Bi7253 Ecology of birds

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2008
Extent and Intensity
2/0. 2 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. Ing. Marcel Honza, Dr. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. RNDr. Zdeněk Řehák, Ph.D.
Department of Botany and Zoology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. RNDr. Zdeněk Řehák, Ph.D.
Timetable
Wed 13:00–14:50 BR4
Prerequisites (in Czech)
Bi2090 System evolution vertebrates &&( Bi6340 Animal ecology || Bi5080 Basics of ecology )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 15 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/15, only registered: 0/15, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/15
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course of the ecology of birds is generally concerned with bird behaviour under different ecological conditions. It involves particularly behaviour and communication, behaviour and environment, reproduction and development and population dynamics. A focus is centered on 1) factors limiting avian populations both at individual and population levels, 2) inter- and intra-specific interactions, and 3) the evolution of avian life histories, including the evolution and diversification of reproductive strategies and social or mating systems. The course will further deal with speciation and extinction in birds, community and population structure in space and time (macro-ecology, meta-population concept, gene flow).
Syllabus
  • 1. The avian brain and senses, intelligence, control of song by the Central Nervous System, spatial memoryvision, detection of natural magnetic field, hearing 2. Visual communication, plumage colour patterns, evolution of displays, ritualized behaviour, agonistic behaviour 3. Vocal communication, individual recognition, song repertories, vocal mimicry, learning, dialects 4. Annual, circadian and circannual rhytms, role of photoperiod, physiological control of molt, energetic costs of reproduction, costs and timing of molt, migration and navigation 5. Social behaviour, individual spacing behaviour, territorial behaviour, dominant behaviour, flocking behaviour, social signals 6. Reproduction and development, clutch size, eggs, breeding and incubation, sperm production, sperm competition, 7. Nest and incubation, nest architecture, building material, nest defence, colonial breeding, microclima 8. Kinds of mating systems, monogamy, pair formation, extra-pair copulation, mating systems and ecology, polygyny, polyandry, lek displays 9. Embryonic development, hatching, altricial and precocial modes of development, temperature regulation, energy and nutrition, growth rates, sibling rivalry, feeding the nestlings, nest sanitation 10. Parental care and monogamy, trade-offs and conflicts in parental care, cooperation, intraspecific brood parasitism, obligate brood parasitism 11. Demography: life history pattern, life tables, annual survival and mortality, changing population sizes, population growth pattern, population regulation, geographical variation, population structure, gene flow, local variation, geographical isolation 12. Hybrid zones, ecology of speciation, behaviour and speciation, species diversity, open versus closed communities, competition
Literature
  • Gill, F.B. Ornithology, sec. Edition, 1994, W.H. Freeman and Company ISBN:0-7167-2415-4
  • Birkhead, T.R., Mollerr, A.P. 1992. Sperm competition in birds, evolutionary causes and consequences. Academic Press, ISBN 0-12-100541-0
  • Bennett, P.M., Owens, I.P.F. 2002. Evolutionary Ecology of Birds, Life Histories, Mating Systems and Extinction, ISBN 0-19-851089-6
  • Ligon, D.J., 1999: Evolution of Avian Breeding Systems, ISBN 0-19-854913-X
Assessment methods
Lectures. Oral exam.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught once in two years.
Information on the per-term frequency of the course: předmět se vypisuje jen v semestru sudého roku.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2010 - only for the accreditation, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011 - acreditation, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2008, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2008/Bi7253