Marine Vertebrates: Study questions for Exam 2

Part 2: Birds (finish)

  1. Compare Adelie penguins with Emperor penguins with respect to
  2. Diving depth
  3. Major food resources
  4. Breeding season (time of year)
  5. Nest building

iIs there a nest?

iiWhich gender builds the nest?

  1. Role of males vs. females in brooding the eggs
  2. Role of males vs. females in providing food for chicks
  3. Crèches of young: What are they? Are they found in both species?
  1. We extensively discussed how foraging (and thus reproductive) success in Adelie penguins is related to ice extent. From that, be sure you can answer these specific questions:
  2. Do Adelie penguins (particularly those on the Antarctic Peninsula) do better in relatively high ice years or relatively low ice years?
  3. How is foraging distance for these penguins tend to be related to the location of the ice edge/ice extent? (In other words, do foraging distances tend to be greater in high ice or low ice years?)
  4. How is continued availability of krill related to ice extent? You should be able to briefly describe the relationship of ice extent and

iReproductive success for krill.

iiSurvivalof juvenile krill.

  1. Will poor conditions for juvenile krill survival immediately and directly result in lower numbers of potential krill prey for the penguins? Explain your answer.
  1. In addition to the reduction of sea ice extent, what else related to higher temperatures can create unfavorable conditions for reproduction in Adelie penguins? (HINT: Seems a bit paradoxical…)
  1. Describe two key roles proposed for the tubenose structure of the Procellariformes.
  1. What is the general habitat of albatrosses?
  1. Briefly describe how they feed.
  1. Given that they generally feed on the surface, how is it possible for deep-water squid to comprise part of the diet of some albatrosses?
  1. Describe two anatomical adaptations of albatrosses for sustained flight, beyond just the basic adaptations for flight possessed by other flying birds.
  1. Approximately how far might a wandering albatross travel in a single foraging bout while raising young at a colony?
  1. Briefly describe the two types of foraging bouts seen for Wandering Albatrosses, comparing distance and function of the journey, and weight gain or loss for each trip type.
  1. Briefly describe the feeding methods of storm petrels.
  1. Briefly describe the nesting colonies of storm-petrels. Also describe two ways that a foraging bird returning to the colony might locate its own nest.
  1. How does a young giant petrel, left alone while its parents are off foraging, defend itself against a predator?
  1. What feeding technique of the prions is unique among the Procellariformes? What do they eat? Also, by what method have they been shown to find concentrations of food?
  1. Which order of marine birds is characterized by gular sacs and four toes connected by webs? Also, name and describe the unique diving method of some members of this group.
  1. What caused the brown pelican to become nearly extinct in the 1960s and 1970s? Were they the only bird threatened in this way? Which bird was even more severely affected and why?
  1. Which birds are you likely to spot while SCUBA diving? What key adaptation to diving does this bird share (at least to some extent) with penguins? By whom were these birds “employed”?
  1. Some shorebirds (Charadriiformes) such as gulls appear roughly similar to Procellariformes. Describe one fool-proof way, based on external characteristics, that you could easily tell the difference between the two orders.
  1. Briefly describe the basic feeding habits of most gull species.
  1. In general, focus on key characteristics and unique features of different orders and focus species.
  1. What do South Polar Skuas eat (>1 key food item)? What bad memories does your professor have of these birds that relates to their behavior?
  1. Don’t forget that you need to know the specific Order of all particular birds presented in lecture! You need to know the scientific names of the Orders, not just the slang (i.e. Procellariformes, not “tubenoses”, although knowing the latter will help you remember their appearance).