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Ornithology Terms Flashcards

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474868359cursorialadapted for running not flying
474868360arborealtree dwelling, inhabiting or frequenting trees
474868361cladisticsthe study of evolutionary branching sequences
474868362convergent evolutionprocess by which unrelated organisms independently evolve similarities when adapting to similar environments
474868363theropodMember of a group of dinosaurs that originated from thecodants during the triassic period that were bipedal carnivores.
474868364thecodantsancestors to dinosaurs that originated in the early triassic period
474868365archosaursfirst land vertebrates to be bipedal; gave rise to dinosaurs, The reptilian group that includes crocodiles, alligators, dinosaurs, and birds.
474868366systematicsthe study of the evolutionary relationships among organisms and their classification into a hierarchical scheme
474868367speciesa group of interbreeding organisms that are reproductively isolated from other groups of organisms
474868368phylogenetic species concepta concept that defines a species as a group having a shared and unique evolutionary history
474868369biological species concepta concept that defines a species as a group of populations who's members are capable of interbreeding successfully and are reproductively isolated from other groups.
474868370carinatebirds having keeled sternums
474868371paleognathaebirds with primative, reptile-like jaws that have boney palates including all ratites
474868372neognathaebirds with derived jaws, less boney palate, not ratites
474868373Fahrenholz's rulecoevolving parasites and hosts should speciate approximately simultaneously, the rule that in groups of permanent parasites the classification of the parasites usually corresponds directly to the natural relationships of the hosts
474868374melaninsthis type of pigment is responsible for earth tones, - grays, blacks, browns and buff colors.
474868375Carotenoidsthese types of pigments produce yellows. oranges, reds, and certain types of blues and greens
474868376porphyrinsthese types of pigments are responsible for producing particular bright brown and green feathers and a unique magenta
474868377Eumelaninswhat type of melanins are responsible for browns and blacks?
474868378Pheomelaninswhat types of melanins are responsible for light brown, red, orange and yellow?
474868379psittacofulvinsthis pigment is responsible for the red pigment in the feathers of a green-winged macaw
474868380calamusthe part of the feather that is inserted into the follicle
474868381rachisthe central shaft of the feather
474868382barbslateral branches off the rachis
474868383barbulesthe hook like structures that come of the barbs
474868384vanesthe structures of contour feathers on either side of the rachis made up of barbs
474868385pigmentsnaturally occurring chemical compounds that absorb the energy of certain wavelengths of light and reflect the energy of other wave lengths to produce observed colors
474868386structural colorsthese result from the physical alteration of incident light
474868387scatteringtiny vacuoles affect the wavelength of light to produce blues
474868388iridescencelight waves hits layers of pigment platelettes on barbules either accentuating color or canceling it out
474868389interferenceshimming iridescence, platelettes on barbules, color changes with angle of light
474868390plumagethis is acquired by molt. a bird may wear several at one time, named from last acquired feathers
474868391moltperiodic shedding and replacement of feathers, usually coincides with seasons
474868392pterylaefeather tracts
474868393apteriafeatherless area between the feather tracts
474868394remexa single flight feather
474868395remigesall of the flight feathers
474868396alternatethethe temporary plumage worn during breeding
474868397basicthe plumage that is renewed after breeding
474868398wing loadingratio of body mass to wing area
474868399thermal soaringthis type of soaring exploits columns of warm air that rise when the ground is heated by the sun
474868400slope soaringthis type of soaring exploits the rising air that is deflected upward when it hits a terrestrial ridge or wave
474868401aspect ratioratio of wing length to width
474868402camberthe upward curve shape of a wing, airfoil
474868403glide ratiodistance covers-to-vertical distance
474868404profile dragresistance to forward motion caused by the birds body shape
474868405surface friction dragCaused by the leading edge of wing and front of body
474868406induced dragpressure differences at wing tips (turbulence)
474868407dynamic soaringsoaring on ocean winds, makes use of upward deflected winds
474868408Bernoulli's lawstatic pressure+dynamic pressure= constant
474868409migrationpredictable round trip movement
474868410partial migrationa segment of a population migrates and another is resident
474868411irruptive movementsirregular seasonal occurance of birds outside normal range
474868412dispersalthe movement of organisms from one place to another
474868413zugunruherestlessness of individuals held in captivity
474868414hyperphagiaeating to excess
474868415orientationability vto move in a given compass direction
474868416navigationdirected movement to a particular location
474868417thermoneutral zonethe range in which the amount of oxygen consumed by resting birds does not change with temperature, 20-40*C
474868418basal metabolic ratenon digestive, animal at rest
474868419torporbody temp lowered below normal to conserve energy, unresponsive to most stimuli, incapable of normal activity
474868420proventriculousthe anterior glandular part of a birds two parted stomach
474868421duodenumthe part of the small intestine between the stomach and the jejunum
474868422microvillismall hairlike projections in the small intestine that aid in absorbtion
474868426Herpst corpsuleorgans set into pits at the tip of the bill to gauge pressure while probing for food, helps to find food near by

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