Physiological adaptations for breeding in birds / Tony D. Williams.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Print version record.

Physiological Adaptations for Breeding in Birds is the most current and comprehensive account of research on avian reproduction. It develops two unique themes: the consideration of female avian reproductive physiology and ecology, and an emphasis on individual variation in life-history traits. Tony Williams investigates the physiological, metabolic, energetic, and hormonal mechanisms that underpin individual variation in the key female-specific reproductive traits and the trade-offs between these traits that determine variation in fitness. The core of the book deals with the a.

Machine generated contents note: ch. 1 Introduction -- 1.1. Structure of the chapters -- 1.2. primer on reproduction in female birds -- 1.3. Individual variation -- 1.4. What is not in this book? -- 1.5. Avian reproduction in a changing world -- ch. 2 Hormonal and Physiological Control of Egg Production -- 2.1. Overview of the female reproductive system -- 2.1.1. Pre-vitellogenic follicle development -- 2.1.2. Rapid follicle growth (RFG) or rapid yolk development (RYD) -- 2.1.3. Vitellogenesis and lipoprotein metabolism -- 2.1.4. Mechanisms of receptor-mediated yolk uptake -- 2.2. Oviduct structure and function -- 2.3. Regulation of the timing of egg-laying (oviposition) -- 2.3.1. Follicle atresia and laying skips -- 2.4. Hormonal control of ovarian and oviduct function -- 2.4.1. ovary -- 2.4.2. oviduct -- 2.5. Hypothalamic and pituitary regulation of gonadal function -- 2.6. Hormonal integration of environmental information -- 2.6.1. Photoperiodic control of gonadal function -- 2.6.2. Supplemental, non-photoperiodic cues and ovarian function -- 2.7. Future research questions -- ch. 3 Timing of Breeding -- 3.1. Early-season events are critical in determining timing of breeding -- 3.2. Fitness consequences of timing decisions -- 3.3. Selection on timing of breeding -- 3.4. Constraint, individual optimization, and the search for mechanism -- 3.5. Sex-specific response mechanisms for timing of breeding -- 3.6. Physiological mechanisms associated with photoperiod (day length) as a proximate factor -- 3.6.1. Individual variation in photoperiodic response -- 3.6.2. Where would sex-specific photoperiodic response mechanisms reside? -- 3.7. Physiological mechanisms associated with temperature as a proximate factor -- 3.7.1. Temperature as a long-term "information" cue -- 3.7.2.

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