In vertebrates and invertebrates, morphological and functional features of gastrointestinal
(GI) tracts generally reflect food chemistry, such as content of carbohydrates, proteins, fats …

Patterns of bone microstructure have frequently been used to deduce dynamics and
processes of growth in extant and fossil tetrapods. Often, the various types of primary bone …

Differences within a species in rates of growth of nestlings can be used as indicators of the
quality of parental care, environmental conditions, and future success of offspring, whereas …

Stable isotope analysis is an increasingly valuable tool in ecological studies and shows
promise as a measure of nutritional stress in wild animals. Thus far, however, the only …

Six decades of studies have speculated that digestive capacity might limit avian growth rate
or that developmental changes in the gut might determine developmental changes in …

Despite extensive theoretical and empirical research into offspring food solicitation
behaviour as a model for parent–offspring conflict and communication, the adaptive value of …

House sparrow nestlings are fed primarily on insects during the first 3 days of their life, and
seeds become gradually more important afterwards. We tested whether developmental …

Highlights•We examined provisioning behaviour in a cooperative breeder, the acorn
woodpecker.•Provisioning behaviour alternated among birds and was clumped within …

I of this perspective were “Sibling rivalry in nestling birds,” readers could hardly be faulted for
expecting a traversal of welltrodden ground. We have come to think of conflict among avian …

We examined developmental and behavioural plasticity of sand martin (Riparia riparia)
nestlings hand-reared under laboratory conditions. We created six broods of six 4-day-old …