Posted on 18. April, 2016.

Back in September 2012 Charles Deeming organised the first conference on nest construction and function, which was held at the University of Lincoln (Deeming, 2012). Even before the meeting was over he was being asked when the next meeting would be held. 

Posted on 18. February, 2016.

In addition to genetic effects, parents can affect offspring fitness traits through changes in propagule size, number or quality. These parental effects, especially maternal effects, may provide a mechanism for ‘phenotypic engineering’ which allows offspring to be adapted to variable environmental conditions. 

Posted on 5. January, 2016.

The Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea) belongs to the Timaliidae family (Passeriformes) and is widely distributed throughout southern China, northern Vietnam and western and northern Myanmar. The bird is a regionally common or dominant species and plays an important role in forest ecosystems. 

Posted on 24. November, 2015.

The great diversity of avian eggshell pigmentation and its possible adaptive significance has fascinated biologists for over a century. Ancestrally, avian eggshells were most likely homogenously white and immaculate although not necessarily devoid of pigment. Since then, however, they have evolved remarkable variation in both the basal ground colour and in the presence and patterns of superficial pigmentation, or maculation, which can include speckles, spots, blotches and streaks.

Posted on 6. November, 2015.

In recent decades, alterations in the environment have been rapid, and the pressure exerted on many wild populations has been continuously increasing. Many changes are related to urbanisation and of suburban and near-urban areas. These habitat alterations may exert environmental stresses on birds. Therefore, the different measures of physiological stress responses of vertebrates are of special interest to researchers.

Posted on 19. October, 2015.

The biodiversity of native species is diminishing in many regions as natural habitats are being replaced by human settlements and agriculture. 

Posted on 13. October, 2015.

The ratites are flightless birds of the superorder Palaeognathae that includes species such as Ostriches, Emu, Rheas, Cassowaries  and Kiwis. The conservation status of these species indicates that most of them require the implementation of urgent management actions in the scope of pertinent conservation strategies.