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MARINE BIRDS of ALASKA AMARIE BREMEL, CONNOR HALL & HAYDEN WALCOTT Avian Evolution

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MARINE BIRDS of ALASKA AMARIE BREMEL, CONNOR HALL & HAYDEN WALCOTT Avian Evolution MARINE BIRDS OF ALASKA AMARIE BREMEL, CONNOR HALL & HAYDEN WALCOTT Avian Evolution http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz2g8pbzGZ1qaltfu.jpg http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/images/evograms/bird_evo.jpga Avian Evolution •Birds evolved from small, carnivorous dinosaurs called theropods from the late Jurassic as supported by modern birds diapsid skulls and tetradiate pelvises, among other skeletal similarities •Some of these theropods evolved the first, hair-like feathers possibly for thermoregulation, waterproofing, or insulation with different likely sexually selected color patterns similar to modern birds. •Contrary to popular belief feathers did not likely evolve from scales and instead evolved from a “ primitive archosaur skin structure” homologous to hair-like pycnofibers of pterosaurs and early developmental scales of crocodilians. •Modern birds’ theropod ancestors also show several other key adaptations in the evolutionary line including the loss of the 4th and 5th digit and modification of wrist bones to allow for flight, the loss of a long bony tail, fusing of bones, evolution of the keel and wishbone, loss of teeth among other adaptations http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/evograms_06 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feather#Evolution Avian Flight Adaptations http://swartzentrover.com/cotor/Photos/Hiking/Birds/BirdPages/Anatomy/blb_02_08_02.jpg http://pre04.deviantart.net/4a60/th/pre/i/2011/300/c/b/avian_wing_anatomy_by_silverfyre- d4e2qil.jpg http://www.paulnoll.com/Oregon/Birds/Avian-Muscles.jpg Avian Flight Adaptations •Birds have several specialized adaptations for flight including hollow bones, a light but very strong muscular system, very efficient circulatory and respiratory systems capable of a high metabolism, and feathers •Like many other vertebrates, birds have a four chambered heart, however they also have air sacs in addition to their small lungs which help to constantly move oxygenated air through their lungs during flight in a bellows like system •Their pectoralis and supracoracoideus muscles responsible for flight and swimming make up 25 to 35 % of their body weight •While other vertebrates’ supracoracoideus attach to their spine and back, birds’ supracoracoideus muscles attach to their keel in a pulley like system over their scapula https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_anatomy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird Avian Skeletal System Puffin Skeleton Chicken Skeleton http://www.savalli.us/BIO370/Anatomy/AnatomyImages/PuffinSkeletonLabel.jpg http://www.savalli.us/BIO370/Anatomy/AnatomyImages/ChickenSkeletonLabel.jpg Avian Skeletal System •Diving birds have more solid bones than purely flying ones. For example Puffins and loons do not have pneumatized (hollowed) bones at all while gliding and soaring birds have the most pneumatized bones •Many bird bones are fused to help give strength and support for the demands of flying -leading them to have less bones than other land vertebrates •A fused collarbones and keeled sternum -both of which are unique to birds- are important for flight muscle attachment and can be used to help identify birds • Flightless: reduced keel, Swimming and Diving: wide keel, Walking: long high keel, Flying: equal width and height squared keel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_anatomy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird ALCIDAE Source: Source: http://cornforthimages.com/wp- http://www.mendosa.com/fitnessblog/?p=11562 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pigeon_Guillemot content/uploads/2012/11/Horned-Puffin-Couple-1.jpg _at_Living_Coasts.jpg Horned Puffin Tufted Puffin Pigeon Guillemont Fratercula corniculata Fratercula cirrhata Cepphus columba http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/photos/common_ Source:https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rhinocero Source: Doug Sonerholm murre_4.jpg s_Auklet/id Common Murre Rhinoceros Auklet Parakeet Auklet Uria aalge Cerorhinca monocerata Aethia psittacula Horned Puffin FRATERCULA CORNICULATA Length Weight 15 in 17–22.9 oz Source: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/horned_Puffin/id Source: Terry Sohl Source: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/horned_Puffin/id Horned Puffin FRATERCULA CORNICULATA • The Horned puffin spends its time along the coast in the summer for breeding season then heads out to the open ocean for winter • It dives under water and uses its wings to swim • The Horned Puffin carries small fish crosswise in its bill and delivers them to its nestlings. One individual was observed carrying 65 fish at once. • Stable population Source: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/horned_Puffin/id Tufted Puffin FRATERCULA CIRRHATA Wingspan Length Weight 29.1 in 14.2-15.7 in 18.3-35.3 oz Source: http://www.paulnoll.com/Oregon/Birds/Likely/thumbs-Puffin-Tufted.html Source: http://aquarium.org/tag/tufted-puffin/ Source: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tufted_Puffin/id Tufted Puffin FRATERCULA CIRRHATA • Stocky, large-headed, dark seabird. Breeding adult all black except for white face and long golden plumes curling over back of head and neck. Bill large and red-orange, with a bright-orange yellow plate over the base. • Nonbreeding adult has dark gray face with no head plumes or bill plate. • The Tufted Puffin can capture and hold multiple small fish crosswise in its bill, routinely 5 to 20 fish at a time, for delivery to chicks at the nest. Adults eat their own food while still under water. • The Tufted Puffin nests mostly in deep burrows that it digs into cliff edges and slopes. These burrows can be more than 1.5 meters (5 feet) deep. • Stable population Source: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tufted_Puffin/id Pigeon Guillemont CEPPHUS COLUMBA Weight 15.9–19.4 oz Length Wingspan 11.8–13.8 in 21.7–23.2 in Source: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pigeon_Guilemont/id Source: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pigeon_Guilemont/id Source: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pigeon_Guilemont/id Pigeon Guillemont CEPPHUS COLUMBA • Bright red feet. • Relatively long, thick neck. • All black with white wing patches in summer. • The Pigeon Guillemot is one of the few members of the auk and puffin family to lay two eggs. • They also spend more time closer to shore than their puffin relatives, but they do dive and use their wings to swim • Stable population Source: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pigeon_Guilemont/id Common Murre URIA AALGE Length Weight Wingspan 15–16.9 in 28.2–39.7 oz 25.2–28 in • The penguin of the north • Black back and head, white underside. • Rather long, slender, pointed bill. • Face and throat white in Source: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Murre/id nonbreeding plumage. • The high degree of variation in color and markings of Common Murre eggs may allow parent Murres to recognize their own egg when they return to the colony from time at sea. • Its population is stable Source: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Murre/id Source: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Murre/id Rhinoceros Auklet CERORHINCA MONOCERATA Length 11–11.4 in Source: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/rhinoceros_auklet/id Wingspan 23.2–24.4 in Weight 12.3–21.9 oz Source: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/rhinoceros_auklet/id Rhinoceros Auklet CERORHINCA MONOCERATA • Named for the vertical white plate at the base of its bill, the Rhinoceros Auklet is a bird of the coastlines and open seas of the north Pacific. The only member of its genus, it is closely related to puffins. • All dark gray, except for white belly. Breeding adult has vertical white projection at base of orange bill, and two thin white plumes on face. • The Rhinoceros Auklet delivers food to its nest site largely by night. This behavior may be an adaptation to keep gulls and other species from stealing its food. • Not endangered Source: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rhinoceros_Auklet/id Parakeet Auklet AETHIA PSITTACULA Length Weight 9.1–10.2 in 8.4–12.2 oz Source: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Parakeet_auklet/id Source: http://www.tringa.org/image/1717_Parakeet_Auklet_06-21-2011_3 Source: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Parakeet_auklet/id Parakeet Auklet AETHIA PSITTACULA • This bird hasn’t been studied very much • Unusual bill structure is probably an adaptation for handling slimy gelatinous prey, like jellyfish, although it is unclear exactly how the bill is used. • On land, Parakeet Auklets walk mostly on their legs and not their toes. • Feeds offshore in deep waters, not at up-wellings. • Instead of eating full-sized fish they eat invertebrates and larval fish • Not endangered Source: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/parakeet_Auklet/id Black Oystercatcher HAEMATOPUS BACHMANI Crow-sized, short-tailed, bright reddish-orange bill and red ring around it’s eye. -While they do eat oysters, they are not their primary food, which is weird to me, but the eat mostly mussels and limpets (aquatic snails). source:Peter Chadwick -Their range is all the way from the Aleutian islands to the Baja Peninsula. -Although these birds are widespread, they are on the 2014 state of birds watch list, due to human cause disturbances and habitat loss. However their populations has seen an increase for the first time in 10 years thanks to the strong conservation efforts of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. http://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/images/bloymap.gif LARIDAE Red-Legged Kittiwake Black-Legged Kittiwake Glaucous-winged Gull Rissa brevirostris Rissa tridattila Larus glaucescens http://www.eagle- Source: Hayden Walcott https://leesbirdblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/23-66- eye.com/sites/default/files/image_rotations/Black- 1668-red-legged-kittiwake-rissa-brevirostris-by-ian2.jpg legged%20Kittiwake_0.jpg http://sdakotabirds.com/species/maps/red_legged_kittiwake_map_large.jpg Red-Legged Kittiwake RISSA BREVIROSTRIS http://www.alanmurphyphotography.com/K64/Red-legged-Kittiwake-2.jpg Source: Hayden Walcott Red Legged Kittiwake -In Russian their name means “The Bird that talks a lot” These birds have a tiny range, they’re only found in places in or bordering the Bering Sea. They nest on St. George, St. Paul, and the Otter islands in the Pribilof Islands, and on Bogoslof and Buldir islands in the Aleutian Island chain, and the Commander Islands off of Russia. -They can not fly under water like other pelagic birds, they can only plunge.
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