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BSC 418 Avian Biology Lecture

BSC 418 Avian Biology Lecture. I will address lab syllabus and topics on Friday during our first lab meeting. BSC 418 – Avian Biology. Instructor information Jodie M. Jawor , Ph.D. Avian Biology Behavioral Endocrinology Office: JST403 M : 9-11am, W: 1-3pm, F: 12-2pm – Or by appointment

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BSC 418 Avian Biology Lecture

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  1. BSC 418 Avian Biology Lecture I will address lab syllabus and topics on Friday during our first lab meeting

  2. BSC 418 – Avian Biology • Instructor information • Jodie M. Jawor, Ph.D. • Avian Biology • Behavioral Endocrinology • Office: JST403 • M: 9-11am, W: 1-3pm, F: 12-2pm – Or by appointment • Phone: (601)266-4756 • Email: jodie.jawor@usm.edu • Lab: JST401 • Sporadically in lab Lots of field work going on with the fellow above, so tough to get ahold of me on Tuesday and Thursdays

  3. BSC 418 – Avian Biology • Course information • Lecture time: • MWF 8-8:50am • Lecture location • JST 214 • Lab time • F 9-11:50am • Lab location • WSB 150 • More on lab on Friday The Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) a European bird related to our chickadees. Please get used to using scientific names.

  4. BSC 418 – Avian Biology • General information concerning lecture course • Attendance is encouraged, however, I don’t take attendance • Cell phones – turn them off, I will take points from folks for ringing phones • Cheating can get you into big trouble – don’t do it • If you need accommodations please contact Office of Support Services for Students with Disabilities (601-266-5024)

  5. BSC 418 – Avian Biology • General information concerning lecture course • Book is Frank B. Gill’s Ornithology 3rd Edition • There should be used copies out there in the world • Grade is based on 3 exams, tests are 100 points each, mixture of question type • No curve on tests or in class • If you miss a test and have a legitimate excuse contact me within 48hrs of missing the test. You will have 48hrs after that to make up the test. If you do not contact me within the time limit –no make up • We are experimenting this semester with a research project in lab, so this is what we’ll focus on outside of lecture exams (no extra papers in this iteration).

  6. BSC 418 – Avian Biology • New drop policy information: • Course can be dropped with no permission needed from me, no grade evidence, and all money back by January 20th • From January 21st to April 1st you can drop with my permission but you have a W on your transcript • After April 1st you are stuck unless you are experiencing a severe extenuating circumstance (and hopefully this doesn’t happen to you!)

  7. BSC 418 – Avian Biology • Course description: • Course addresses the evolution, physiology, distribution, and diversity of birds • Large body of literature addressing natural and sexual selection in birds • Course will also discuss the role of birds in their environments European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)

  8. Chapter 1: The Diversity of Birds

  9. The Diversity of Birds • As a group we see great diversity • 300 billion birds • 32 Orders (some disagree) • 9702 Species (at least, probably more) • Birds occupy a wide range of habitats and are in a large number of niches European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)

  10. The Diversity of Birds • Basic characteristics of birds • Bipedal vertebrates – not 100% distinctive • Endotherms – not 100% distinctive • Flight – not 100% distinctive • Feathers – now we’re talking distinctive

  11. The diversity of birds

  12. The Diversity of Birds • Basic characteristics of birds • Bill/beak • Fairly distinctive, found in birds and a few other species • Multiple adaptations for different feeding styles • Lack of teeth in bill leads to unique digestive structures • Selection for weight savings Hummingbirds (here Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Archilochus colubris) a plethora of adaptations for unique feeding!

  13. The Diversity of Birds Adaptation and diversity in bill morphology among shore birds

  14. The Diversity of Birds Diversity and adaptation in hummingbird bills

  15. The Diversity of Birds Selection on bill size following drought in Medium Ground-finches (Geospiza fortis) Birds have served as models for selection studies on many traits

  16. The Diversity of Birds Cross section of northern cardinal skull/bill Cardinal biting force in action Cardinaliscardinalis Note the structural components that allow the bill to be strong but light weight – also components allow for strength in breaking seeds

  17. The Diversity of Birds While flight is not a unique characteristic, many of the adaptations for flight are quite unique in this group

  18. The diversity of birds Steller’s Sea Eagle – Haliaeetus pelagicus

  19. The Diversity of Birds Unique skeletal arrangement for crouching/perching Unique muscle arrangement for perching Birds do have some unique features in skeleton and muscle arrangement due to their adaptations for flight that make things ‘awkward’

  20. The diversity of birds • Birds are found in a variety of environments • Physiological adaptations for exploiting these • Behavioral adaptations for exploiting these Kingfisher (I cannot tell what species) diving into water after a fish

  21. The Diversity of Birds

  22. The Diversity of Birds Egg production

  23. The Diversity of Birds • Summary • What is a bird – something that is highly adapted for flight and, importantly, has feathers • An old group with great diversity in behavior/ecology

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