Egg Incubation
Its Effects on Embryonic Development in Birds and Reptiles

Comprehensively reviews how different incubation conditions can affect embryonic development in birds and reptiles.

D. Charles Deeming (Edited by), Mark W. J. Ferguson (Edited by)

9780521612036, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 11 November 2004

464 pages
24.6 x 19 x 2.6 cm, 0.824 kg

"As stated in the preface, 'this book...aims to be a comprehensive review of relevant and avian embryonic data: a text designed as a reference guide for the next few years.' The coverage is actually broader than that, and the book serves its purpose well." Thomas R. Howell, Journal of Field Ornithology

This book reviews comprehensively incubation effects on embryonic development in birds and reptiles and presents the first ever synthesis of data from these two vertebrate classes. The book is in three parts. The first deals with the structure, shape and function of eggs. The second examines the effects of the four main parameters on the process of incubation: temperature, water relations, respiratory gas exchange, and turning. The third section deals with early embryonic development and the methods used to investigate and manipulate the embryo. Further chapters deal with aestivation, megapodes and oviparity. International experts in each field have contributed to this extensively referenced volume and it will be of great interest not only to research biologists, but also to bird and reptile breeders, whether in commercial organisations or in zoos.

Preface Denis C. Deeming and Mark W. J. Ferguson
1. Maternal diet, maternal proteins and egg quality Harold B. White III
2. Comparative composition and utilisation of yolk lipid by embryonic birds and reptiles Ray C. Noble
3. Oviductal proteins and their influence on embryonic development in birds and reptiles Brent D. Palmer and Louis J. Guillette, Jr.
4. Fluxes during embryogenesis Kenneth Simkiss
5. Eggshell structure and formation in eggs of oviparous reptiles Mary J. Packard and Vincent G. DeMarco
6. Shell structure and formation in avian eggs Ronald G. Board and Nick H. C. Sparks
7. Physical characteristics of reptilian eggs and a comparison with avian eggs John B. Iverson and Michael A. Ewert
8. Egg shape in birds Iain H. M. Smart
9. The thermal energetics of incubated birds' eggs J. Scott Turner
10. Physiological effects of incubation temperature on embryonic development in reptiles and birds Denis C. Deeming and Mark W. J. Ferguson
11. Cold torpor, diapause, delayed hatching and aestivation in reptiles and birds Michael A. Ewert
12. Physical factors affecting the water exchange of buried reptile eggs Ralph A. Ackerman
13. The physiological and ecological importance of water to embryos of oviparous reptiles Gary C. Packard
14. Roles of water in avian eggs Amos Ar
15. Water economy and solute regulation of reptilian and avian embryos David Vleck
16. The avian eggshell as a mediating barrier: respiratory gas fluxes and pressures during development Charles V. Paganelli
17. Gas exchange across reptilian eggshells Denis C. Deeming and Michael B. Thompson
18. Metabolism and energetics of reptilian and avian embryos Carol M. Vleck and Donald F. Hoyt
19. Reasons for the dichotomy in egg turning in birds and reptiles Denis C. Deeming
20. A comparison of reptilian eggs with those of megapode birds David T. Booth and Michael B. Thompson
21. Why birds lay eggs Hermann Rahn
22. Influences of incubation requirements on the evolution of viviparity Richard Shine
23. Overview of early stages of avian and reptilian development Ruth Bellairs
24. Ions and ion regulating mechanisms in the developing fowl embryo James I. Gillespie, James R. Greenwell, Elspeth Russell and Claire J. Dickens
25. Electrochemical processes during embryonic development Paul O'Shea
26. Methods for shell-less and semi-shell-less culture of avian and reptilian embryos Bruce E. Dunn
27. Experimental studies on cultured, shell-less fowl embryos: calcium transport, skeletal development and cardio-vascular functions Rocky S. Tuan, Tamao Ono, Robert E. Akins and Masafumi Koide.

Subject Areas: Zoology: Vertebrates [PSVW], Animal reproduction [PSVH], Developmental biology [PSC]