Ptilochronology: Feather Time and the Biology of Birds Oxford Ornithology Series

Author	Thomas C. Grubb Jr.
Format	Hardcover
ISBN	9780199295500
Publisher	Oxford University Press, Usa
Manufacturer	Oxford University Press, Usa

This book is about feather growth rates and how they can be used to determine a bird's nutritional condition. The author has coined the term ptilochronology to describe this technique, which relies on the fat that as a feather grows it produces visible growth bars. Ptilochronology has been used to study avian evolution, ecology, and conservation biology, and has been critiqued by other scientists. The author reviews this work, chronicles the various criticisms that have been made, and describes how these have influenced the development of ptilochronology. He goes on to suggest experimental methodologies and analytical techniques to safeguard against invalid results. A final chapter summarises ptilochronology's contribution to avian biology, and suggests potential applications and a future research agenda.

This is the first book to summarize the methods, conceptual issues and results of studies using the interpretation of feather growth rates as an index to nutritional condition in birds. The author has coined the term ptilochronology (literally. 'the study of feather time') to describe this technique, which relies on the fat that as a feather grows it produces visible growth bars. Both the technique and its conceptual foundations have been applied worldwide to numerous studies of avian evolution, ecology, and conservation biology. the author reviews this work, chronicles the various criticisms that have been amde, and describes how these have influenced the development of ptilochronology. He goes on to suggest experimental methodologies and analytical techniques to safeguard against invalid results. a final chapter summarises this new technique's contribution to avian biology, and suggests potential applications and a future research agenda. an appendix details specific measurements and describes the methodology associated with ptilochronology. Ptilochronology provides a practical resource as well as a conceptual understanding of how this technique can be used to address important questions in avian biology. It will be of relevance and use to professional avian biologists and ornithologists as well as to graduate students of avian behavioural ecology, evolution and conservation.