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Birds > Feathers > Flashcards

Feathers Flashcards

1
Q

What is the earliest avian fossil to date ?

A

Archaeopteryx.

155-150 mya. Late Jurassic

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2
Q

Archaeopteryx was capable of sustained flight

True or False ?

A

False

Would instead climb and glide between trees.

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3
Q

Why are fossils like Archaeopteryx important ?

A

Show the early separation in the Reptile and Ave taxonomic groups.

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4
Q

Give the reptilian characteristics of Archaeopteryx.

A

Toothed Beak
Winged claws
Long tail with many vertebrate

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5
Q

Give the Avian characteristics of Archaeopteryx

A

Feathers

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6
Q

What is the defining feature of the class Aves ?

A

Feathers

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7
Q

What are feathers a modification of ?

A

The outer skin, they evolved from scales.

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8
Q

What protein are feathers made from ?

A

Keratin

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9
Q

Give the key features of feathers

A

Strong but lightweight
Flexible
Softer than scales
Waterproof

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10
Q

The number of feathers is roughly consistent with the…..

A

Species of bird.

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11
Q

Give an example of the immense feather diversity of Aves.

A

Ruby throated hummingbird- 940
Whistling swan (artic bird)
25,000

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12
Q

List the 5 types of feather.

A 
Contour 
Down 
Semiplume
Bristle 
Filoplume
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13
Q

Where are the contour feathers found ?

A

On the outer surface of the bird

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14
Q

What are the key roles of the contour feathers ?

A

Defence- Vegetation & UV

Visual colouring

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15
Q

Name the contour flight feathers

A

Remiges

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16
Q

Name the contour tail feathers ?

A

Retrices

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17
Q

Which feathers give a birds characteristic smooth round shape ?

A

Contour feathers.

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18
Q

Which 2 ways can birds achieve visual colourings ?

A

Pigments or structures on the contour feathers

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19
Q

What are melanin’s ?

A

Black, grey, tan colourations of the contour feathers

Made by birds

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20
Q

What are carotenoids ?

A

Red, orange, yellow colourations of the contour feathers

In diet of birds

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21
Q

Give an indicator of poor diet in flamingos.

A

Pale colouration

Are not consuming correct carotenoids in diet.

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22
Q

How is carotenoid consumption linked to mating ?

A

Bright patches of contour feathers due to carotenoids
Means male is a reliable forager.
Will have ^ diff. repro. success

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23
Q

What are the 2 types of pigmentation in birds ?

A

Carotenoids

Melanin’s

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24
Q

How does reflectance create colour ?

A

Diff sized melanin particles reflect light in diff ways

= different colours

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25
Q

Give an example of interference

A

Iridescence in hummingbirds.

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26
Q

How does interference create colour ?

A

Hollow structures In the feathers cause light bouncing in and out to interfere with itself

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27
Q

Give the 2 structural adaptions of contour feathers which create light

A

Interference

Reflectance

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28
Q

Birds eyesight is identical to humans

True or False ?

A

False,

Birds have an extra cone in their eyes enabling them to see UV

29
Q

How is UV reflectance important to birds ?

A

They are able to see in UV, therefore will have feather adaptions to reflect UV.

30
Q

List the features of the Contour feather structure

A

Rachis, Barbs, Barbules and hooks

31
Q

What is the Rachis ?

A

The hollow central shaft of the contour feather backbone.

32
Q

What are the barbs ?

A

The extensions of the contour feather either side of the rachis.
Pigments are found here.

33
Q

What are barbules and hooks ?

A

Enable fastening of contour feathers to each other

Providing stiffness and flexibility.

34
Q

Where are Down Feathers found ?

A

Close to the skin of the bird

35
Q

What is the function of the down feathers ?

A

Give insulation

36
Q

What was the primary function of feathers when they evolved ?

A

Insulation purposes

Secondarily adapted to flight

37
Q

Which feather is bigger Contour or Down feathers ?

A

Contour feathers

38
Q

Down feathers have barbules and hooks

True or False ?

A

False, they do not interlock together.

39
Q

Describe the shape of Semiplume feathers.

A

Intermediate shape between contour and down feathers.

40
Q

What is the function of the Semiplume feathers ?

A

Insulation

Supporting feathers- keep form

41
Q

Describe the structure of bristle feathers.

A

They are stiff with few barbs

42
Q

Where are bristle feathers found ?

A

Around the mouth and eyes of some birds

43
Q

What is the function of bristle feathers ?

A

Act as protective filters- grit, sand

Funnel insectivores towards mouth.

44
Q

Describe the structure of Filoplume feathers.

A

They are hair like with few barbs at the tip.
No muscles at the base
Many vibration and pressure receptors.

45
Q

What is the function of the Filoplume feathers ?

A

To alter the shape of the contour feathers in response to receptor signals
Help keep feather form

46
Q

Where are the Filoplume feathers found ?

A

Usually covered by other feathers.

47
Q

List the 4 functions of feathers.

A

Attraction
Crypsis
Insulation
Flight

48
Q

Define Crypsis

A

The ability of an animal to avoid observation or detection by other animals

49
Q

What is the purpose of crypsis ?

A

Enable prey to escape predators
OR
Enable predators to consume prey

50
Q

What is Crypsis usually coupled with ?

A

Behavioural traits

51
Q

Give an example of Crypsis and behavioural traits working together in a species.

A

Tawny frogmouth owls
Crypsis- colouration to blend into branch
Behaviour- Extend neck & beak to look like branch

52
Q

Which out of Males or females have a brighter plumage ?

A

Males. Required to take risk as competition for females.

53
Q

Give the plumage conflict faced by male birds.

A

Sexual selection and Camouflage

54
Q

Describe how the Mallard (male duck) balances the plumage conflict.

A

Moulting
Will moult into Crypsis brown feathers after breeding season
Minimise predation risk.

55
Q

Why are feathers important for insulation ?

A

Birds are ectothermic

Need to maintain a body temp of 40C.

56
Q

Give the adaptions of birds to seasonal habitats.

A

Denser plumage in winter

Fluff out feathers

57
Q

What is preening ?

A

The cleaning of a birds feathers.

58
Q

What is the function of preening ?

A 
Restore feather structure 
(interlock contour feathers)
Clean plumage 
Waterproofing
Social benefit
59
Q

How do birds waterproof their feathers ?

A

Apply oils across their feathers from the uropygial gland.

60
Q

What is Allopreening ?

A

Group preening

Reduced stress and creates bonds

61
Q

Give the 4 other methods of cleaning that birds use.

A

Bathing
Dust Bath
Sunning
Anting

62
Q

What are the disadvantages of bathing ?

A

When feathers are waterlogged, it is harder to escape predators.

63
Q

Why do birds sun themselves ?

A

Softens old oil & Stimulates ectoparasites to move
Easier to remove
Generate vitamin D

64
Q

What is Anting ?

A

Where birds place themselves on an ant hill

The ants remove ectoparasites

65
Q

What is moulting ?

A

The process of feather replacement. Occurs a minimum of once a year.

66
Q

Why does moulting not occur when birds are migrating or breeding ?

A

Requires large amounts of energy

67
Q

How is the disruption of moulting minimised ?

A

Completed in a staggered fashion.
Predictable sequence
2 minimise impact on wing & tail feathers.

68
Q

Why is moulting important for males ?

A

Enables replacement of display plumage after breeding season.
Decrease predation threat.

69
Q

What are wings ?

A

Modified forelimbs

Birds (6 decks)

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