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Tabh JKR, Persson E, Correia M, Cuív CÓ, Thoral E, Nord A. Limited evidence that body size shrinking and shape-shifting alleviate thermoregulatory pressures in a warmer world. Commun Biol 2025; 8:707. [PMID: 40335683 PMCID: PMC12059039 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-025-08131-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2025] [Indexed: 05/09/2025] Open
Abstract
Amassing evidence indicates that vertebrates across the globe are shrinking and changing shape concurrent with rising temperatures. Ecogeographical theories assert that these changes should provide thermoregulatory benefits by easing heat dissipation, however, thermophysical models underpinning such theories are highly simplified and lack empirical validation. Using data from three temperature-manipulation experiments, we quantified the contributions of body size and appendage lengths toward thermoregulatory performance in Japanese quail, while simultaneously querying neutral plasticity as an alternative driver of avian shape-shifts. In the cold, body mass and leg length (here, tarsus length) influenced energy costs of warming, but only among juveniles. In the warmth, smaller body sizes, longer legs and longer bills independently reduced energy and water costs of cooling across ages, but whole-body phenotypes necessary to provide even moderate thermoregulatory benefits were rare (2.5%) and required large departures from allometry. Last, rearing in the warmth reduced body sizes and increased appendage lengths comparable to recent changes observed in nature, but emergent morphologies provided no clear thermoregulatory benefit. Our findings question whether shrinking and shape-shifting are indeed easing thermoregulation in birds or reflect selection for such. Neutral plasticity, or relaxed selection against small body size in juveniles, may better explain recent avian shape-shifting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elin Persson
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Maria Correia
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Ciarán Ó Cuív
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Elisa Thoral
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Département de Biologie, LIttoral ENvironnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
| | - Andreas Nord
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Swedish Centre for Impacts of Climate Extremes (climes), Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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2
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Crandell KE, Powers DR, Tobalske BW. The role of plumage and heat dissipation areas in thermoregulation in doves. J Exp Biol 2025; 228:JEB248200. [PMID: 39976466 PMCID: PMC12000677 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.248200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 12/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2025]
Abstract
Avian plumage contributes to the regulation of body temperature. In most climates, avian heat dissipation occurs passively via radiation, conduction and convection owing to the thermal gradient between the environment and the animal. The muscles that power flight also produce significant heat that must be dissipated. How plumage and areas with sparse or no feathers (termed 'heat dissipation areas', HDAs) interact with these mechanisms is unclear. We examined the role of plumage as an insulator, or dissipator, of heat in ringed turtle-doves (Streptopelia risoria) under four thermal regimes: resting, post-flight, heating via radiative lamps, and cooling via wind. We measured internal body temperature and skin-level temperature (under the plumage) using thermal PIT tags alongside surface temperature using a thermal imaging camera. Flight increased internal temperature by 0.6°C compared with resting, but the other treatments did not have significant effects. The skin-level temperature during wind exposure was 1.6°C cooler than in other conditions. HDAs changed in surface area above 35°C but not maximum temperature among treatments. Post-flight and during radiant heating, birds increased HDA surface area - most notably at the wing. During simulated wind produced using a fan, the HDAs of the beak and wing were eliminated, and areas of other HDAs were reduced. Our results demonstrate that birds modulate active HDAs to maintain consistent core body temperatures under induced temperature challenges. They also promote caution for extrapolating from thermal images of surface temperature to infer core temperature in birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen E. Crandell
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Donald R. Powers
- Biology Department, George Fox University, Newberg, OR 97132, USA
| | - Bret W. Tobalske
- Field Research Station at Fort Missoula, Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
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3
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Benham PM, Beckman EJ. Integrating Spatial Analyses of Genomic and Physiological Data to Understand Avian Responses to Environmental Change. Integr Comp Biol 2024; 64:1792-1810. [PMID: 38830811 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icae059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Projected rates of climate change over the next century are expected to force species to shift ranges, adapt, or acclimate to evade extinction. Predicting which of these scenarios may be most likely is a central challenge for conserving biodiversity in the immediate future. Modeling frameworks that take advantage of intraspecific variation across environmental gradients can be particularly important for meeting this challenge. While these space-for-time approaches are essential for climatic and genomic modeling approaches, mechanistic models that incorporate ecological physiology data into assessing species vulnerabilities rarely include intraspecific variation. A major reason for this gap is the general lack of empirical data on intraspecific geographic variation in avian physiological traits. In this review, we outline the evidence for and processes shaping geographic variation in avian traits. We use the example of evaporative water loss to underscore the lack of research on geographic variation, even in traits central to cooling costs in birds. We next demonstrate how shifting the focus of avian physiological research to intraspecific variation can facilitate greater integration with emerging genomics approaches. Finally, we outline important next steps for an integrative approach to advance understanding of avian physiological adaptation within species. Addressing the knowledge gaps outlined in this review will contribute to an improved predictive framework that synthesizes environmental, morphological, physiological, and genomic data to assess species specific vulnerabilities to a warming planet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phred M Benham
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Elizabeth J Beckman
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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4
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Urban CA, Legendre LJ, Clarke JA. Description of natal down of the ostrich (Struthio camelus) and comparison with common quail (Coturnix coturnix): Developmental and evolutionary implications. J Anat 2023; 243:1007-1023. [PMID: 37515428 PMCID: PMC10641043 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Natal down is a feather stage that differs in both form and function from the definitive feathers of adult birds. It has a simpler structure that has been speculated to be similar to the body coverings of non-avian dinosaurs. However, inference of the evolution of natal down has been limited by our understanding of its structural variation in extant birds. Most descriptive work has focused on neognathous birds, limiting our knowledge of the full diversity of feathers in extant taxa. Here, we describe the natal down of a post-hatch ostrich (Struthio camelus) and compare it to that of a post-hatch quail (Coturnix coturnix). We confirm the presence of featherless spaces (apteria) in S. camelus and the lack of barbules on the tips of natal down in both species. We also find differences between dorsal and ventral natal down structures, such as barbule density in S. camelus and the extent of the bare portion of the barb in both species. Surprisingly, we do not find that the neoptiles of either species follow the ideal morphologies for increasing insulation. Finally, we hypothesize that the different barb types present in S. camelus natal down result from a large addition of new barb ridges during development, which is not known except in feathers with a rachis. These results have implications for our understanding of how structure informs function and development in understudied feather types, such as those shared by non-avian dinosaurs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen A Urban
- Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Lucas J Legendre
- Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Julia A Clarke
- Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
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5
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Hunt ESE, Felice RN, Tobias JA, Goswami A. Ecological and life-history drivers of avian skull evolution. Evolution 2023; 77:1720-1729. [PMID: 37105944 DOI: 10.1093/evolut/qpad079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
One of the most famous examples of adaptive radiation is that of the Galápagos finches, where skull morphology, particularly the beak, varies with feeding ecology. Yet increasingly studies are questioning the strength of this correlation between feeding ecology and morphology in relation to the entire neornithine radiation, suggesting that other factors also significantly affect skull evolution. Here, we broaden this debate to assess the influence of a range of ecological and life-history factors, specifically habitat density, migration, and developmental mode, in shaping avian skull evolution. Using 3D geometric morphometric data to robustly quantify skull shape for 354 extant species spanning avian diversity, we fitted flexible phylogenetic regressions and estimated evolutionary rates for each of these factors across the full data set. The results support a highly significant relationship between skull shape and both habitat density and migration, but not developmental mode. We further found heterogenous rates of evolution between different character states within habitat density, migration, and developmental mode, with rapid skull evolution in species that occupy dense habitats, are migratory, or are precocial. These patterns demonstrate that diverse factors affect the tempo and mode of avian phenotypic evolution and that skull evolution in birds is not simply a reflection of feeding ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise S E Hunt
- Department of Life Sciences and Grantham Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ryan N Felice
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Integrative Anatomy, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph A Tobias
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Ascot, United Kingdom
| | - Anjali Goswami
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, and Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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6
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An S, Shi B, Jiang M, Fu B, Song C, Tao P, Shang W, Deng T. Biological and Bioinspired Thermal Energy Regulation and Utilization. Chem Rev 2023. [PMID: 37162476 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The regulation and utilization of thermal energy is increasingly important in modern society due to the growing demand for heating and cooling in applications ranging from buildings, to cooling high power electronics, and from personal thermal management to the pursuit of renewable thermal energy technologies. Over billions of years of natural selection, biological organisms have evolved unique mechanisms and delicate structures for efficient and intelligent regulation and utilization of thermal energy. These structures also provide inspiration for developing advanced thermal engineering materials and systems with extraordinary performance. In this review, we summarize research progress in biological and bioinspired thermal energy materials and technologies, including thermal regulation through insulation, radiative cooling, evaporative cooling and camouflage, and conversion and utilization of thermal energy from solar thermal radiation and biological bodies for vapor/electricity generation, temperature/infrared sensing, and communication. Emphasis is placed on introducing bioinspired principles, identifying key bioinspired structures, revealing structure-property-function relationships, and discussing promising and implementable bioinspired strategies. We also present perspectives on current challenges and outlook for future research directions. We anticipate that this review will stimulate further in-depth research in biological and bioinspired thermal energy materials and technologies, and help accelerate the growth of this emerging field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun An
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Boning Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Modi Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Benwei Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Chengyi Song
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Peng Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Wen Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Tao Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hydrogen Science, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
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7
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Terrill RS, Shultz AJ. Feather function and the evolution of birds. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:540-566. [PMID: 36424880 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The ability of feathers to perform many functions either simultaneously or at different times throughout the year or life of a bird is integral to the evolutionary history of birds. Many studies focus on single functions of feathers, but any given feather performs many functions over its lifetime. These functions necessarily interact with each other throughout the evolution and development of birds, so our knowledge of avian evolution is incomplete without understanding the multifunctionality of feathers, and how different functions may act synergistically or antagonistically during natural selection. Here, we review how feather functions interact with avian evolution, with a focus on recent technological and discovery-based advances. By synthesising research into feather functions over hierarchical scales (pattern, arrangement, macrostructure, microstructure, nanostructure, molecules), we aim to provide a broad context for how the adaptability and multifunctionality of feathers have allowed birds to diversify into an astounding array of environments and life-history strategies. We suggest that future research into avian evolution involving feather function should consider multiple aspects of a feather, including multiple functions, seasonal wear and renewal, and ecological or mechanical interactions. With this more holistic view, processes such as the evolution of avian coloration and flight can be understood in a broader and more nuanced context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan S Terrill
- Moore Laboratory of Zoology, Occidental College, 1600 Campus rd., Los Angeles, CA, 90042, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Stanislaus, Turlock, CA, 95382, USA
| | - Allison J Shultz
- Ornithology Department, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90007, USA
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8
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Pan SK, Wang DP, Zhang XH, Zhan XJ, Zhang XH, Zhan XJ, 中国科学院中英生物复杂性研究联合实验室, 北京 100101, 中国, 中国科学院大学, 北京 100149, 中国, 中国科学院动物进化和遗传卓越中心, 云南 昆明 650223, 中国, Cardiff University - Institute of Zoology Joint Laboratory for Biocomplexity Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China, Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China. Smarter birds, smaller eggs, and less parental care time. Zool Res 2023; 44:98-100. [PMID: 36419376 PMCID: PMC9841185 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2022.283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Kai Pan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China,Cardiff University - Institute of Zoology Joint Laboratory for Biocomplexity Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Dai-Ping Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiao-Hang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiang-Jiang Zhan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China,Cardiff University - Institute of Zoology Joint Laboratory for Biocomplexity Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China,E-mail:
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9
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Mota-Rojas D, Pereira AMF, Martínez-Burnes J, Domínguez-Oliva A, Mora-Medina P, Casas-Alvarado A, Rios-Sandoval J, de Mira Geraldo A, Wang D. Thermal Imaging to Assess the Health Status in Wildlife Animals under Human Care: Limitations and Perspectives. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:3558. [PMID: 36552478 PMCID: PMC9774956 DOI: 10.3390/ani12243558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Promoting animal welfare in wildlife species under human care requires the implementation of techniques for continuously monitoring their health. Infrared thermography is a non-invasive tool that uses the radiation emitted from the skin of animals to assess their thermal state. However, there are no established thermal windows in wildlife species because factors such as the thickness or color of the skin, type/length of coat, or presence of fur can influence the readings taken to obtain objective, sensitive values. Therefore, this review aims to discuss the usefulness and application of the ocular, nasal, thoracic, abdominal, and podal anatomical regions as thermal windows for evaluating zoo animals' thermal response and health status. A literature search of the Web of Science, Science Direct, and PubMed databases was performed to identify relevant studies that used IRT with wild species as a complementary diagnostic tool. Implementing IRT in zoos or conservation centers could also serve as a method for determining and monitoring optimal habitat designs to meet the needs of specific animals. In addition, we analyze the limitations of using IRT with various wildlife species under human care to understand better the differences among animals and the factors that must be considered when using infrared thermography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Mota-Rojas
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, Department of Agricultural and Animal Production, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Alfredo M. F. Pereira
- Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development (MED), Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, Universidade de Évora, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
| | - Julio Martínez-Burnes
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Victoria City 87000, Mexico
| | - Adriana Domínguez-Oliva
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, Department of Agricultural and Animal Production, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Patricia Mora-Medina
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuautitlan Izcalli 54714, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Casas-Alvarado
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, Department of Agricultural and Animal Production, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Jennifer Rios-Sandoval
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, Department of Agricultural and Animal Production, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Ana de Mira Geraldo
- Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development (MED), Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, Universidade de Évora, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
| | - Dehua Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
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10
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Osváth G, Papp E, Benkő Z, Kovács Z. The ornithological collection of the Zoological Museum of Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania - Part 1: the catalogue of bird skin specimens. Zookeys 2022; 1102:83-106. [PMID: 36761151 PMCID: PMC9848921 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1102.79102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper reviews the bird skin collection housed in the Zoological Museum of Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The collection includes 925 specimens, belonging to 193 species from 53 families and 20 orders, collected between 1859 and 2021. Due to its historical background and the presence of rare species, it is considered to be one of most important ornithological collections in Eastern Europe. Such a collection can serve as a basis for valuable ornithological studies. Furthermore, a map representation with new distribution data for bird species is provided, which represents a source of information for the status of the avifauna of the Carpathian basin in the 19th and 20th centuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergely Osváth
- Museum of Zoology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania,Evolutionary Ecology Group, Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Edgár Papp
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania,Milvus Group Bird and Nature Protection Association, Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Zoltán Benkő
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania,Romanian Ornithological Society/BirdLife Romania, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Zsolt Kovács
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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11
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Barve S, Cadena CD. Variation in insulative feather structure in songbirds replacing each other along a tropical elevation gradient. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8698. [PMID: 35342618 PMCID: PMC8928881 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
High-elevation organisms are expected to evolve physiological adaptations to cope with harsh environmental conditions. Yet, evidence for such adaptive differences, especially compared to closely related lowland taxa occurring along the same elevational gradient, is rare. Revisiting an anecdotal natural history observation by O. Bangs from 1899 and based on new measurements of museum specimens, we confirmed that the high-elevation hermit wood wren (Henicorhina anachoreta) from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, has longer, more insulative feathers on the chest and back, than its lower-elevation counterpart the grey-breasted wood wren (H. leucophrys). However, we did not find evidence for the same specializations in subspecies of H. leucophrys that live at high elevations on other elevational gradients in the Colombian Andes, although similar adaptive solutions have arisen in separate mountain systems like the Himalayas. Adaptations in plumage may be associated with the recurrence of elevational species replacements throughout the tropics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahas Barve
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural HistoryWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
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12
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Chen B, Xi S, El-Senousey HAK, Zhou M, Cheng D, Chen K, Wan L, Xiong T, Liao M, Liu S, Mao H. Deletion in KRT75L4 linked to frizzle feather in Xiushui Yellow Chickens. Anim Genet 2021; 53:101-107. [PMID: 34904261 DOI: 10.1111/age.13158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Bird feathers are the product of interactions between natural and artificial selection. Feather-related traits are important for chicken selection and breeding. Frizzle feather is characterized by the abnormally development of feathers in chickens. In the current study, frizzle feather characteristics were observed in a local breed called Xiushui Yellow Chicken in Jiangxi, China. To determine the molecular mechanisms that underlie frizzle feather in Xiushui Yellow Chicken, four populations of three breeds (Xiushui Yellow Chicken with frizzle feathers, Xiushui Yellow Chicken with normal feathers, Guangfeng White-Ear Yellow Chicken, and Ningdu Yellow Chicken) were selected for whole-genome resequencing. Using a comparative genome strategy and genome-wide association study, a missense mutation (g.5281494A>G) and a 15-bp deletion (g.5285437-5285451delGATGCCGGCAGGACG) in KRT75L4 were identified as candidate mutations associated with frizzle feather in Xiushui Yellow Chicken. Based on genotyping performed in a large Xiushui Yellow Chicken population, the g.5285437-5285451delGATGCCGGCAGGACG mutation in KRT75L4 was confirmed as the putative causative mutation of frizzle feather. These results deepen the understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for frizzle feather, as well as facilitating the molecular detection and selection of the feather phenotype in Xiushui Yellow Chickens.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - S Xi
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China.,Jiangxi Biotech Vocational College, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330200, China
| | - H A K El-Senousey
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, 12613, Egypt
| | - M Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - D Cheng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - K Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - L Wan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - T Xiong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - M Liao
- School of Foreign Languages, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - S Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - H Mao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
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Efficacy and Function of Feathers, Hair, and Glabrous Skin in the Thermoregulation Strategies of Domestic Animals. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11123472. [PMID: 34944249 PMCID: PMC8697956 DOI: 10.3390/ani11123472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Animals adopt several strategies to regulate their body temperature by promoting heat loss or gain in hot and cold environments, respectively. This mechanism of heat loss or production is performed in thermal windows. A thermal window is a structure where many blood capillaries facilitate thermal exchange in this region. The presence of feathers, hair, or glabrous (hairless) skin and their structural characteristics greatly influence each species’ capacity to maintain thermal comfort. This factor needs to be considered when implementing new monitoring or measuring techniques such as infrared thermography since interpretations may vary due to the presence or absence of these structures. It is essential to recognize the effects of glabrous skin, hair, and feathers on thermoregulation to identify species-specific thermal windows that allow accurate evaluations of the thermal state of domestic animals. Abstract The objective of this review is to describe and analyze the effect of feathers, hair, and glabrous (hairless) skin on the thermoregulation of domestic and endotherm animals, especially concerning the uses and scope of infrared thermography (IRT), scientific findings on heat and cold stress, and differences among species of domestic animals. Clinical medicine considers thermoregulation a mechanism that allows animals to adapt to varying thermal environmental conditions, a process in which the presence of feathers, hair, or glabrous skin influences heat loss or heat retention, respectively, under hot and cold environmental conditions. Evaluating body temperature provides vital information on an individual’s physiological state and health status since variations in euthermia maintenance in vertebrates reflect a significant cellular metabolism deviation that needs to be assessed and quantified. IRT is a non-invasive tool for evaluating thermal responses under thermal stress conditions in animals, where the presence or absence of feathers, hair, and glabrous skin can affect readings and the differences detected. Therefore, anatomical regions, the characteristics of feathers, hair, glabrous skin such as structure, length, color, and extension, and strategies for dissipating or retaining heat together constitute a broad area of opportunity for future research into the phenomena of dermal thermoregulation in domestic species.
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