Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Zoology > Birds > Flashcards

Birds Flashcards

1
Q

Birds are the descendants of what ?

A

Of theropod dinosaurs who evolved feathers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Why would feathers evolved ?

A
  • early feathered theropods not capable of powered flight
  • feather used for other purposes at first
  • structural exaptations
  • courtships display
  • thermoregulation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What other characteristic does the Theropods shares with birds ?

A
  • shared structural feature.

- lunate wrist bones ( permits swiveling)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what is the name of the class for birds

A

Aves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What have to be selected for the power of flight ?

A
  • birds must meet stringent structural adaptations that conform to aerodynamic specifications
  • selection for more power and less weight
  • but must balance this with other needs (feeding, escaping,predators, reproduction, etc.)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Feathers

A
  • homologous to scales of nonavian reptiles outgrowth of epidermis rolled into a cylinder & strengthened by deposition of keratin.
  • most are contour feathers – cover &streamline body
  • hollow quill ( calamus ) emerging from epidermal follicle
  • continues as shaft (rachis) that bears numerous barbs on the vane
  • branch into smaller barbules held together by tiny hooks
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Do they shed their feathers ?

A

Yes , most shed (molt) feathers at least once a year in a highly ordered fashion.
also feathers are dead structures when fully grown (like hair)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Is cleaning their feathers important ?

A
  • Yes , preening (cleaning) important to smooth feather
  • barbs & remove dirt so they will lock together
  • also apply oil from gland to stop sticking
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Skeleton

A
  • need a light but sturdy scaffolding
  • loss of features to reduce weight.
  • have an extremely light-weight skull with large orbits and keratinized beak.
  • bones reduced & those that remain are pneumatized
  • honeycomb structure with air cavities
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Muscular system

A
  • need substantial musculature to power
    flight
    -pectoralis is largest (pushes wings down during flight)
    -need large attachment site (keeled sternum) -tendons extend from leg muscles into toes
    -arranged in toe-locking mechanism
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Why are birds feet resistant to freezing ?

A

cause its mostly scales & tendons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Digestive system

A

-need a lot of food (high metabolism)
- must have efficient digestive system
must overcome lack of teeth.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

crop

A

pouch in esophagus acting as a food reservoir

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

gizzard

A

powerful grinding organ ( swallow pebbles, grave )

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

large intestine

A

paired ceca (fermentation if herbivore)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Circulatory system

A
  • have a 4 chambered heart with complete ventricular separation
  • evolved independently from that in mammals
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Why this convergent evolution ?

A
  • both have very high energy demands
  • high metabolic rate – high oxygen needs
  • both groups very active
  • both groups are endotherms (heat from metabolism)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Excretory system

A

-large, paired kidneys
-excrete uric acid (like nonavian reptiles)
-less efficient than mammals at removing salts
excess moved via salt glands (very common if marine)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

why fly ?

A
  • escape from terrestrial predators
  • travel to & exploit new habitats
  • benefits of migrating with the seasons
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

alula

A

mid-wing group of feathers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

wing-tip

A

slotting between primary feathers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

wing tip vortex

A
  • turbulence at high speeds reduced in wings that sweep back & taper to a tip.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Nervous system

A
  • reflects complexities of coordinating flight & being a highly visible object
  • well-developed cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum & optic lobes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Sensory

A
  • excellent hearing and sight

- avian eye relatively larger & almost immobile

25
Q

Pectern

A

highly vascularized organ attached to retina (provides nutrients & oxygen)

26
Q

fovae ( how many )

A

2 fovae

- allow very keen focus

27
Q

Greatest power of flight occur when ?

A
  • during downstroke

- primary feathers bend & twist into steep angle to slice into air to pull entire wing & body forward

28
Q

what happens during upstroke ?

A

primary feathers bend in opposite direction during upstroke & provide lift

29
Q

Upstroke essential for ..

A

powered upstroke essential for hovering

& steep, fast takeoffs

30
Q

what are the name of the 4 type of wings ?

A

1) Elliptical
2) High-aspect ratio
3) Dynamic soaring
4) High-lift

31
Q

Elliptical

A
  • low-aspect ratio (length to width)
  • both alula & wing-tip slotting
  • high manoeuvrability
32
Q

High-aspect ratio

A
  • wings sweep back & taper to slender tip
  • no wing-tip slotting
  • efficient for high speed
33
Q

Dynamic soaring

A
  • also high-aspect ratio
  • long & narrow
  • lack wing slot all together
  • good for soaring over seas with strong, reliable winds.
34
Q

High-lift

A
  • have prominent camber
  • noticeable wing-tip slotting & anulas
  • promote high lift at low speed
  • good for soaring over land with heavy loads
35
Q

what triggers birds to start migrating ?

A

-development of gonads & accumulation
of fat triggered by increased day lengths
- stimulation of anterior lobe of pituitary gland to release hormone
-starts northward migration behaviour (opposite occurs in late summer)

36
Q

How do they find their way ?

A
  • navigation chiefly through sight
  • recognize topographical landmarks
  • follow familiar migratory routes
  • aided if flock migration with older birds
  • accurate sense of time (i.e. how long to fly in a direction)
  • likely also use earth’s magnetic field
  • ability disturbed by magnetic on head
  • magnetite (Fe3O4) deposits in beak
37
Q

What else do they use to find their way ?

A

use celestial cues (sun &stars)

-can maintain compass direction by referring to sun regardless of time of day (sun-compass navigation)

38
Q

Why do birds flock together ?

A

-decreased predator success with increased prey group size
-also decreased individual odds of being eaten
- faster detection of predator
-often more efficient feeding (even though there is increased competition for food)
cooperative feeding behaviour
more time spent on feeding if less on being vigilant (scanning for predators)
-greater ease in finding mates
- less time looking & more time wooing

39
Q

Birds testees and penis

A
  • testees greatly reduced most of year - enlarge during breeding season
    most species lack penis – mate by aligning
    cloacal openings
40
Q

Female reproductive system

A
  • most females only have functional left of reproductive system (ovary & oviduct) – right side is vestigial
  • fertilization in upper oviduct – albumin & shell membranes added during passage through oviduct to cloaca
41
Q

monogamy

A

-each individual has only 1 mate
- can be permanent situation or for season
- fairly rare in most animals but common in
birds (over 90%)…or is it?

42
Q

polygamy

A

-either (or both) have more than 1 mate during the breeding period
but usually polygyny.

43
Q

polygyny

A

male mates with more than 1 female

44
Q

Nesting & parental care

A

almost all eggs must be incubated

  • usually female, sometimes both, rarely only male
  • most build a nest for rearing young
  • extremely varied materials & structure
45
Q

Nest parasite

A

-species lay their eggs in nests of other bird species.

46
Q

altricial

A

more immature at birth , require lots of care

47
Q

precocial

A

more developed at birth, greater independence.

48
Q

What are the 2 types of parental care needs

A

altricial and precocial

49
Q

Human effect on birds

A

-extinction of many species (>140 since 1681)
-overhunting as one cause
contaminants : bioaccumulation in predatory species.
- lead poisoning still occurring.

50
Q

Paleognathae

A

large , flightless

51
Q

neognathae

A

powerful flight muscles

52
Q

living birds belong to the lineage ..

A

Neornithes

53
Q

Neornithes divided into 2 groups..

A

1) Paleognathae

2) Neognathae

54
Q

Paleognaths (traits)

A
  • flightlessness usually evolved on islands with few predators
  • those on continents adapted to run fast enough to escape predators (70 km/h for ostriches!)
  • also evolved independently in some neognaths
55
Q

Neognathae (members)

A

most living birds belong to this lineage

56
Q

Order Passeriformes

A 
key traits: most with highly developed 
voix box.
- feet adapted for perching on stems & twigs
 -altricial young
 members: perching songbirds
- largest order (60% of all birds)
57
Q

Order Falconiformes

A

key traits: strong fliers

  • keen vision
  • sharp, curved talons
    members: many birds of prey
58
Q

Order Anseriformes

A

key traits: broad bills with filtering edges

  • webbed front toes
  • low keel
    members: many aquatic birds
59
Q

Order Sphenisciformes

A 
key traits: short wings
- flightless
- very aquatic with webbed feet
solid bones
 members: penguins

Zoology (7 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions