PATTERNS OF GROWTH IN BIRDS. II. GROWTH RATE AND MODE OF DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Summary.: This analysis was initiated to examine the relationship between the rate of growth in birds and their development of mature function. The literature was surveyed for data on growth and development, and the growth curves of 81 species were chosen for the analysis. Growth curves of most species were fitted with the Gompertz equation, and the rate constants of the equation were used as an index of the growth rate. For those species whose curves were fitted better by other equations, with a slightly different form, appropriate conversion factors, derived in this paper, were employed. Among species with similar modes of development, growth rate decreases with increasing body weight in an allometric manner, with slopes of –0.26 to –0.42, depending on the group. Between groups, the rate of growth in body weight was found to be closely associated with the rate of development of function, in particular, the acquisition of flight. Among those species that can walk at an early age, but acquire flight relatively late, the rate of growth depends primarily on the relative size of the musculature of the lower extremities. Data are presented to refute the hypotheses that growth rate is adjusted to nestling mortality, or that the energy requirements of the young (and hence their growth rates) are balanced against brood size. It is concluded that most species grow at some physiologically maximum rate, but as yet it is not possible to distinguish between limitation of growth rate at the level of the organism or at the level of the tissue.