Unveiling the Breeding Biology and Life History Evolution in Birds
A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Reproduction".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 163
Special Issue Editors
Interests: life history evolution of bird; avian ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: avian ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: avian ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Globally, there are over 11,000 extant bird species, exhibiting a remarkable diversity of breeding strategies and life history traits. These range from variations in clutch size and parental care to differences in lifespan and age at first reproduction. Understanding the breeding biology of these species forms the foundation of avian life history theory. However, it is concerning that approximately 30% of bird species have not had their breeding biology documented in the "Handbook of the Birds of the World". These gaps in knowledge may impede our comprehensive understanding of avian life histories. It is imperative for ornithologists to intensify efforts in exploring the breeding biology of these lesser-known species. This Special Issue focuses on the following topics:
- Breeding Biology of Lesser-Known Avian Species: Investigating the reproductive strategies of species whose breeding biology remains undocumented.
- Breeding Biology in Understudied Habitats or Extreme Environments: Exploring how birds adapt their reproductive strategies to thrive in challenging or poorly understood habitats.
- Variation in Life-History Traits Between High and Low Altitudes: Examining how altitude influences life history traits and reproductive strategies in birds.
- Reproductive Strategies of Birds in Diverse Habitats: Analyzing how different environmental conditions shape the breeding strategies of avian species.
- Unique Avian Behaviors and Their Adaptive Evolution: Investigating specialized behaviors in birds and their evolutionary significance.
- Comparative Studies on Avian Ecology and Behaviour: Conducting comparative analyses to understand ecological and behavioral adaptations across different bird species.
Breeding biology and life history traits are crucial for understanding how birds adapt to their environments. They provide essential insights into the adaptive strategies birds employ to maximize reproductive success and survival. This Special Issue aims to fill critical gaps in our understanding of avian breeding biology and life history evolution, thereby enhancing our knowledge of how birds adapt to their ever-changing environments.
You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Birds.
Prof. Dr. Shaobin Li
Dr. Changcao Wang
Dr. Weibin Guo
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- avian
- breeding biology
- life history
- reproductive strategies
- ecological adaptation
- evolutionary ecology
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
