- 393 pages
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - PDF
Cowbirds and Other Brood Parasites
About this book
The Brown-headed Cowbird is known to use the nests of more than 200 other bird species, and cowbirds in general are believed to play a role in the decline of some migratory songbird populations. These brood parasitesâbirds that lay their eggs in the nests of othersâhave long flourished in North America.
In this timely book, Catherine Ortega summarizes and synthesizes a wealth of information on cowbirds from around the world that has appeared since the publication of Herbert Friedmann's classic 1929 monograph on these birds. Most of this information has appeared in the last quarter-century and reflects advances in our understanding of how brood parasitism influences, and is influenced by, host species. Ortega shows that in order to manage cowbirds without further damaging delicate balances in host-parasite relationships, it is necessary to understand such factors as behavior, reproduction, population dynamics, and response to landscape patterns. She examines and explains the origin, evolution, and costs of brood parasitism, and she discusses the philosophical and ecological considerations regarding the management of cowbirdsâa controversial issue because of their perceived influence on threatened and endangered birds.
Because brood parasitism has evolved independently in various bird families, information on this adaptive strategy is of great ecological interest and considerable value to wildlife management. Cowbirds and Other Brood Parasites is an important reference on these creatures that enhances our understanding of both their behavior and their part in the natural world.
In this timely book, Catherine Ortega summarizes and synthesizes a wealth of information on cowbirds from around the world that has appeared since the publication of Herbert Friedmann's classic 1929 monograph on these birds. Most of this information has appeared in the last quarter-century and reflects advances in our understanding of how brood parasitism influences, and is influenced by, host species. Ortega shows that in order to manage cowbirds without further damaging delicate balances in host-parasite relationships, it is necessary to understand such factors as behavior, reproduction, population dynamics, and response to landscape patterns. She examines and explains the origin, evolution, and costs of brood parasitism, and she discusses the philosophical and ecological considerations regarding the management of cowbirdsâa controversial issue because of their perceived influence on threatened and endangered birds.
Because brood parasitism has evolved independently in various bird families, information on this adaptive strategy is of great ecological interest and considerable value to wildlife management. Cowbirds and Other Brood Parasites is an important reference on these creatures that enhances our understanding of both their behavior and their part in the natural world.
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Yes, you can access Cowbirds and Other Brood Parasites by Catherine P. Ortega in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Biological Sciences & Ecology. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.
Information
Table of contents
- Contents
- List of Figures
- List of Tables
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Defense Mechanisms
- 3. Evolution of Brood Parasitism
- 4. Bay-winged and Screaming Cowbirds
- 5. Giant Cowbirds
- 6. Bronzed Cowbirds
- 7. Brown-headed Cowbirds
- 8. Shiny Cowbirds
- 9. The Management Challenge
- Appendix A. Parasitism Rates of Some Shiny Cowbird Hosts
- Appendix B. Known Victims of Brown-headed Cowbirds
- Appendix C. Parasitism Rates of Some Brown-headed Cowbird Hosts
- Appendix D. Brown-headed Cowbird Egg Distribution in Nests of Some Hosts
- Appendix E. Known Victims of Shiny Cowbirds
- Notes
- References
- Index