Question

Despite their great weight, bustards are still able to fly great distances due to their unique adaptations, such as:

A) Aerodynamic wing structures and powerful flight muscles.
B) Efficient respiratory systems and streamlined body designs.
C) Specialized airfoil-shaped feathers and strengthened skeletal structures.
D) Adaptations in their metabolism and energy utilization during flight.

Answer 1

Bustards can fly long distances due to adaptations like aerodynamic wing structures, efficient respiratory systems, streamlined body designs, and strong yet lightweight skeletal structures with pneumatic bones.

Step-by-step explanation:

Despite their great weight, bustards can fly considerable distances due to several unique adaptations. Some of the key adaptations include:

• Aerodynamic wing structures which are modified front legs that birds use for flight. The large muscles in the chest that move the wings constitute up to 35% of a bird's body weight, aiding in powerful flight.
• Efficient respiratory systems that supply the necessary oxygen for high metabolism during the demanding energy use in flight.
• Streamlined body designs and lightweight but strong skeletal features, such as pneumatic bones, which have large, air-filled spaces to reduce overall body weight.
• Birds also have adaptations like beaks with no teeth and production of hard-shelled eggs, which help to minimize body mass and increase efficiency in flight.

Each of these traits plays a significant role in enabling bustards and other large birds to maintain the ability to fly despite their size, highlighting the intricate ways in which birds are adapted to their environments and ecological niches.