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>Well, it won't fly! As part of my dissertation I studied the >metabolism, >cardiovascular performance, and thermoregulation of >California Quail >(Callipepla californica). As part of the experimental >procedure I >compared the metabolism of feathered birds with that of >birds with the >feathers removed. In the thermoneutral zone the 2 were >identical. As soon >as the ambient temperature fell below the lower critical >temperature the >metabolism of the defeathered birds shot up rapidly and >reached maximum >(equivalent to that in flying birds) are much higher >temperatures than >feathered individuals. This means that the defeatherd >birds were >compensating unsuccessfully for the loss of insulation. I wonder, with such studies would it be possible to make a formula that
estimates at what body size feathers become unneeded to retain body
heat? That could help solve the problem of what size to stop giving
theropods a full covering of feathers.
>Alan >brushes2@juno.com >92 High Street >Mystic, CT. 06355 >(860) 572-1717 |