EX1: Marine Bird Evolution

social learning (observational learning)

learning behavior by observing others

culture

information transfer through social learning or teaching that influences behavior of individuals and their fitness

culture _______

evolves over time

problem solving

cognitive activity of devising method to proceed from one state to another in face of real or apparent obstacles

seabirds

spend most of their life at sea, come ashore only to breed

shorebirds

forage mainly near shore or intertidal zone, not found far from it, breed on beaches, in trees near water

__main orders of seabirds based on evolutionary relationships

4

charadriiformes

most shorebirds, terns, puffins, auklets

procellariiformes

albatross, storm-petrel

sphenisciformes

penguins, only monophyletic group

pelicaniformes

pelicans, frigatebirds, boobies, cormorants, egrets, herons

shorebirds have ____

one order

charadriiformes

plovers, killdeer, sandpipers, avocet, godwit

birds are only extant _______ lineage

dinosaur

compared to reptiles, birds have:

larger brains, better eyesight, calcified egg shell, complex mating behavior, significant parental care, feathers

feathers

modified keratin scales

initially used for ____

insulation, camouflage, courtship

fight evolved from ____

boost from jumping, was mainly used to glide in past

physical adaptations for flight: light

no bladder or teeth, one ovary, hollow bones

physical adaptations for flight: power

4 chambered heart, large pectoral muscles attached to keel, double respiration

seabirds have ____ for soaring, which saves energy versus ____

long narrow wings; flapping

marine birds have to ____ to maintain flight with _____

flap; short stubby wings

webbed feet

diving and swimming

bodies can fold into ____

shape of arrow for diving

osmoregulation

maintenance of water and salt balance

fish are ____

osmoregulators, have high water content

invertebrates

conformers, similar to sea water

methods to retain water

drink fresh water, use tongue to prevent salt water intake, no sweat glands exhaling, feathers, air layer, wax layer from preening glands

methods to excrete salt

kidneys concentrate uric acid to retain water and excrete salt into digestive tract

uric acid

non-toxic, semi solid paste that is expensive to produce in the body