins rare colors green red or red brown Iridescence structural colors o can fade as a result of wear over time the feathers will lose their ability to refract light correctly thus causing the colors to fade Molting Natural down Pre Juvenile Molt Juvenile Plumage during first winter Pre