The mechanical and metabolic power requirements of flight in the cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus)

A major goal in the study of animal locomotion is the integration of the mechanical performance of muscle with metabolic energy expenditure. The research presented in this thesis used a range of physiological approaches to determine in the cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) the mechanical and metabolic power requirements of flight, and to make some progress in partitioning the energy cost between different physiological systems. During flapping flight energy is consumed at a high rate, consequently many aspects of a bird's physiology, ecology and behaviour are affected by the demands of flight. As such, this research makes significant contributions to our understanding one of the major vertebrate groups and one of the major modes of locomotion.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo