Bird notes

• Tetrapods
  • Vertebrates, such as an amphibian, a bird, or a mammal with 2 pairs of limbs
• Key Adaptations
  • Many birds have gone extinct because of its inability to survive in the world
  • During time, birds' bodies become hollow/feathers become lighter to help flight
• Body system
  • Light skeletal system
  • Makes them light, but strong
  • Circulatory system/respiratory systems capable of very high metabolic rates/oxygen supply
  • Permits the bird to fly
• Key Orders/Family
  • Big part of spreading seeds and pollination 
  • Provides us food/medicine
• Phylum
  • Phylum Chordata
  • Phylum that is described with birds having a backbone 
• Special Unique Traits
  • Ability to fly
  • They are the only ones in the animal class that can fly/the few that have feathers
• Location
  • Most birds are found in Peru, Brazil, Columbia, Indonesia
  • Columbia has the biggest population 

HW QUESTIONS

1. Are birds tetrapods? If so, why?

   1. Birds are tetrapods because they have two pairs of limbs

2. What class or kingdom do birds belong to?

   1. Birds belong to Kingdom Animalia. Their phylum is chordata. 

3. Where can you find birds and where do they usually live?

   1. Most birds are found in Peru, Brazil, Columbia, and Indonesia. Columbia has the highest number. 

4. What are certain key adaptations do they have or will have?

   1. Birds are able to fly and they are the only ones in the animal class and they are the only ones who can. They are also the few that have feathers. 

5. Are the birds' hearts similar or different from humans?

   1. They are similar

6. Do birds have atrias?

   1. Yes, they have two atrias.

7. Do birds have ventricles?

   1. Yes, they have two ventricles.

8. Do birds have a big breathing system?

   1. They have a big breathing system because their lungs are connected to air sacs by a series of tubes, which makes their breathing system twice as large to other animals.

9. How much size does the bird's breathing system take upon their bodies?

   1. It takes up 2% of their bodies.

   2. What role do the birds have in the ecosystem?

   3. Birds have a role of pollination in the ecosystem since they disperse the seeds they have eaten in the form of excrement. They also bring plants back to destroyed ecosystems and carry plants to new lands. 

   4. In which biomes will you be able to find birds?

   5. You will be able to find birds predominantly in habitats such as the grasslands, savanna, and inland wetlands. These support 20% of the bird species while shrublands support 41%. 

   6. Why are marine birds important to marine life?

   7. Marine birds are important to marine life because they are an example of an indicator species. They can show the status of habitat, the reduction in food occurrence and abundance, rate of the predation, weather, and threats. Seabirds are also the top predators, assisting in population control.

      \n