Feeding trials to show nutrient requirements. Metabolizable energy study and proximate analysis of feed. Determination of vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and other nutrients or substances in feed with emphasis on use of laboratory equipment. Experiments in current problems in avian biology. Introduction to experimental design.
Student choose a project, design a protocol, perform an experiment and report their findings.
May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor. Ecology, behavior, functional morphology and life-history evolution of birds. Emphasis on the importance of body size as a principle determinant of most aspects of avian performance from lifespan to reproduction and species abundance. Analytical synthesis and critical thought emphasized. Offered in alternate years.