An Analysis of Physical, Physiological, and Optical Aspects of Avian Coloration with Emphasis on Wood-Warblers

Burtt, Edward H.

doi:10.2307/40166782

Cited by 117 publications

(156 citation statements)

References 171 publications

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“…36)), thickness and resistance to fracture from abrasion and cyclical loading during flight [4][5][6]23,36,37 . This accounts for the fact that wing feathers (and especially their distal tips, where aerodynamic forces are high) display the greatest tendency towards melanization [4][5][6]38 . The melanization observed throughout the Archaeopteryx wing feather would have provided similar structural advantages during this early evolutionary stage of dinosaur flight.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The mosaic of reptilian traits (for example, teeth, long vertebral tail and manual unguals) and avian plumage in these fossils (Fig. 1a,b) has since inspired a rich scientific literature on Archaeopteryx and the origin of birds 1,3 , yet the animal's colour, a diverse and multifunctional trait in modern birds [4][5][6] , has remained only speculative. Additionally, unresolved questions have persisted regarding the anatomical identity and composition of the isolated feather specimen, which was the first described Archaeopteryx fossil [7][8][9] and the only one preserved as a dark trace (Fig.…”

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New evidence on the colour and nature of the isolated Archaeopteryx feather

et al. 2012

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Archaeopteryx has been regarded as an icon of evolution ever since its discovery from the Late Jurassic limestone deposits of solnhofen, Germany in 1861. Here we report the first evidence of colour from Archaeopteryx based on fossilized colour-imparting melanosomes discovered in this isolated feather specimen. using a phylogenetically diverse database of extant bird feathers, statistical analysis of melanosome morphology predicts that the original colour of this Archaeopteryx feather was black, with 95% probability. Furthermore, reexamination of the feather's morphology leads us to interpret it as an upper major primary covert, contrary to previous interpretations. Additional findings reveal that the specimen is preserved as an organosulphur residue, and that barbule microstructure identical to that of modern bird feathers had evolved as early as the Jurassic. As in extant birds, the extensive melanization would have provided structural advantages to the Archaeopteryx wing feather during this early evolutionary stage of dinosaur flight.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

New evidence on the colour and nature of the isolated Archaeopteryx feather

et al. 2012

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“…Hasson 1989;Fitzpatrick 1998). White feather tips may, for instance, reveal overall feather quality, as the absence of melanin in white parts of the feather weakens it (Burtt 1986). Thus, if the overall quality of a feather is low, then the white tip will wear off faster revealing the lower feather quality ( Fitzpatrick 1998;Kose & Møller 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A label of health: a previous immune challenge is reflected in the expression of a female plumage trait

et al. 2008

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Studies of ornaments as indicators of individual quality have hitherto focused on males, while studies of female ornaments have been almost absent. However, females within the same species may show large variation in both outer appearance and individual quality. We experimentally examined the effect of an immune challenge on the size of white fringes in the wing feathers produced one to two months after the challenge in female common eiders ( Somateria mollissima ), a long-lived sea duck. Immune-challenged females produced feathers with smaller white fringes, showing that a previous immune challenge may affect the expression of a plumage trait. We also report an unexpected difference in the expression of this white plumage trait within the immune-challenged group, related to the specific immune response against one of the injected antigens.

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“…Melanins have a wide range of functions in birds, including physical protection (Barrowclough & Sibley 1980;Burtt 1986), protection from parasites (Goldstein et al 2004), camouflage and a variety of signalling functions (Bó kony et al 2003;Jawor & Breitwisch 2003;Roulin 2004). Here I review recent studies on the molecular genetic basis of melanism in birds that provide a framework for future studies involving more complex phenotypic changes both within and between species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A window on the genetics of evolution:MC1Rand plumage colouration in birds

2005

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Melanins are a ubiquitous component of plumage colouration in birds and serve a wide variety of functions. Although the genetic control of melanism has been studied in chickens and other domestic species, little was known about the molecular genetics of melanin distribution in wild birds until recently. Studies have now revealed that a single locus, the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) locus, is responsible for melanic polymorphisms in at least three unrelated species: the bananaquit, the snow goose and the arctic skua. Results show that melanism was a derived trait and allow other evolutionary inferences about the history of melanism to be made. The role of MC1R in plumage patterning is surprisingly diverse among different species. The conserved molecular basis for the evolution of melanism in birds and several other vertebrates is probably related to low pleiotropic effects at the MC1R.

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An Analysis of Physical, Physiological, and Optical Aspects of Avian Coloration with Emphasis on Wood-Warblers

Cited by 117 publications

References 171 publications

New evidence on the colour and nature of the isolated Archaeopteryx feather

New evidence on the colour and nature of the isolated Archaeopteryx feather

A label of health: a previous immune challenge is reflected in the expression of a female plumage trait

A window on the genetics of evolution:MC1Rand plumage colouration in birds

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