Ontogeny of thermoregulation in precocial birds

The aim of this paper is to summarise the results of earlier experiments on thermoregulation and heat balance in birds, to present new results concerning thermoregulation during the perinatal period in precocial embryos and to develop a model of the ontogeny of thermoregulation over the whole lifespan of birds. The ontogeny of thermoregulation in precocial birds is characterised by three phases with different efficiency of the system. In the prenatal phase, all control elements of the thermoregulatory system can function, but the efficiency of the system is low. It is postulated that endothermic reactions during the prenatal period do not have a proximate (immediate), but rather an ultimate influence on the efficiency of thermoregulation. They may support adaptivity to expected environmental conditions and may be involved in epigenetic adaptation processes. During the early postnatal phase, the thermoregulatory system develops and matures. Summit metabolism and resting metabolic rate and their thermoregulatory set points increase. Preferred temperature is significantly different during different behavioural activities. The phase of full-blown homeothermy starts at approximately the 10th day of life. It is characterised by an activation order of thermoregulatory control elements and by secondary chemical thermoregulation. The influence of thermal and non-thermal climatic factors on heat production and heat loss may be described by mathematical models.