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Feather development under environmental stress: lead exposure effects on growth patterns in Great TitsParus major
- Source :
- Bird Study. 55:108-117
- Publication Year :
- 2008
- Publisher :
- Informa UK Limited, 2008.
-
Abstract
- Capsule Regrowth rate of tail feathers is more strongly affected compared to feather length and symmetry. Aims To assess the value of avian feathers as bioindicators. Methods The origin and persistence of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in homologous pairs of regrowing feathers was studied in captive birds under different levels of environmental stress, respresented by exposure to lead (Pb). Homologous feathers of individually housed birds were plucked synchronously or with a delay of seven days. We measured growth rate, regeneration time, final size and FA of regrown feathers and related them to Pb stress. Results Asymmetry decreased as feathers reached their final length. This was not due to compensatory growth but rather a consequence of the programmed growth trajectory of single feathers. Tail feathers grown under higher Pb pollution showed increased regeneration times, decreased growth rates and shorter lengths, but no changes in development times nor in FA. For differences between both (i) original and i...
- Subjects :
- Parus
animal structures
biology
Ecology
food and beverages
Capsule
biology.organism_classification
Environmental stress
Fluctuating asymmetry
Animal science
Feather
visual_art
Lead exposure
visual_art.visual_art_medium
Compensatory growth (organism)
Growth rate
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Nature and Landscape Conservation
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 19446705 and 00063657
- Volume :
- 55
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Bird Study
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........3e84425dd986296cc5848e2a6aba77cb