WFS 431 Exam 3 (UTK Dr. Muller) – Study Guide, Practice Questions &
Revision Notes
calcium loading - ✔✔storing Ca in bones to make eggshells later
- ✔✔-
precocial vs altricial young - ✔✔-precocial - ready to go after hatching
-altricial - need assistance after hatching
reproductive cost for birds - ✔✔egg production
reproductive cost for mammals - ✔✔lactation
saturated vs unsaturated fats - ✔✔-saturated have NO double bonds, are animal based, solid
at room temperature
-unsaturated have double bonds, are plant based, liquid at room temperature
intestinal length - ✔✔varies with food habits
gastrointestinal tract of birds - ✔✔-most birds have a crop - storage
-gizzard - grinds seeds cause no teeth
-small intestine
-paired ceca -
-large intestine
, Coprophagous - ✔✔eating feces to further extract nutrients
Why does migration occur even though it can be costly? - ✔✔to take advantage of resources in
other areas
According to the "EndocrineMigrationBirds" paper, What 2 hormones are thought to be primary
drivers for migration (corticosterone and prolactin). What is their role in getting ready for
migration? However, probably more of a suite of hormones involved and this paper includes
many hormones likely involved. For example, we didn't talk much about leptin or neuropeptide
Y, but just know there are other hormones involved in feeding decisions. - ✔✔1.prolactin -
fattening, crop milk, restlessness
-corticosterone - stress, metabolism, increased food intake.
Why are large amounts of corticosterone good, but too much would be a huge problem for
migrating birds (hint: think glucose needs and effects of high corticosterone concentrations on
muscle mass). Be sure and understand all the effects of glucocorticoids and why they are
important for migration in addition to surviving stressful situations. - ✔✔-promotes
metabolism of energy stores
Bird Paper,
How are corticosterone and reproduction function related when birds arrive on the breeding
ground. Great example in this paper with the mountain white-crowned sparrows. -
✔✔corticosterone can pause reproduction if conditions are not good enough
According to the "HermitThrushCorticosterone" paper, What is the migration modulation
hypothesis? Where (between low and high) is the best concentration of corticosterone for a
bird getting ready to migrate? And why? - ✔✔1. baseline corticosterone is higher due to
capture and handling
-birds can modulate cort levels
2. in the middle because too high will break down protein and too low will eat too much
Revision Notes
calcium loading - ✔✔storing Ca in bones to make eggshells later
- ✔✔-
precocial vs altricial young - ✔✔-precocial - ready to go after hatching
-altricial - need assistance after hatching
reproductive cost for birds - ✔✔egg production
reproductive cost for mammals - ✔✔lactation
saturated vs unsaturated fats - ✔✔-saturated have NO double bonds, are animal based, solid
at room temperature
-unsaturated have double bonds, are plant based, liquid at room temperature
intestinal length - ✔✔varies with food habits
gastrointestinal tract of birds - ✔✔-most birds have a crop - storage
-gizzard - grinds seeds cause no teeth
-small intestine
-paired ceca -
-large intestine
, Coprophagous - ✔✔eating feces to further extract nutrients
Why does migration occur even though it can be costly? - ✔✔to take advantage of resources in
other areas
According to the "EndocrineMigrationBirds" paper, What 2 hormones are thought to be primary
drivers for migration (corticosterone and prolactin). What is their role in getting ready for
migration? However, probably more of a suite of hormones involved and this paper includes
many hormones likely involved. For example, we didn't talk much about leptin or neuropeptide
Y, but just know there are other hormones involved in feeding decisions. - ✔✔1.prolactin -
fattening, crop milk, restlessness
-corticosterone - stress, metabolism, increased food intake.
Why are large amounts of corticosterone good, but too much would be a huge problem for
migrating birds (hint: think glucose needs and effects of high corticosterone concentrations on
muscle mass). Be sure and understand all the effects of glucocorticoids and why they are
important for migration in addition to surviving stressful situations. - ✔✔-promotes
metabolism of energy stores
Bird Paper,
How are corticosterone and reproduction function related when birds arrive on the breeding
ground. Great example in this paper with the mountain white-crowned sparrows. -
✔✔corticosterone can pause reproduction if conditions are not good enough
According to the "HermitThrushCorticosterone" paper, What is the migration modulation
hypothesis? Where (between low and high) is the best concentration of corticosterone for a
bird getting ready to migrate? And why? - ✔✔1. baseline corticosterone is higher due to
capture and handling
-birds can modulate cort levels
2. in the middle because too high will break down protein and too low will eat too much
