Reproductive Biology and Phylogeny of Birds, Part A:: Phylogeny, Morphology, Hormones and Fertilization

I recently turned to these two volumes to seek some general information about bird reproduction in order to explore a few comparative ideas emerging from my own work centered around sperm evolution, reproductive strategies and sexual selection. I could not help being drawn in, and ended up reading all (or at least specific sections of nearly all) chapters. Jamieson assembled an impressive team of authors for these volumes, and the result is uniquely complexioned and integrative coverage of bird reproductive biology. Scholarship generally runs high, with both historical and cutting edge coverage of many subjects. Jamieson's own contribution of an avian spermatozoa chapter is superb...virtually exhaustive treatment of a rather vast and (for me) daunting literature. It will serve as the point of departure for all future work on the subject. The books themselves are high quality productions and richly illustrated. Given the large number of electron micrographs, histological illustrations and colored clades, etc., the care that went into book production really pays off, and leaves me concluding that these books are well worth the price. I easily recommend them as a necessary part of every university library, and encourage any biologist interested in birds - or more generally in comparative reproductive biology - to keep them on their shelf. Pt. A. Phylogeny, Morphology, Hormones, Fertilization. Classification And Phylogeny Of Birds / John Harshman. Anatomy Of The Testis And Male Reproductive Tract / Tom A. Aire. Anatomy And Evolution Of Copulatory Structures / Robert Montgomerie And James Briskie. Developmental Anatomy Of The Female Reproductive Tract / Monika Jacob And Murray R. Bakst. Endocrinology Of Reproduction / G.e. Bentley, K. Tsutsui And J.c. Wingfield. Ovarian Dynamics And Follicle Development / A.l. Johnson And Dori C. Woods. Spermatogensis And Testicular Cycles / Tom A. Aire. Avian Spermatozoa : Structure And Phylogeny / Barrie G.m. Jamieson. Testis Size, Sperm Size And Sperm Competition / James V. Briskie And Robert Montgomerie. Fertilization / Ursula Stepinska And Murray R. Bakst. C2007 -- Pt. B. Sexual Selection, Behavior, Conservation, Embryology, Genetics. Volume Edited By Barrie G.m. Jamieson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "This volume correlates available data and ideas concerning the development, reproductive morphology, function and phylogeny of chondrichthyan fishes. The information presented and discussed is fundamental to our understanding of oogenesis, spermatogenesis, gestation, regulation of reproductive tract function, sperm storage, nutrient provision, placentation, phylogeny and are pertinent to our concepts of the origin of live bearing in general. New and exciting data is presented including the idea that yolk sac viviparity is the plesiomorphic state rather than oviparity."--Jacket

aspects Of Reproduction Covered In This Volume Include Classification And Phylogeny As Revealed By Molecular Biology; Anatomy Of The Male Reproductive Tract And Organs; Anatomy And Evolution Of Copulatory Structures; Development And Anatomy Of The Female Reproductive Tract; Endocrinology Of Reproduction; Ovarian Dynamics And Follicle Development; Spermatogenesis And Testicular Cycles; Avian Spermatozoa: Structure And Phylogeny; Testis Size, Sperm Size And Sperm Competition And Lastly, Fertilization.

The second part of volume 6 discusses sexual selection of ultraviolet and structural signals; melanins and carotenoids as feather colorants and signals; sexual selection and auditory signaling; odors and chemical signaling; sexual dimorphism; sexual selection, signal selection and the handicap principle; courtship and copulation; sexual conflict an