The Biology of Moult in Birds

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Contents
Preface
Chapter 1: Functions of the plumage
	1.1 Structure and arrangement of the feathers
		1.1.1 Feather structure
		1.1.2 Arrangement of the feathers
	1.2 The various functions of the plumage
		1.2.1 Protective barrier and insulation
		1.2.2 Flight
		1.2.3 Appearance
		1.2.4 Tactile sensors
		1.2.5 The plumage as a habitat
		1.2.6 Special functions
	1.3 Conflicts between plumage functions and their resolution
		1.3.1 Endurance flight vs flight manoeuvres vs ornaments
		1.3.2 Concealment vs conspicuousness
		1.3.3 Colour vs wear
		1.3.4 Colour vs heat absorption
		1.3.5 Water repellency vs water resistance vs buoyancy
	1.4 Summary and concluding remarks
Chapter 2: Plumage maintenance and the need for plumage renewal
	2.1 Feather maintenance and wear
		2.1.1 Maintenance of the plumage
		2.1.2 Physical agents of wear
		2.1.3 Lice, mites, bacteria and fungi as agents of wear
		2.1.4 Wear depends on habitat, season and exposure
		2.1.5 The overall result and consequences of wear
		2.1.6 Wear as a means of intensifying plumage colours
		2.1.7 Summary and concluding remarks
	2.2 Adjustments to the plumage
		2.2.1 Changes in plumage colour with age
		2.2.2 Changes in plumage structure with age
		2.2.3 Seasonal changes in plumage
		2.2.4 Cosmetics
		2.2.5 Environmental conditions and changes in plumage
		2.2.6 Summary and concluding remarks
Chapter 3: The processes of moult: feather growth, physiology, energetics and control of moult
	3.1 Some terms and definitions
		3.1.1 What is moult?
		3.1.2 Terminologies
		3.1.3 Terms for plumages, feathers and feather generations
		3.1.4 Moult terms
	3.2 The process of feather replacement, feather growth and moult
		3.2.1 Feather shedding and feather development
		3.2.2 The products of moult: feathers, other epidermal structures and bones
		3.2.3 What is lost during moult? Elimination of heavy metals
		3.2.4 Feather growth: growth-bands and the growth curve of a feather
		3.2.5 Feather growth: limits imposed by follicle size
		3.2.6 Feather growth: allometric scaling and variation with feather type
		3.2.7 Feather growth: intrinsic and environmental factors
		3.2.8 Moult: schedule and feather-mass production
		3.2.9 Moult: determinants and allometric scaling of duration
		3.2.10 Feather growth-rate vs moult rate as a proxy for feather quality and individual quality
		3.2.11 Summary and concluding remarks
	3.3 Physiological and behavioural adjustments to moult
		3.3.1 Vascularization, circulatory system and body-water
		3.3.2 Metabolism and metabolites
		3.3.3 Body temperature
		3.3.4 Body-mass and body composition
		3.3.5 Immunity
		3.3.6 Stress responses
		3.3.7 Behaviour and activity
		3.3.8 Summary and concluding remarks
	3.4 Energetics and nutrition of moult
		3.4.1 Energetic costs of moult during the resting period at thermoneutrality
		3.4.2 Plumage efficiency during moult and thermostatic costs
		3.4.3 Aerobic capacity
		3.4.4 Flight performance and flight costs during moult
		3.4.5 Whole-day energetic costs of moult in captive and free-living birds
		3.4.6 Nutritional requirements of moult and whole-body protein metabolism
		3.4.7 Efficiency of moult
		3.4.8 Summary and concluding remarks: the paradox of the ‘true costs of moult’
	3.5 Control and environmental modulation of moult
		3.5.1 Control of moult by circannual rhythm and photoperiod
		3.5.2 Environmental factors affecting timing and rate of moult
		3.5.3 Hormonal control of moult
		3.5.4 Summary and concluding remarks
	3.6 The overall impact and consequences of moult during the moult period
Chapter 4: The effects of environmental conditions during moult on plumage quality and their consequences
	4.1 Factors during moult affecting the size and structure of non-ornamental feathers
		4.1.1 Time constraints and moult speed
		4.1.2 Nutrition, food availability and habitat
		4.1.3 Stress responses
		4.1.4 Parasites, predation risk, immune challenges and pollutants
		4.1.5 Fault bars and related feather malformations
		4.1.6 Summary and concluding remarks
	4.2 Factors during moult affecting colour and structure of ornamental feathers
		4.2.1 Time constraints and moult speed
		4.2.2 Nutrients, oxidative stress and immune challenges
		4.2.3 Parasites
		4.2.4 Other stressors: social status and pollutants
		4.2.5 Summary and concluding remarks
	4.3 Effects of the quality of feathers produced during moult on plumage function
		4.3.1 Effects on flight performance
		4.3.2 Effects on insulation
		4.3.3 Effects on signalling
		4.3.4 Summary and concluding remarks
	4.4 The overall impact and consequences of moult after the moult period
Chapter 5: Fitting moult into the annual cycle: moult strategies
	5.1 The optimal time and place for moult
		5.1.1 General considerations
		5.1.2 Environmental conditions
		5.1.3 Favourable moulting sites and moult-migration
	5.2 Overlaps of moult with other annual life-history stages and trade-offs
		5.2.1 Moult–breeding trade-offs: direct reciprocal effects and carry-over effects
		5.2.2 Moult–breeding overlaps
		5.2.3 Overlap of moult with migration and its trade-offs
		5.2.4 Overlap of moult with other non-breeding activities and trade-offs
		5.2.5 Summary and concluding remarks
	5.3 Moult strategies
		5.3.1 Feather replacements outside moult periods, skipping moult and asymmetric moult
		5.3.2 General moult strategies and number of moults per year
		5.3.3 Moult strategies of small and medium-sized birds
		5.3.4 Moult strategies of large birds maintaining flight capability
		5.3.5 Moult strategies of large birds and others with synchronous flight-feather moult
		5.3.6 How young birds enter the adult moult cycle
		5.3.7 Differences in moult strategies between sexes and individuals
	5.4 Summary and concluding remarks
References
Index