Navigation Links
Beauty from the bottom up
Date:10/25/2010

Flamingos apply natural make-up to their feathers to stand out and attract mates, according to a new study by Juan Amat, from the Estacin Biolgica de Doňana in Seville, Spain, and colleagues. Their research is the first to demonstrate that birds transfer the color pigments (carotenoids) from the secretions of their uropygial gland for cosmetic reasons. The uropygial or preen gland is found in the majority of birds and is situated near the base of the tail. The study is published online in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, a Springer journal.

There is evidence that the color of feathers may change due to abrasion, photochemical change and staining, either accidental or deliberate. Some bird species modify the color of their feathers by deliberately applying substances that are either produced by the birds themselves or from external sources. Among the substances produced by birds are the secretions of the uropygial gland, which may be pigmented orange, red or yellow.

Amat and team studied seasonal variations in plumage color in relation to courtship activity of the greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus in Spain. They then looked for the pigments that may tinge the plumage both in the secretions of the uropygial gland and on the surface of feathers. They also observed whether the birds displayed a specific behavior to acquire and maintain the coloration of their feathers. Lastly, they compared the timing of cosmetic coloration with annual reproductive patterns - egg-laying specifically.

They found that the plumage of flamingos was more colorful during periods in which the birds were displaying in groups and faded during the rest of the year. This fading occurred shortly after the birds started to breed. They also found evidence that the birds transferred carotenoids from their uropygial gland to their feathers by rubbing their head on their neck, breast and back feathers. Because rubbing behavior was much more frequent
'/>"/>

Contact: Vanessa Thiel
Vanessa.Thiel@springer.com
49-622-148-78414
Springer
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Sleeping Beauty -- Molecule of the Year
2. Sleeping Beauty hooks up with herpes to fight brain disease
3. Beauty may be much more than skin deep
4. P&G Beauty & Grooming presents advancements in skin care at AAD Annual Meeting
5. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder?
6. Stevens hosts Green Building: The Bottom Line, April 8
7. LSU gets to the bottom of things -- in Antarctica
8. Move over predators: Plants can control the food chain too -- from the bottom up
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/24/2013)... in one French Quarter neighborhood of New Orleans to ... Annette Hurley, PhD, Assistant Professor of Audiology at LSU ... third-year LSUHSC doctor of audiology student, recommend that people ... Their case study is published online in the current ... "An important part of an audiologist,s practice is aiding ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... the search for medication against Alzheimer,s disease, scientists have focused ... down Amyloid beta (A-beta). After all, it is the accumulation ... of Alzheimer,s patients. Starting point for the formation of A-beta ... the first to unravel the function of APPL the ... fruit flies. , Alessia Soldano (VIB/KU Leuven): "We have ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... A conference of 500 leading water scientists from around ... major reforms, "in the short span of one or ... on Earth will be living under the handicap of ... resource for which there is no substitute. This handicap ... , The scientists bluntly pointed to chronic underlying problems ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Please do try this at home 2A new strategy required in the search for Alzheimer's drugs? 2A majority on Earth face severe self-inflicted water woes within 2 generations: Scientists 2A majority on Earth face severe self-inflicted water woes within 2 generations: Scientists 3A majority on Earth face severe self-inflicted water woes within 2 generations: Scientists 4
... ?a region in the brain linked to emotion and feelings ... the Jan. 26 issue of the journal Science. , The ... , It also raises the possibility that other ... circuits for pleasure. , The senior authors of the ...
... could help control weight, lower fat and cholesterol levels, and ... Chemistry & Industry, the magazine of the SCI. , Yellow ... this is one of the reasons why frozen food manufacturer ... a team of Korean researchers has shown that black soya ...
... with more than a decade’s worth of statistics, researchers are ... gay and bisexual men. , The overall number of syphilis ... to just 7,177 in 2003 perhaps because of a nationwide ... their rates rise significantly in this decade. , ...
Cached Biology News:Smokers quit after damage to brain region 2Syphilis rate on rise in US gay, bisexual men 2
(Date:5/23/2013)... , May 23, 2013 VG Energy, ... alliance with DAK Renewable Research to conduct field ... yield. VG Energy is a majority owned subsidiary ... VG Energy,s exclusively licensed compound LipidMax ... oil yield in plants, possessing a wide variety ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... PARK, Calif. , May 23, 2013 ... oral treatment for pain has reached an important milestone, ... trial of VBY-036 - a selective cathepsin S inhibitor. ... VBY-036 is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study designed to ... doses of VBY-036 in healthy adults. "The ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... 2013 On April 19th the ... to search for the growing antibiotic resistant bacteria that ... a year long study were released late last month ... meats, over previous years. For those suffering from bacteria ... antibiotic resistant bacteria in food, may eventually help breed ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... May 23, 2013 Northwest Biotherapeutics (NASDAQ: ... DCVax ® personalized immune therapies for solid tumor ... at this year,s American Society Of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) ... its leadership role in immune therapy.  (Logo: ... meeting is the pre-eminent conference focused on clinical treatment ...
Breaking Biology Technology:VG Energy Enters into a Strategic Alliance with DAK Renewable Research for LipidMax Field Trials 2VG Energy Enters into a Strategic Alliance with DAK Renewable Research for LipidMax Field Trials 3Virobay, Inc. initiates a Phase 1 Trial of VBY-036, a compound intended for the treatment of neuropathic pain 2Virobay, Inc. initiates a Phase 1 Trial of VBY-036, a compound intended for the treatment of neuropathic pain 3Acne Cream, Probiotic Action Shares News on How Some Food may Breed Acne Causing Bacteria 2NW Bio Exhibit at the Upcoming ASCO Meeting to Highlight its Leadership Role in Immune Therapy for Cancer 2NW Bio Exhibit at the Upcoming ASCO Meeting to Highlight its Leadership Role in Immune Therapy for Cancer 3
... Market, According to a ... New Report from Decision Resources, WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 17 ... that Merck,will obtain blockbuster antidiabetic drug sales in the type 2 ... will see rapid uptake as a second-and third-line agent in type ...
... Kyphon Inc.,(Nasdaq: KYPH ) announced today that its ... Inc. (NYSE: MDT ) at a special,meeting of ... 26, 2007, Kyphon entered into a,definitive merger agreement with ... the outstanding shares of Kyphon common stock for,$71.00 per ...
... LAWRENCE, Mass., Oct. 16 NxStage Medical,Inc. (Nasdaq: ... plans to release its financial results for the third,quarter ... of the,financial markets. NxStage will also host a ... 2007 to discuss its third quarter 2007 financial results. ...
Cached Biology Technology:Merck Will Obtain Blockbuster Antidiabetic Drug Sales in Type 2 Diabetes Market by 2011 2Merck Will Obtain Blockbuster Antidiabetic Drug Sales in Type 2 Diabetes Market by 2011 3Kyphon Stockholders Approve Merger with Medtronic 2NxStage(R) Medical to Report Third Quarter 2007 Financial Results on Friday, November 2nd 2
Mouse monoclonal [DJR3] to DcR1 (Biotin) ( Abpromise for all tested applications). entrezGeneID: 8794 SwissProtID: O14798...
... most comprehensive, cost-effective solution to your ... unprecedented quality into both our products ... detection chemistries and antibodies that have ... It also includes our competitively priced ...
... RED Chromogen System consists of ... buffer. FAST RED reacts in ... to produce red staining with ... The FAST RED tablets ...
Mouse Cell Line Slides...
Biology Products: