Concerted evolution of body mass and cell size: similar patterns among species of birds (Galliformes) and mammals (Rodentia).

Cell size plays a role in body size evolution and environmental adaptations. Addressing these roles, we studied body mass and cell size in Galliformes birds and Rodentia mammals, and collected published data on their genome sizes. In birds, we measured erythrocyte nuclei and basal metabolic rates (BMRs).

Growth and development of chicks of two species of partridge: the grey partridge (Perdix perdix) and the chukar (Alectoris chukar).

1. In two partridge species, the grey partridge (Perdix perdix) and chukar (Alectoris chukar), from hatching up to 120 d, the growth rate and development of body mass, wing, tarsus, and bill length were measured and fitted by Gompertz equations. 2.

Resting metabolic rate and erythrocyte morphology in early development of thermoregulation in the precocial grey partridge (Perdix perdix).

In the early stages of development of thermoregulation in grey partridge, a typical precocial species, I measured the resting metabolic rate (RMR) and body temperature (Tb) in the thermoneutral zone (TNZ) and the parallel changes in the size of erythrocytes and their cell nuclei. The strong positive correlation between the mass-independent (residuals versus body mass) values of Tb and RMR indicates a close relationship, between these physiological parameters in the first week of life of partridges. In the ontogeny of this species, the dimensions of erythrocytes correlated inversely with the mass-specific metabolic rate (expressed in mW g(-1)), claiming its status as an important and metabolically useful measure of development.