Mechanisms involved in the production of differently colored feathers in the structurally colored swallow tanager (Tersina viridis; Aves: Thraupidae)
| Autor: | Ana S. Barreira, Pablo L. Tubaro, Diana C. Skigin, Natalia C. García, Marina E. Inchaussandague, Lisandro T. Bazzano, Lucas R. Mendicino |
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| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
0301 basic medicine Male Light reflectance Zoology 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences 03 medical and health sciences Pigment Genetics Animals Passeriformes Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics biology Pigmentation Pigments Biological Feathers biology.organism_classification Reflectivity Barb 030104 developmental biology Colored Plumage Feather visual_art visual_art.visual_art_medium Molecular Medicine Animal Science and Zoology Structural coloration Developmental Biology |
| Zdroj: | Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolutionREFERENCES. 336(5) |
| ISSN: | 1552-5015 |
| Popis: | Non-iridescent, structural coloration in birds originates from the feather's internal nanostructure (the spongy matrix) but melanin pigments and the barb's cortex can affect the resulting color. Here, we explore how this nanostructure is combined with other elements in differently colored plumage patches within a bird. We investigated the association between light reflectance and the morphology of feathers from the back and belly plumage patches of male swallow tanagers (Tersina viridis), which look greenish-blue and white, respectively. Both plumage patches have a reflectance peak around 550 nm but the reflectance spectrum is much less saturated in the belly. The barbs of both types of feathers have similar spongy matrices at their tips, rendering their reflectance spectra alike. However, the color of the belly feather barbs changes from light green at their tips to white closer to the rachis. These barbs lack pigments and their morphology changes considerably throughout. Toward the rachis, the barb is almost hollow, with a reduced area occupied by spongy matrix, and has a flattened shape. By contrast, the blue back feathers' barbs have melanin underneath the spongy matrix resulting in a much more saturated coloration. The color of these barbs is also even along the barbs' length. Our results suggest that the color differences between the white and greenish-blue plumage are mostly due to the differential deposition of melanin and a reduction of the spongy matrix near the rachis of the belly feather barbs and not a result of changes in the characteristics of the spongy matrix. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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