Title |
Heat Loss May Explain Bill Size Differences between Birds Occupying Different Habitats
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Published in |
PLOS ONE, July 2012
|
DOI | 10.1371/journal.pone.0040933 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Russell Greenberg, Viviana Cadena, Raymond M. Danner, Glenn Tattersall |
Abstract |
Research on variation in bill morphology has focused on the role of diet. Bills have other functions, however, including a role in heat and water balance. The role of the bill in heat loss may be particularly important in birds where water is limiting. Song sparrows localized in coastal dunes and salt marsh edge (Melospiza melodia atlantica) are similar in size to, but have bills with a 17% greater surface area than, those that live in mesic habitats (M. m. melodia), a pattern shared with other coastal sparrows. We tested the hypotheses that sparrows can use their bills to dissipate "dry" heat, and that heat loss from the bill is higher in M. m. atlantica than M. m. melodia, which would indicate a role of heat loss and water conservation in selection for bill size. |
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Germany | 1 | 25% |
Japan | 1 | 25% |
Unknown | 1 | 25% |
Demographic breakdown
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Members of the public | 2 | 50% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
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Brazil | 3 | 2% |
United States | 2 | 1% |
Sweden | 1 | <1% |
United Kingdom | 1 | <1% |
France | 1 | <1% |
Argentina | 1 | <1% |
Mexico | 1 | <1% |
Spain | 1 | <1% |
Romania | 1 | <1% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Unknown | 160 | 93% |
Demographic breakdown
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Student > Bachelor | 35 | 20% |
Researcher | 28 | 16% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 25 | 15% |
Student > Master | 23 | 13% |
Professor > Associate Professor | 9 | 5% |
Other | 29 | 17% |
Unknown | 23 | 13% |
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Environmental Science | 25 | 15% |
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Other | 8 | 5% |
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