Density of Contour Feathers and Heat Tolerance in Chickens

Jiang, Runshen; Xia, W. T.; Chen, X. Y.; Geng, Zhao Yu; Hu, Zhou

doi:10.1080/09712119.2010.10539521

Cited by 8 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…We found higher feather density in urban nestlings, which seems to contradict our prediction and also the results of previous studies documenting lower feather densities in warmer environments (Jiang et al 2010, Osv ath et al 2018. The higher feather density in urban nestlings, however, was the result of their smaller feather tract area.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…Firstly, because feather density is a heritable trait (e.g., a moderate heritability was found in domestic chickens (Sun et al 2019), fewer feathers could reflect genetic adaptation to higher ambient temperatures in urban relative to non-urban areas (as in our study system; SOM: Study sites). For example, it is well-known in poultry that fewer feathers are advantageous under high temperatures (Deeb & Cahaner 1999), allowing easier heat dissipation, and enhancing heat stress tolerance (Jiang et al 2010). On the same basis, increased ability to dissipate heat might also be beneficial for wild urban birds.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In birds, besides a range of physiological, behavioural and some morphological mechanisms (Tattersall et al 2012, Ryeland et al 2017, Thompson et al 2018, plumage also plays a key role in regulating body temperature by facilitating or constraining the extent to which heat is retained close to the body (Wolf & Walsberg 2000). This, in turn, is determined by several properties of the plumage, such as the structure, number and density of body feathers (Wolf & Walsberg 2000, Jiang et al 2010, Gr emillet et al 2012. Feathers grow in distinct feather tracts (Clench 1970) in which the formation of feather follicles takes place during embryonic development (Yu et al 2004), so the maximum number of feathers that a bird can develop is fixed at hatching.…”

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Urban nestlings have reduced number of feathers in Great Tits (Parus major)

Sándor

Liker

Sinkovics

et al. 2021

Ibis

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The plumage of birds plays an essential role in thermal insulation and influences the heat tolerance of birds. These plumage functions are mainly determined by the number and the density of feathers, but it is unclear how feather density responds to environmental changes in wild populations. In urban birds, both high temperature and limited food could generate changes in plumage traits. To investigate the effect of urbanization, we compared the number of feathers in nestlings between urban and forest Great Tits Parus major using a novel non-invasive method. We showed that urban nestlings have fewer feathers than forest nestlings at 6-9 days old. Although the density of feathers was slightly higher in urban nestlings, this was the result of the smaller size of their feather tracts. We suggest that the reduced feather number may be the result of either adaptation to higher urban temperatures, constrained feather development due to limited optimal nestling-food sources in urban environments, or both. Concentrating body feathers in a reduced tract area may also help birds to adapt to higher urban temperatures because this can increase the relative size of bare body surfaces which may facilitate heat dissipation. We suggest several possibilities for future studies that would help to disentangle the underlying mechanisms responsible for the observed patterns.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Urban nestlings have reduced number of feathers in Great Tits (Parus major)

Sándor

Liker

Sinkovics

et al. 2021

Ibis

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“…Jiang et al (2011 reported that the initial glucose level in broilers was highly correlated with level of heat stress. It has also been suggested that feather follicle density could be a phenotypic indicator for heat resistance (Jiang et al 2010). However, these indicators are difficult to use in the selection of heat-tolerant individuals, partially due to the difficulty in accurately measuring such indexes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rectal temperature as an indicator for heat tolerance in chickens

Chen

Wei

et al. 2013

Animal Science Journal

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High environmental temperature is perhaps the most important inhibiting factor to poultry production in hot regions. The objective of this study was to test adaptive responses of chickens to high ambient temperatures and identify suitable indicators for selection of heat-tolerant individuals. Full-sib or half-sib Anak-40 pullets (n = 55) with similar body weights were raised in a room with a temperature ranging from 24°C to 28°C, and relative humidity of 50% from 61 to 65 days of age. On day 66, the ambient temperature was increased within 60 min to 35 ± 1°C which was defined as the initial of heat stress (0 h). Rectal temperature (RT) was measured on each pullet at 0, 6, 18, 30, 42, 54 and 66 h. After 66 h the ambient temperature was increased within 30 min to 41 ± 1°C and survival time (HSST) as well as lethal rectal temperatures (LRT) were recorded for each individual. The gap between the RT and initial RT was calculated as ΔTn (ΔT6, ΔT18, ΔT30, ΔT42, ΔT54 and ΔT66), and the interval between LRT and initial RT as ΔTT, respectively. A negative correlation was found between HSST and ΔTn as well as ΔTT (rΔ T 18 = -0.28 and rΔ TT = -0.31, respectively, P < 0.05; rΔT30 = -0.36, rΔ T 42 = -0.38, rΔT54 = -0.56, P < 0.01). Importantly, pullets with low ΔT18 showed a longer HSST (256.0 ± 208.4 min) than those with high ΔT18 (HSST = 123.7 ± 78.3 min). This observation suggested that the ΔT18 or early increment of RT under heat stress might be considered as a reliable indicator for evaluation of heat resistance in chickens.

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“…Lastly, Jiang et al highlighted the importance of density in regard to plumage. Indeed, the density of contour feathers was significantly correlated to heat tolerance under acute HS, indicating that it could be regarded as a phenotypic marker for heat tolerance in chickens [ 75 ].…”

Section: Phenotypes Against Hsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging Genetic Tools to Investigate Molecular Pathways Related to Heat Stress in Chickens: A Review

Perini

Cendron

Rovelli

et al. 2020

Animals

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Chicken products are the most consumed animal-sourced foods at a global level across greatly diverse cultures, traditions, and religions. The consumption of chicken meat has increased rapidly in the past few decades and chicken meat is the main animal protein source in developing countries. Heat stress is one of the environmental factors which decreases the productive performance of poultry and meat quality. Heat stress produces the over-expression of heat shock factors and heat shock proteins in chicken tissues. Heat shock proteins regulate several molecular pathways in cells in response to stress conditions, changing the homeostasis of cells and tissues. These changes can affect the physiology of the tissue and hence the production ability of chickens. Indeed, commercial chicken strains can reach a high production level, but their body metabolism, being comparatively accelerated, has poor thermoregulation. In contrast, native backyard chickens are more adapted to the environments in which they live, with a robustness that allows them to survive and reproduce constantly. In the past few years, new molecular tools have been developed, such as RNA-Seq, Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), and bioinformatics approaches such as Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS). Based on these genetic tools, many studies have detected the main pathways involved in cellular response mechanisms. In this context, it is necessary to clarify all the genetic and molecular mechanisms involved in heat stress response. Hence, this paper aims to review the ability of the new generation of genetic tools to clarify the molecular pathways associated with heat stress in chickens, offering new perspectives for the use of these findings in the animal breeding field.

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Density of Contour Feathers and Heat Tolerance in Chickens

Cited by 8 publications

References 2 publications

Urban nestlings have reduced number of feathers in Great Tits (Parus major)

Urban nestlings have reduced number of feathers in Great Tits (Parus major)

Rectal temperature as an indicator for heat tolerance in chickens

Emerging Genetic Tools to Investigate Molecular Pathways Related to Heat Stress in Chickens: A Review

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