Uncategorized
High-altitude birds evolved thicker jackets
The study on the 250 species of Himalayan songsongbirds revealed that their feathers developed for higher altitudes. The birds that lived in higher elevations, and colder habitats had feathers that had greater fluffy down – supplying them with more dense “jackets”.The study reveals how the feathers can provide even the smallest birds with such effective protection against extreme cold. It also gives clues as to the species that are most vulnerable to climate change, scientists claim.
Traffic noise impairs songbirds
abilities vary found in shipwrecks reveals the decline of elephants blackest fish in the ocean disappears the study, published in the Journal Ecography was prompted by a tiny bird researcher Dr. Sahas Barve saw on an icy fieldwork day in the Himalayas region in 2014.
And it was this small bird, called goldcrest which weighs the same amount as the sugar equivalent of a teaspoon. It was just gliding around, and catching insects.” Dr. Barve’s fingers in numb as Dr. Barve tried to make notes. However, he recalls being “blown by the small goldcrest”.
To be able to survive the long haul, this bird must maintain its heart temperature at around 40C,” he said. So it must maintain the 50C difference in the smallest space. I was thinking”OK I have to know how feathers function.'”Fortunately, Dr. Barve’s residence institution houses among the biggest collections of birds around the globe.
In examining the feathers of more than 22,000 birds
He discovered the pattern that connected their feather structure with their habitat. Each feather is made up of an outer and a downy, hidden part. And Dr. Barve’s measurements showed that those who lived at higher elevations were more of them down that were less fluffy.
They had more fluffy jackets,” he said. Smaller birds, who are more prone to heat loss, also have larger feathers that are proportional to their body size, which reveals the secret of the goldcrest’s little bird. Dr. Carla Dove, who runs the museum’s Feather Identification Lab and contributed to the study, said that she was delighted to work with the Smithsonian collections in different methods.
Having them all in one location instead of needing to travel up to the Himalayas and observe these animals in their natural habitat clearly makes a huge impact,” she said. Dr. Barve declared: “It would take me an entire decade to travel to find the birds, and examine their feathers.We’ve used down jackets for quite a long period.
But we’re still not sure the way feathers function on birds.We do not know what new discoveries our specimens could be utilized for down the road.That’s the reason we need to maintain them and continue to improve their quality..These examples from the past could be used to help predict what’s to come in the next.”Keep up with Victoria Victoria on Twitter.
Also, Read
