Behavioral Ecology of Tropical Birds [Paperback]

Bridget J.M. Stutchbury (Author), Eugene S. Morton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 17, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0126755566 | ISBN-13: 978-0126755565 | Edition: 1

This book examines behavioral adaptations of tropical birds in timing of breeding, life history traits, mating systems and parental care, territoriality, communication, and biotic interactions, and emphasizes the many gaps in our knowledge of tropical birds. We urge students and researchers in temperate and tropical regions alike to realize the potential they have for improving our knowledge of avian adaptations far beyond what is currently accepted as gospel. Time is running out.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This original and valuable book will help to broaden the understanding of avian ecology throughout the world."
- D. Flaspohler, Michigan Technical University, in CHOICE (January 2002)
"This is a stimulating book and a rich source of research ideas written at a level suitable for undergraduates..."
--Jeremy Lindsell in IBIS (2001)
"The principal strength of this book is the authors' breadth of experience, which provides credibility to their claims. ...I recommend Behavioral Ecology of Tropical Birds to budding behavioral ecologists who are on the prowl for research topics that may alter the directions of the field, and to ecologists in the temperate zone who wonder why their colleagues go to the bother and expense of mounting behavioral research projects in the tropics."
--Tom A. Langen, Clarkson University, in ECOLOGY (November 2001)

From the Back Cover

The main theme of this book is to illustrate, how, and why tropical birds are so different from temperate zone birds. The book's purpose is to dispel the temperate zone biologist's ignorance of tropical biology and to stimulate more research on tropical birds.
There is a temperate zone bias that derives from the great number of researchers based in temperate regions of North America and Europe. Because of this sampling bias, most theory in avian behavioral ecology comes from models and empirical studies of temperate regions, but these theories do not apply equally well to tropical birds. Tropical birds greatly outnumber temperate zone species, yet are so poorly studied that even fairly basic behavioral ecology experiments have rarely been done.
Temperate zone birds are atypical because they are constrained by climate to breed in a short time span, and many behavioral adaptations like extra-pair behavior, high testosterone, divergent sex roles in territory defense and parental care all stem from their short breeding seasons and seasonal breeding territoriality. Tropical birds are not so constrained by climate, and most tropical passerines defend territories year round, not just for the breeding season. For instance, extra-pair fertilizations are now considered the norm for temperate passerines and strict monogamy is exceptional. But tropical passerines do not experience intense sperm competition and extra-pair fertilizations are uncommon. Similarly, work on testosterone in temperate zone birds has shown that high levels of testosterone are important for successful territory defense, gaining extra-pair fertilizations and high song output in males. Males of tropical species have very low testosterone despite strong territorial behavior and singing.
This book examines behavioral adaptations of tropical birds in timing of breeding, life history traits, mating systems and parental care, territoriality, communication and biotic interactions, and emphasizes the many gaps in our knowledge of tropical birds. We urge that students and researchers in temperate and tropical regions alike realize the potential they have for improving our knowledge of avian adaptations far beyond what is currently accepted as gospel. Time is running out.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 165 pages
• Publisher: Academic Press; 1 edition (January 17, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0126755566
• ISBN-13: 978-0126755565
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #801,142 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Cornerstone of tropical bird ecology... and more!, September 18, 2011

By 

Guillaume - See all my reviews

This review is from: Behavioral Ecology of Tropical Birds (Paperback)

Concise and simply written, this book will change your conception of bird ecology in general if you are used to the ecology of the temperate latitudes species.
Some sections are not as clear as the rest of the book and you can't agree with all the assumptions made by the authors but this book is a huge step forward for understanding and sharing knowledge on tropical birds' ecology. It should be sold at a much lower price to allow access to a larger range of students, scientists and ornithologists. At the moment it is a bit pricey given the 130 pages of text (the rest being reference list). However this is a highly recommended "Must have".