Final Answer:
Brood patches are bare skin areas on the bellies of birds, adapted for direct contact with eggs during incubation, facilitating efficient heat transfer for embryo development. The correct answer is: e. bare skin on the bellies of birds for incubating eggs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Brood patches refer to bare skin areas on the bellies of birds that are specifically adapted for incubating eggs. These patches are characterized by a reduction or loss of feathers, allowing direct contact between the warm skin of the bird and the eggs.
This bare skin facilitates efficient heat transfer from the parent bird to the eggs during the incubation process.
The correct answer is: e. bare skin on the bellies of birds for incubating eggs.