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1.
The unusual presence of long pennaceous feathers on the feet of basal dromaeosaurid dinosaurs has recently been presented as strong evidence in support of the arboreal–gliding hypothesis for the origin of bird flight, but it could be a unique feature of dromaeosaurids and thus irrelevant to the theropod–bird transition. Here, we report a new eumaniraptoran theropod from China, with avian affinities, which also has long pennaceous feathers on its feet. This suggests that such morphology might represent a primitive adaptation close to the theropod–bird transition. The long metatarsus feathers are likely primitive for Eumaniraptora and might have played an important role in the origin of avian flight.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at 相似文献
2.
Gergely Forgács Saeid Alinezh Amir Mirabdollah Elisabeth Feuk-Lagerstedt Ilona Sárvári Horváth 《环境科学学报(英文版)》2011,23(10):1747-1753
A two-stage system was developed which combines the biological degradation of keratin-rich waste with the production of biogas. Chicken feather waste was treated biologically with a recombinant Bacillus megaterium strain showing keratinase activity prior to biogas production. Chopped, autoclaved chicken feathers (4%, W/V) were completely degraded, resulting in a yellowish fermentation broth with a level of 0.51 mg/mL soluble proteins after 8 days of cultivation of the recombinant strain. During the subsequent anaerobic batch digestion experiments, methane production of 0.35 Nm3/kg dry feathers (i.e., 0.4 Nm3/kg volatile solids of feathers), corresponding to 80% of the theoretical value on proteins, was achieved from the feather hydrolyzates, independently of the pre-hydrolysis time period of 1, 2 or 8 days. Cultivation with a native keratinase producing strain, Bacillus licheniformis resulted in only 0.25 mg/mL soluble proteins in the feather hydrolyzate, which then was digested achieving a maximum accumulated methane production of 0.31 Nm3/kg dry feathers. Feather hydrolyzates treated with the wild type B. megaterium produced 0.21 Nm3 CH4/kg dry feathers as maximum yield. 相似文献
3.
Esther del Val Juan Carlos Senar Juan Garrido-Fernández Manuel Jarén Antoni Borràs Josep Cabrera Juan José Negro 《Die Naturwissenschaften》2009,96(7):797-801
Carotenoids may provide numerous health benefits and are also responsible for the integumentary coloration of many bird species.
Despite their importance, many aspects of their metabolism are still poorly known, and even basic issues such as the anatomical
sites of conversion remain controversial. Recent studies suggest that the transformation of carotenoid pigments takes place
directly in the follicles during feather growth, even though the liver has been previously recognised as a storing organ for
these pigments with a certain potential for conversion. In this context, we analysed the carotenoid profile of plasma, liver,
skin and feathers of male Common Crossbills (Loxia curvirostra). Interestingly, the derivative feather pigment 3-hydroxy-echinenone was detected in the liver and in the bloodstream (i.e.
the necessary vehicle to transport metabolites to colourful peripheral tissues). Our results demonstrate for the first time
with empirical data that the liver may act as the main site for the synthesis of integumentary carotenoids. This finding contradicts
previous assumptions and raises the question of possible inter-specific differences in the site of carotenoid conversion in
birds. 相似文献
4.
This paper reports on successful prenatal diagnosis of X-linked anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (AED) by means of light and electron microscopy on fetal skin biopsies obtained under fetoscopy. In the present family two brothers of the proband were severely affected with the full symptomatology of AED, the pregnant female and her mother revealed minor symptoms with patches of skin lacking vellus hair. Control of lesional skin of the affected family members by electron microscopy revealed no ultrastructural abnormalities. However, all biopsies lacked skin appendages including hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands. The lack of pilosebaceous follicles can be used as a diagnostic criterion since these structures are fully developed in normal fetuses of 20 weeks whereas the development of sweat glands does not start before week 20 to 24 of fetal life. Skin biopsies were taken from various regions of the fetus at risk via fetoscopy in week 20 and processed for light and electron microscopy. All samples revealed complete absence of all skin appendages in contrast to a total of 61 non-AED fetuses. Thus positive prenatal diagnosis of AED was made and the pregnancy was terminated. Control investigations after abortion confirmed the diagnosis. 相似文献
5.
The decomposition of vertebrate carcasses is an important ecosystem function. Soft tissues of dead vertebrates are rapidly decomposed by diverse animals. However, decomposition of hard tissues such as hairs and feathers is much slower because only a few animals can digest keratin, a protein that is concentrated in hairs and feathers. Although beetles of the family Trogidae are considered keratin feeders, their ecological function has rarely been explored. Here, we investigated the keratin-decomposition function of trogid beetles in heron-breeding colonies where keratin was frequently supplied as feathers. Three trogid species were collected from the colonies and observed feeding on heron feathers under laboratory conditions. We also measured the nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) stable isotope ratios of two trogid species that were maintained on a constant diet (feathers from one heron individual) during 70 days under laboratory conditions. We compared the isotopic signatures of the trogids with the feathers to investigate isotopic shifts from the feathers to the consumers for δ15N and δ13C. We used mixing models (MixSIR and SIAR) to estimate the main diets of individual field-collected trogid beetles. The analysis indicated that heron feathers were more important as food for trogid beetles than were soft tissues under field conditions. Together, the feeding experiment and stable isotope analysis provided strong evidence of keratin decomposition by trogid beetles. 相似文献
6.
A survey is given on fluid-dynamic effects caused by the structure and properties of biological surfaces. It is demonstrated
that the results of investigations aiming at technological applications can also provide insights into biophysical phenomena.
Techniques are described both for reducing wall shear stresses and for controlling boundary-layer separation. (a) Wall shear
stress reduction was investigated experimentally for various riblet surfaces including a shark skin replica. The latter consists
of 800 plastic model scales with compliant anchoring. Hairy surfaces are also considered, and surfaces in which the no-slip
condition is modified. Self-cleaning surfaces such as that of lotus leaves represent an interesting option to avoid fluid-dynamic
deterioration by the agglomeration of dirt. An example of technological implementation is discussed for riblets in long-range
commercial aircraft. (b) Separation control is also an important issue in biology. After a few brief comments on vortex generators,
the mechanism of separation control by bird feathers is described in detail. Self-activated movable flaps (=artificial bird
feathers) represent a high-lift system enhancing the maximum lift of airfoils by about 20%. This is achieved without perceivable
deleterious effects under cruise conditions. Finally, flight experiments on an aircraft with laminar wing and movable flaps
are presented. 相似文献
7.
Soil and preen waxes influence the expression of carotenoid-based plumage coloration 总被引:1,自引:1,他引:0
The signaling function of carotenoid-based plumage is mainly determined by the concentration of pigments in feathers. For
this reason, most studies of the proximate control of coloration focus on processes during and preceding moult. In great tits
Parus major, past research demonstrates that carotenoid-based plumage coloration honestly indicates male quality and, thus, may be a
sexually selected signal. In this study, we investigate how dirt and preen oil influence the coloration of carotenoid-based
feathers in the great tit. We collected six feathers from each individual bird; three feathers served as controls while the
remaining three feathers were washed with a chloroform/methanol mixture to remove soil and preen waxes. We assessed plumage
coloration using digital photography. This cleaning procedure slightly enhanced ornamentation; the experimentally cleaned
feathers expressed hues shifted towards shorter wavelengths and expressed brighter overall coloration than control feathers.
This is the first experimental study conducted on wild birds demonstrating that, in addition to pigment concentration, the
presence of preen waxes and soils on feathers may contribute to variation in coloration. 相似文献
8.
Jesús M. Avilés Deseada Parejo Tomás Pérez-Contreras Carlos Navarro Juan J. Soler 《Die Naturwissenschaften》2010,97(2):181-186
A considerable number of bird species carry feathers to their nests. Feathers’ presence in the nests has traditionally been
explained by their insulating properties. Recently, however, it has been suggested that feathers carried to the nests by females
of the spotted starling (Sturnus unicolor L.) could have an ornamental function based on their ultraviolet (300–400 nm) and human-visible longer wavelength (400–700 nm)
coloration. In our population, 95.7% of feathers found inside next-boxes occupied by nesting starlings were rock dove fly
feathers. Of these feathers, 82.7% were naturally positioned with their reverse side oriented toward the entrance hole and
42.4% of all found feathers were situated within the nest-cup. Here we experimentally assess the signaling function of ultraviolet
coloration of feathers in nests of spotless starlings by providing nests with a number of pigeon flight feathers that were
respectively treated on their obverse, reverse, both, or neither side with a UV blocker. Starlings placed 42.5% of the experimental
feathers in the nest-cup irrespective of the UV block treatment. Orientation of feathers toward the entrance hole was not
related with their ultraviolet radiation. However, feathers placed within the nest-cup were more likely found with their reverse
side oriented toward the entrance hole confirming our correlative findings. These results suggest a minor role of ultraviolet
coloration on feather location by spotless starlings. 相似文献
9.
Staffan Jacob Léa Colmas Nathalie Parthuisot Philipp Heeb 《Die Naturwissenschaften》2014,101(11):929-938
Parasites are known to exert selective pressures on host life history traits since the energy and nutrients needed to mount an immune response are no longer available to invest in other functions. Bird feathers harbour numerous microorganisms, some of which are able to degrade feather keratin (keratinolytic microorganisms) and affect feather integrity and colouration in vitro. Although named “feather-degrading” microorganisms, experimental evidence for their effects on feathers of free-living birds is still lacking. Here, we tested whether (i) keratinolytic microorganisms can degrade feathers in vivo and thus modify the colour of feathers during the nesting period and (ii) whether feather microorganisms have a long-term effect on the investment in colouration of newly moulted feathers. We designed treatments to either favour or inhibit bacterial growth, thus experimentally modifying plumage bacterial communities, in a wild breeding population of great tits (Parus major). Our analyses revealed no significant effects of the treatments on feather colours. Moreover, we found that differences in bacterial exposure during nesting did not significantly affect the colouration of newly moulted feathers. Our results suggest that significant feather degradation obtained during in vitro studies could have led to an overestimation of the potential of keratinolytic microorganisms to shape feather colouration in free-living birds. 相似文献
10.
The simultaneous exhibition of more than one secondary sexual trait is a widespread phenomenon in nature, though it has rarely
been explored. It has been proposed that different ornaments may convey complementary or back-up information about a single
aspect of individual quality (redundancy hypothesis) or that each ornament may convey unique information (multiple-messages
hypothesis). During a 5-year period, we measured several carotenoid-based (eye ring, bill cere and tarsi skin) and melanin-based
(head, back, rump and tail feathers) potential ornamental colours in male common kestrels. We analysed whether multiple ornaments
can convey different or related information about individual quality. We explored whether different ornaments can express
different information depending on the pigment (carotenoids or melanins), the time-scale over which the ornament can change
(dynamic vs. static) and the season of the year when the ornament is formed. We found that both melanin- and carotenoid- based
traits correlated with indexes of quality, including body condition, body condition of their partners and laying date. However,
not all ornaments correlated with the same measures of quality. In addition, some ornaments were intercorrelated within the
same individuals while others were not. These results suggest that different ornaments can convey information about different
qualities, as predicted by the multiple-messages hypothesis. In addition, this study suggests that the predominant pigment
(e.g. carotenoid vs. melanin, eumelanin vs. pheomelanin), the time-scale over which the trait is developed (static feathers
vs. dynamic skin) and the season of the year at which the ornament is produced can be potential mechanisms to convey different
messages in male common kestrels. 相似文献
11.
Keratinous wastes could be degraded by some microorganisms in nature. Native human foot skin (NHFS) was used as sole nitrogen source to screen microorganisms with keratin-degrading capability. From approximately 200 strains, a strain of Streptomyces sp. strain No. 16 was found to possess the strongest keratinolytic activity, and the total activity in the culture was 110 KU/ml with specific activity of 2870 KU/mg protein (KU: keratinase unit). Substrate specificity test indicated that the crude keratinase could degrade keratin azure, human hair, cock feathers and collagen. The optimal pH of the crude keratinase ranged from 7.5 to 10 and the temperature ranged from 40℃ to 55℃. Metal chelating agent ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid obviously stimulated the keratinolytic activity but suppressed the proteolytic activity. To our knowledge, this is the first report on specific induction of keratinases by NHFS from an actinomycete. Moreover, excellent characteristics of its crude keratinase may lead to the potential application in waste treatment and recovery, poultry and leather industry, medicine, and cosmetic development. 相似文献
12.
White colouration is a common and important component of animal visual signalling and camouflage, but how and why it varies across species is poorly understood. White is produced by wavelength-independent and diffuse scattering of light by the internal structures of materials, where the degree of brightness is related to the amount of light scattered. Here, we investigated the morphological basis of brightness differences among unpigmented pennaceous regions of white body feathers across 61 bird species. Using phylogenetically controlled comparisons of reflectance and morphometric measurements, we show that brighter white feathers had larger and internally more complex barbs than duller white feathers. Higher brightness was also associated with more closely packed barbs and barbules, thicker and longer barbules, and rounder and less hollow barbs. Larger species tended to have brighter white feathers than smaller species because they had thicker and more complex barbs, but aquatic species were not significantly brighter than terrestrial species. As similar light scattering principals affect the brightness of chromatic signals, not just white colours, these findings help broaden our general understanding of the mechanisms that affect plumage brightness. Future studies should examine how feather layering on a bird’s body contributes to differences between brightness of white plumage patches within and across species. 相似文献
13.
Ultraviolet (UV) reflectance of the plumage is common in birds and plays an important role in sexual signalling. Recently,
it has been proposed that birds are able to modify plumage UV reflectance by the application of uropygial gland secretion.
Based on a survey of the optical properties of this secretion from 51 species belonging to 12 avian orders, we show that two
main types of uropygial secretions exist, one predominantly found in passerines and one in non-passerines, both reducing relative
UV reflectance of a white background (Teflon™ tape). We quantified how each type of secretion (exemplified by blue tit and
mallard) affected feather UV reflectance. Both secretions reduced overall brightness and relative UV reflectance of white
mallard feathers but hardly affected the reflectance of UV/blue blue tit crown feathers. According to models of avian colour
vision, changes in reflectance due to application of the secretion were at or below the discrimination threshold of most birds.
We conclude that the uropygial secretion is unlikely to play a major role in modifying plumage UV reflectance. However, the
optical properties of the uropygial secretion may have been selected to interfere as little as possible with visual signaling
through plumage reflectance.
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. 相似文献
14.
Lingham-Soliar T 《Die Naturwissenschaften》2003,90(12):563-567
The early origin of birds is a hotly disputed debate and may be broadly framed as a conflict between paleontologists and ornithologists. The paleontological emphasis has shifted from Archaeopteryx and its origins to recent finds of Cretaceous birds and feathered dinosaurs from China. The identification of alleged feathers has, however, relied principally on the visual image. Some workers have interpreted these integumentary structures as collagen fibers. To test the latter hypothesis, using light microscopy, collagen from the hypodermis (blubber) and subdermal connective tissue sheath was examined from a dolphin that had been buried for a year as part of an experiment. Within the blubber, toward the central thicker parts of the material, the collagen fibers had compacted and the three-dimensional latticework of normal blubber had more or less collapsed. Chromatographic analysis of the blubber revealed pronounced oxidation of the unsaturated lipids, probably accounting for the collapse of the latticework. Fibers normally bound together in bundles became separated into individual fibers or smaller bundles by degradation of the glue-like substance binding them together. These degraded collagen fibers show, in many instances, feather-like patterns, strikingly reminiscent of many of those identified as either protofeathers or modern feathers in dromaeosaurid dinosaurs. The findings throw serious doubt on the virtually complete reliance on visual image by supporters of the feathered dinosaur thesis and emphasize the need for more rigorous methods of identification using modern feathers as a frame of reference. Since collagen is the main fiber type found in most supporting tissues, the results have wide implications regarding the degradation and fossilization of vertebrate integument, such as that of the ichthyosaurs, dinosaurs and birds. 相似文献
15.
Leclaire S Merkling T Raynaud C Giacinti G Bessière JM Hatch SA Danchin E 《Die Naturwissenschaften》2011,98(7):615-624
The importance of olfaction in birds’ social behavior has long been denied. Avian chemical signaling has thus been relatively
unexplored. The black-legged kittiwake provides a particularly appropriate model for investigating this topic. Kittiwakes
preferentially mate with genetically dissimilar individuals, but the cues used to assess genetic characteristics remain unknown.
As in other vertebrates, their body odors may carry individual and sexual signatures thus potentially reliably signaling individual
genetic makeup. Here, we test whether body odors in preen gland secretion and preen down feathers in kittiwakes may provide
a sex and an individual signature. Using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, we found that male and female odors differ
quantitatively, suggesting that scent may be one of the multiple cues used by birds to discriminate between sexes. We further
detected an individual signature in the volatile and nonvolatile fractions of preen secretion and preen down feathers. These
results suggest that kittiwake body odor may function as a signal associated with mate recognition. It further suggests that
preen odor might broadcast the genetic makeup of individuals, and could be used in mate choice to assess the genetic compatibility
of potential mates. 相似文献
16.
Matthew D. Shawkey Branislav Igic Svana Rogalla Jonathan Goldenberg Susana Clusella-Trullas Liliana D’Alba 《Die Naturwissenschaften》2017,104(9-10):78
The visible spectrum represents a fraction of the sun’s radiation, a large portion of which is within the near infrared (NIR). However, wavelengths outside of the visible spectrum that are reflected by coloured tissues have rarely been considered, despite their potential significance to thermal effects. Here, we report the reflectivity from 300 to 2100 nm of differently coloured feathers. We measured reflectivity across the UV-Vis-NIR spectra of different (a) body parts, (b) colour-producing mechanisms and (c) sexes for 252 individuals of 68 sunbird (family: Nectariniidae) species. Breast plumage was the most reflective and cap plumage the least. Female plumage had greater reflectivity than males. Carotenoid-based colours had the greatest reflectivity, followed by non-iridescent and iridescent melanin-based colours. As ordered arrays of melanin-filled organelles (melanosomes) produce iridescent colours, this suggests that nanostructuring may affect reflectance across the spectrum. Our results indicate that differently coloured feathers consistently vary in their thermal, as well as obvious visual, properties. 相似文献
17.
Cadaver decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems 总被引:3,自引:0,他引:3
A dead mammal (i.e. cadaver) is a high quality resource (narrow carbon:nitrogen ratio, high water content) that releases an
intense, localised pulse of carbon and nutrients into the soil upon decomposition. Despite the fact that as much as 5,000 kg
of cadaver can be introduced to a square kilometre of terrestrial ecosystem each year, cadaver decomposition remains a neglected
microsere. Here we review the processes associated with the introduction of cadaver-derived carbon and nutrients into soil
from forensic and ecological settings to show that cadaver decomposition can have a greater, albeit localised, effect on belowground
ecology than plant and faecal resources. Cadaveric materials are rapidly introduced to belowground floral and faunal communities,
which results in the formation of a highly concentrated island of fertility, or cadaver decomposition island (CDI). CDIs are
associated with increased soil microbial biomass, microbial activity (C mineralisation) and nematode abundance. Each CDI is
an ephemeral natural disturbance that, in addition to releasing energy and nutrients to the wider ecosystem, acts as a hub
by receiving these materials in the form of dead insects, exuvia and puparia, faecal matter (from scavengers, grazers and
predators) and feathers (from avian scavengers and predators). As such, CDIs contribute to landscape heterogeneity. Furthermore,
CDIs are a specialised habitat for a number of flies, beetles and pioneer vegetation, which enhances biodiversity in terrestrial
ecosystems. 相似文献
18.
Klaus J. Müller 《Die Naturwissenschaften》1982,69(6):249-254
Phosphatisation of small, soft-bodied fossils in the Upper Cambrian of Sweden yielded rich faunal assemblages, mainly of arthropods, which have been isolated from the rock by etching techniques. The highly diverse fossils are uncompressed and constitute the best preserved material known from the Paleozoic era, exposing minute details such as fine bristles, pores of glands, and eyes. Agnostus clearly has biramous appendages and therefore, cannot be regarded as trilobite anymore. The Crustacea are the most widespread components of the phosphatised fauna. The representatives of a separate order of Ostracoda already have been studied in some detail. Other primordial crustaceans include nauplius stages and show a surprising diversity in specialisation. A similar occurrence in Upper Devonian from the Carnic Alps demonstrates that this mode of preservation is not restricted to a single environment, but also can be expected elsewhere. 相似文献
19.
A prenatal diagnosis of right atrial isomerism is often inferred through the recognition of a constellation of cardiac anomalies on the four-chamber view or by the detection of visceral heterotaxy and asplenia. However, the actual occurrence of discordance between the arrangement of the atria and thoracic and abdominal organs makes the identification of the morphology of both atrial appendages the only reliable way to make a final diagnosis of atrial isomerism. Three cases of right atrial isomerism with visceral heterotaxy and a complex cardiac defect, diagnosed in utero by cross-sectional and colour flow Doppler echocardiography, are reported. In all the patients, the right atrial isomerism was associated with an atrioventricular septal defect, a single aortic outlet from the right ventricle, and total anomalous venous return. The diagnosis of right atrial isomerism, always confirmed by neonatal re-evaluation and/or by post-mortem examination, was made through identifying two pyramidal atrial appendages in an echocardiographic transverse plane at the level of the atria and of the origin of the great arteries. This report demonstrates that a final intrauterine diagnosis of atrial isomerism is possible, whatever the visceral situs is. 相似文献
20.
McGraw KJ 《Die Naturwissenschaften》2004,91(3):125-129
Recent studies of colorful plumage signals in birds have been aided by the finding that birds can see ultraviolet (UV) light and thus may communicate using colors invisible to humans. Some of the pioneering and more pivotal work on avian color vision was performed with domestic pigeons (Columba livia), yet surprisingly there have been few detailed reports of the UV-reflecting properties of pigeon feathers. Here, I use UV-VIS fiber-optic spectrometry to document the full-spectrum reflectance characteristics of iridescent purple and green neck plumage in pigeons. Neck feathers that appear purple to the human eye exhibit four reflectance peaks—two in the UV and one in the blue and red regions—and thus exhibit a UV-purple hue. Neck feathers that appear green to the human eye are characterized by five spectral peaks: two in the UV (UVA and UVB), a predominant green peak, and secondary violet and red peaks, conferring a UV-purple-green color. Such elaborate UV coloration suggests that birds may use an even more complex and hidden UV signaling system than previously thought. 相似文献