Biology of the Avian Respiratory System

At the heart of this book is the avian respiratory system. The authors shed new light on understanding why the respiratory system of modern birds is built the way it is and works the way it does. Birds have been and continue to attract particular interest. The more they have been studied, the more it has been realized that the existence of human-kind very much depends directly and indirectly on birds. Regarding the avian respiratory system, published work is scattered in biological journals of fields like physiology, behavior, anatomy and ecology while others appear in paleontological- and even geological journals. Therefore, this book brings together world-renowned experts in diverse fields of the avian respiratory system. Particular attention is given to its evolution and development. Readers will not only discover the origin of birds but will also learn how the respiratory system of theropod dinosaurs worked. In addition to the structure and function of the avian respiratory system, the work explores the energetics of powered flight and the necessary adaptations for flight at extreme altitude.§§This is a highly informative and carefully presented book, providing scientific insight for readers with an interest in avian biology and the evolution of birds.§