Transformation of avian feeding mechanisms: A deductive method

Zweers, G. A.

doi:10.1007/bf00046405

Cited by 30 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Dullemeijer, 1974Dullemeijer, , 1985Dullemeijer and Barel, 1977;Zweers, 1985a). The reasoning is basically similar to that in the twin papers in this series (Zweers, 1991a;see Zweers, 1991b, andZweers et al, 1991, for specifications). A feature (the explanandum) is called explained if it can be described as a given transformation (the explanatory theory) of another feature that has been understood and accepted as the initial model (the explanans).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

“…Zweers, 1985aZweers, , 1991a. First, the anatomical elements of the mouth that are involved in the mechanisms for pecking, drinking and filter feeding need to be described.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These methodologies, however, do not explicitly discuss quantitative, formal modelling. Zweers (1979Zweers ( , 1985aZweers ( , 1991a has -as an extension of Dullemeijer's suggestions (Dullemeijer, 1974(Dullemeijer, , 1985Dullemeijer and Barel, 1977) for deductive explanation-proposed research schemes for quantitative investigation of integration and transformation in complex organismic systems. Otten (1985) has also developed a quantitative method for studying change in complex systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Integration of pecking, filter feeding and drinking mechanisms in waterfowl

Kooloos

Zweers

1991

Acta Biotheor

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This paper is one of several contributions in a series, illustrating the application of a specific deductive methodology to explain diversity of form. The methodology facilitates the explanation of feeding morphologies in various ducks as a transformation of the mallard's feeding design maximized for specific proportions of performance that are contributed by pecking and filter feeding mechanisms. The earlier described anatomy and formal analyses of the three mechanisms in the mallard served as the initial conditions used in simulation models. Four elements of the feeding system were chosen that play a major role in all three mechanisms. For each element, the main parameter was selected: storage capacity of the rostral mouth cavity, transport capacity of the rostral mouth tube, storage capacity of the caudal mouth cavity and transport capacity of the caudal mouth tube. The boundary conditions for the simulation were determined from internal organismic constraints. The total food uptake of the mallard was regarded as the function to be maximized. This 'object' function is the summation of the food uptake by one second of pecking and one second of filter feeding. The drinking mechanism was shown not to interfere, since that mechanism operates sufficiently whenever the pumping mechanism works properly. The 'object' function, made up by the pecking and filter feeding performances was graphed. From these graphs a morphospace was developed: the region within which modifications of the mouth design are feasible. This procedure allowed examination of the general hypothesis that different modifications of one design for a complex multi-role system are explainable from differences in proportions of the functional performance contributed by each of the roles. Two predictions were evaluated more specifically: 1) If filter feeding performance must increase for a specific change in total food uptake, the volume of the rostral mouth cavity must increase; this requires widening and lengthening of the rostral maxillar portion and also a phase shift in jaw and lingual motion patterns, increasing the stroke volume. 2) If pecking performance must increase, the transport capacity of the rostral mouth tube must increase; this requires shortening of the maxillar mid portion. These two predictions regarding change in mouth morphology were borne out by shovelers and tufted ducks, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

“…Zweers, 1985aZweers, , 1991a. First, the anatomical elements of the mouth that are involved in the mechanisms for pecking, drinking and filter feeding need to be described.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Integration of pecking, filter feeding and drinking mechanisms in waterfowl

Kooloos

Zweers

1991

Acta Biotheor

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“…Only the continuous-visual species, black-winged stilt, fits the expected general pattern found by most authors (see Roberts 1996 and Beauchamp 1998 for reviews). The visual pecking strategy is considered as the most primitive foraging strategy in birds (Zweers 1991;Zweers et al 1994Zweers et al , 1997 and is certainly the most common. Beauchamp (1998) reviewed the relationship between flock size and vigilance level in 46 studies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does vigilance always covary negatively with group size? Effects of foraging strategy

Barbosa

2002

Acta ethologica

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The possible effects of foraging strategy on the relationship between vigilance and group size were studied in three species of waders with different foraging strategies. I predict that (1) pause-travel species should show no relationship between scanning and group size, because these species scan for prey as well as for predators; (2) continuous-tactile foraging species should show a positive relationship between flock size and vigilance level, because in their large groups vigilance towards other birds could be used to avoid interference and aggression; and (3) continuous-visual searching species should show the general pattern of decreasing vigilance when group size increases as predicted by both the 'many eyes' and the 'predatory risk' hypotheses. Results support the predictions for the influence of foraging strategy on the relationship between vigilance level and group size. The mutual exclusion of foraging and scanning can determine the importance of the 'many eyes' hypothesis. Such exclusion seems to be determined by foraging strategy. The influence of foraging on scanning must be taken into account in future studies on the group-size effect.

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“…Testing models of bird feeding in a phylogenetic perspective remains difficult because quantitative kinematic data on food transport in birds are relatively scarce (Rubega, 2000). One of the proposed evolutionary models of feeding is that of Zweers ('91) and Zweers et al ('94) who suggest that the pecking mechanism is the ancestral condition for Neognathae. The majority of authors suggest that inertial feeding behavior is basal within birds (Gussekloo and Bout, 2005b).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Tropical hornbills (Aceros cassidix, Aceros undulatus, and Buceros hydrocorax) use ballistic transport to feed with their large beaks

Baussart

Bels

2011

J. Exp. Zool.

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The most common and plesiomorphic mechanism of food transport in tetrapods is lingual-based. Neognathous birds use this mechanism for exploiting a large diversity of food resources, whereas paleognathous birds use cranioinertial mechanism with or without tongue involvement. Food transport in three hornbills' species (Aceros cassidix, A. undulatus, and Buceros hydrocorax) is defined by a ballistic transport mechanism. Only one transport cycle is used for moving the food from the tip of the beak to the pharynx. The tongue never makes contact with the food nor is it used to expand the buccal cavity. In hornbills, filmed through high-speed video, time to food release occurred between 0.11 and 0.16 sec before time to maximum gape. The ballistic curves show similar patterns. Maximum gape angle is significantly different between the three species. Each species show a different kinematic and motor pattern of head movements associated with ballistic transport. In A. undulatus, head rotation follows a continuous pattern similar to that reported earlier in toucans. A. cassidix rotates head downward at the time of maximum gape to permit food to reach the pharynx without touching the mandible. B. hydrocorax elevates the head along the transport cycle to avoid contact with the food to the cavity of the upper beak. Selection of large food items in the diet may explain the evolutionary trend of using ballistic transport in the feeding behavior of hornbills, which play a key role in tropical forest ecology by dispersing seeds.

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Transformation of avian feeding mechanisms: A deductive method

Cited by 30 publications

References 26 publications

Integration of pecking, filter feeding and drinking mechanisms in waterfowl

Integration of pecking, filter feeding and drinking mechanisms in waterfowl

Does vigilance always covary negatively with group size? Effects of foraging strategy

Tropical hornbills (Aceros cassidix, Aceros undulatus, and Buceros hydrocorax) use ballistic transport to feed with their large beaks

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