Nests, Eggs, and Incubation

New ideas about avian reproduction

Edited by D. Charles Deeming and S. James Reynolds

Provides a comprehensive overview of the fascinating and diverse field of avian incubation
Covers the nest, the egg, incubation, and the study of avian reproduction
Incorporates new research on nest structures, egg traits, and life history
Discusses contemporary methodologies such as self-contained temperature probes and citizen science
Describes how biological knowledge can be applied to challenges such as conservation and climate change

Nests, Eggs, and Incubation

New ideas about avian reproduction

Edited by D. Charles Deeming and S. James Reynolds

Description

Nests, Eggs, and Incubation brings together a global team of leading authorities to provide a comprehensive overview of the fascinating and diverse field of avian reproduction. Starting with a new assessment of the evolution of avian reproductive biology in light of recent research, the book goes on to cover four broad areas: the nest, the egg, incubation, and the study of avian reproduction. New research on nest structures, egg traits, and life history is incorporated, whilst contemporary methodologies such as self-contained temperature probes and citizen science are also discussed. Applied chapters describe how biological knowledge can be applied to challenges such as urbanisation and climate change. The book concludes by suggesting priorities for future research.

This book builds upon the foundations laid down by Charles Deeming's 2002 work Avian Incubation (available for readers of this book to access online for free), much of which remains relevant today. Read in conjunction with this previous volume, it provides an up-to-date and thorough review of egg biology, nest function, and incubation behaviour, which will be an essential resource for students of avian biology, as well as both professional and amateur ornithologists working in the field of avian reproduction.

Nests, Eggs, and Incubation

New ideas about avian reproduction

Edited by D. Charles Deeming and S. James Reynolds

Foreword, Tim Birkhead
Preface
1. Incubating new ideas about avian reproduction, S.J. Reynolds & D.C. Deeming
2. The fossil record and evolution of avian egg nesting and incubation, D.C. Deeming
3. Nest-construction behaviour, S.D. Healy, K.V. Morgan & I.E. Bailey
4. Functional properties of nests, D.C. Deeming & M.C. Mainwaring
5. The influence of predation on the location and design of nests, M.C. Mainwaring, S.J. Reynolds & K. Weidinger
6. Nest construction and incubation in a changing climate, M.C. Mainwaring
7. Microbiology of nests and eggs, A. West, P. Cassey & C.M. Thomas
8. Control of invertebrate occupants of nests, I. Lopez-Rull & C. Macias Garcia
9. Egg allometry: influences of phylogeny and the altricial-precocial continuum, G.F. Birchard & D.C. Deeming
10. Egg quality, embryonic development and post-hatching phenotype: an integrated perspective, T.D. Williams & T.G.G. Groothuis
11. Egg signalling: the use of visual, auditory and chemical stimuli, K. Brulez, T.W. Pike & S.J. Reynolds
12. Improvements in our understanding of behaviour during incubation, V. Marasco & K.A. Spencer
13. The energetic costs of incubation, A. Nord & J.B. Williams
14. Influence of incubation temperature on offspring phenotype and fitness in birds, G.R. Hepp, S.E. DuRant & W.A. Hopkins
15. Advances in techniques to study incubation, J.A. Smith, C.B. Cooper & S.J. Reynolds
16. Applications of incubation science to aviculture and conservation, D.C. Deeming & N.S. Jarrett
17. The role of citizen science in studies of avian reproduction, C.B. Cooper, R.L. Bailey & D.I. Leech
18. Perspectives on avian nests and eggs, D.C. Deeming & S.J. Reynolds

Nests, Eggs, and Incubation

New ideas about avian reproduction

Edited by D. Charles Deeming and S. James Reynolds

Author Information

D. Charles Deeming, Senior Lecturer, School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, UK,S. James Reynolds, Lecturer in Ornithology and Animal Conservation, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, UK

Charles started working on aspects of bird incubation in the early 1980s and has had a varied career since. Postgraduate research examined the physiological basis of egg turning during incubation and postdoctoral research described the effects of incubation temperature on growth and sex determination in alligators. Aside from scientific publications Charles has edited key review texts on avian and reptilian development and incubation, and ostrich biology. Since 2003 Charles has been teaching biology at the University of Lincoln, where he has added how bird nests function to his list of research interests.

Jim has worked on the reproductive biology of a variety of bird species over the last 25 years including common kingfishers in the UK, spruce grouse in boreal forests of Canada, Florida scrub-jays in the oak scrublands of the southern USA and most recently sooty terns on Ascension Island in the South Atlantic. His research focuses on how human-induced changes in food availability, habitat structure, predation risk and ecological community structure influence the breeding behaviour, ecology, life history and ultimately the breeding performance of birds. Such research will become increasingly pertinent as we attempt to understand how bird populations respond to an ever-urbanising world.

Contributors:

Tim Birkhead
S.J. Reynolds & D.C. Deeming
D.C. Deeming
S.D. Healy, K.V. Morgan & I.E. Bailey
D.C. Deeming & M.C. Mainwaring
M.C. Mainwaring, S.J. Reynolds & K. Weidinger
M.C. Mainwaring
A. West, P. Cassey & C.M. Thomas
I. López-Rull & C. Macías Garcia
G.F. Birchard & D.C. Deeming
T.D. Williams & T.G.G. Groothuis
K. Brulez, T.W. Pike & S.J. Reynolds
V. Marasco & K.A. Spencer
A. Nord & J.B. Williams
G.R. Hepp, S.E. DuRant & W.A. Hopkins
J.A. Smith, C.B. Cooper & S.J. Reynolds
D.C. Deeming & N.S. Jarrett
C.B. Cooper, R.L. Bailey & D.I. Leech
D.C. Deeming & S.J. Reynolds

Nests, Eggs, and Incubation

New ideas about avian reproduction

Edited by D. Charles Deeming and S. James Reynolds

Reviews and Awards

"This book does an excellent job of incorporating new advances in the field of avian incubation, yet it is far more than simply an update of Deemings previous publication [...] chapters within will make valuable reading for natural historians, behavioral ecologists, vertebrate physiologists, and evolutionary biologists, regardless of their mtaxonomic interests. For nonornithologists, perhaps largely for those focused on vertebrates, this volume contains the necessary introduction to the evolution and physiology of avian incubation that will allow all readers to make useful comparisons with, and gain valuable insight into, their own areas of interest." -- Harold F. Greeney, The Quarterly Review of Biology

"[T]his is very readable book and I would recommend it to anybody interested in birds or parental care. ... No matter whether you are a professional or an amateur, you will enjoy reading it and appreciate the amount of information that you can find in it." --Journal of Field Ornithology

"[A] perfect introduction to the subject for hobbyists, professionals and academics." --The Biologist

"Overall, Nests, Eggs, and Incubation is well-written and does an outstanding job of providing a comprehensive synthesis of avian reproduction and nesting biology ... In conclusion, the book provides a major contribution to avian biology, and is suitable for biologists and researchers." -- Journal of Wildlife Management

"Make no mistake, this book is aimed at ornithologists, birds being its entire focus, and is certainly essential for anyone studying avian reproduction. That being said, chapters within will make valuable reading for natural historians, behavioral ecologists, vertebrate physiologists, and evolutionary biologists, regardless of their taxonomic interests." -- NEW BIOLOGICAL BOOKS

"This is an excellent volume that I highly recommend for both professionals and amateurs ... an edited volume can provide the synthesis and integration to move a field forward by summarizing hypotheses and framing future work. This book, with only a few exceptions, accomplishes all of these tasks and will fill an excellent niche into the future." -- The Auk