-Evolution of birds. The origin of birds, the evolution of flight, adaptive radiation, contemporary avian phylogeny, and molecular systematics. - Avian anatomy and physiology. Functional anatomy of the skeletal and muscular systems, flight physiology, thermoregulation, the respiratory system, metabolism, and energetics. - Avian diversity. Evolution of the major avian lineages, Palaeognathae, Galloanserae, waterbirds and their ecological adaptations; birds of prey, owls, woodpeckers, passerines, the evolution of Passeriformes, adaptive radiation, and ecological specialization. - Avian ecology. Habitat selection, ecological niches, foraging ecology, spatial ecology, territoriality, and landscape use. - Reproductive biology. Life-history strategies, sexual selection, mating systems, parental care, nesting strategies, and offspring development. - Bird migration. The evolution of migration, orientation and navigation, the genetic basis of migration, magnetoreception, migratory strategies, and the effects of climate change. - Behaviour and communication. Acoustic communication, birdsong, song learning, social organization, intelligence, cultural transmission, and avian cognition. - Population ecology. Population demography, survival, dispersal, metapopulation dynamics, population regulation, and long-term monitoring. - Modern methods in ornithological research. Telemetry, radar ornithology, genetic methods, stable isotope analysis, environmental DNA (eDNA), autonomous acoustic recorders, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), remote sensing, and citizen science. - Bird conservation. Threats to bird populations, climate change, agricultural intensification, urbanization, population management, conservation legislation, and biodiversity conservation.
|
The course provides graduate students with a comprehensive understanding of avian biology, focusing on evolution, phylogeny, anatomy, physiology, ecology, behaviour, reproductive strategies, migration, and bird conservation. Emphasis is placed on understanding the evolutionary and ecological processes shaping avian diversity.
Student should be able to: - Explain origins, evolution, classification and phylogeny of birds. - Describe avian morphology, anatomy, physiology, behaviour and ecology. - Explain reproduction and development. - Discuss history of ornithology, ornithological societies and legislation.
|