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OverviewBird flight has always intrigued mankind. This book provides an up to date account of our existing knowledge on the subject, as well as offering new insights and challenging some established views. A brief history of the science of flight introduces the basic physical principles governing aerial locomotion. A treatment of flight-related functional morphology concentrates on the difference in shape of the arm and hand part of the wings, on the structure and function of tails, and on the shape of the body. The anatomy and mechanical properties of feathers receive special attention. Aerodynamic principles used by birds are explained in theory by simply applying Newton's laws, and in practice by showing the direction and velocity of the attached flow around an arm wing cross section and of the leading edge vortex flow above a hand wing. The Archaeopteryx fossils remain crucial in our understanding of the evolution of bird flight despite the recent discovery of a range of well-preserved ancient birds. A novel insight into the interactions between wings and air challenges established theories relating to the origin of bird flight. Take-off, flapping flight, gliding and landing are the basic ingredients of bird flight, and birds use a variety of flight styles from hovering to soaring. Flight muscles consisting of mosaics of specialised fibres are the engines that generate the force required to keep the wings and tail in the gliding configuration and perform work during flapping motion. The energy required to fly can be estimated or measured directly, and a comparison of the empirical results provides insights into the trend in metabolic costs of flight of birds varying in shape and mass from hummingbirds to albatrosses. Full Product DetailsAuthor: John J. VidelerPublisher: Oxford University Press Imprint: Oxford University Press Dimensions: Width: 1.40cm , Height: 15.60cm , Length: 23.20cm Weight: 0.416kg ISBN: 9780199299928ISBN 10: 0199299927 Pages: 288 Publication Date: 10 August 2006 Audience: Professional and scholarly , Professional and scholarly , Professional & Vocational , Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly Format: Paperback Publisher's Status: Active Availability: To order  Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us. Table of ContentsReviews...this is an expertly written introduction into all aspects of bird flight. What makes it even better is that Videler's narrative emphasis is not so much on the mechanical minutiae of avian flight, but rather on explaining and describing what makes it all work...His writing style, moreover, is enthusiastic and colourful. PalArch's Journal of Vetebrate Palaeontology, 2007 The strength of the book is its comprehensive coverage of the field...Videler tells us about old work that is still enlightening as well as about the newest and most fashionable research. Ethology, 2006 Videler is an enthusiast in every sense of the word, and this is a book for enthsiasts...a key achievement of Videler's book, in reviewing the current state of our knowledge, is to reveal how many lacunae remain. Ibis Regardless, the book does a splendid job of conveying the reasons for the author's entusiasm for studying avian flight...the book will serve as an excellent foundation for seminars for advanced undergraduates or graduates and as an essential motivational tool for all avian biologists. JEB, Bret W. Tobalske, University of Portland ...the book is lucidly written, with clear explanations British Birds, Vol 99 ...this is an expertly written introduction into all aspects of bird flight. What makes it even better is that Videler's narrative emphasis is not so much on the mechanical minutiae of avian flight, but rather on explaining and describing what makes it all work...His writing style, moreover, is enthusiastic and colourful. PalArch's Journal of Vetebrate Palaeontology, 2007 The strength of the book is its comprehensive coverage of the field...Videler tells us about old work that is still enlightening as well as about the newest and most fashionable research. Ethology, 2006 Videler is an enthusiast in every sense of the word, and this is a book for enthsiasts...a key achievement of Videler's book, in reviewing the current state of our knowledge, is to reveal how many lacunae remain. Ibis Regardless, the book does a splendid job of conveying the reasons for the author's entusiasm for studying avian flight...the book will serve as an excellent foundation for seminars for advanced undergraduates or graduates and as an essential motivational tool for all avian biologists. JEB, Bret W. Tobalske, University of Portland ...the book is lucidly written, with clear explanations British Birds, Vol 99 Author InformationJohn J Videler holds two academic positions, Professor of Evolutionary Mechanics at Leiden University, and Professor of Marine Zoology at Groningen University, The Netherlands. Tab Content 6Author Website:Countries AvailableAll regions |
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