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Vertebrate Biology > Feathers > Flashcards

Feathers Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 4 main types of feathers?

A

Down, flight, contour and semi-plumes

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2
Q

What are down feathers also known as?

A

Neossoptiles

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3
Q

What are other feather types known as?

A

Teleoptiles (true feathers)

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4
Q

What are the components of feathers?

A

Keratin, melanin and carotenoid pigments

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5
Q

How is the colour white generated?

A

By the reflection of light that strikes the surface from turbid porous layers over melanin

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6
Q

How are iridescent colours generated?

A

By interference of light

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7
Q

Are feathers dead structures?

A

They are when fully grown but during growth they’re well endowed with blood vessels

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8
Q

Where are contour feathers found on a bird?

A

All over the body

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9
Q

What is the function of down feathers?

A

They’re soft and fluffy to trap air and create a layer of insulation next to the birds body

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10
Q

What is the structure of a bristle feather and where are they found on a bird?

A

It’s a stiff shaft with barbs only on the base or not at all

They occur most commonly around the base of the bill, eyes and eye lashes

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11
Q

What is the structure of a filoplume feather?

A

They’re hair-like feathers with a very fine shaft and a few barbs at the end

Typically covered by other feathers

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12
Q

What is the function of filoplume feathers?

A

May function as pressure and vibration receptors

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13
Q

What do semiplume feathers do?

A

Fill in between contour and down feathers

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14
Q

What defines a bird?

A

The combination of flight feathers and the ability to fly

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15
Q

How many primary flight feathers do most birds have?

A

10

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16
Q

What determines the secondary feathers?

A

The ones attached to the ulna

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17
Q

What was found when looking at a velociraptor bone?

A

They had similar lumps along the ulner called quill knobs

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18
Q

What attaches to quill knobs?

A

The secondary feathers

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19
Q

What are pterylae?

A

Discrete traces of feathers growing down the body and wings- these can be seen on a chick

Where the contour and flight feathers develop

20
Q

What is apteryia?

A

The spaces in between pyerylae- they’re covered with down and semi plume feathers

21
Q

What is the only gland a bird has and what’s its function?

A

Uropygial/preen gland

Produces a waxes, fatty acids and water to coat the feathers and keep them in good condition

22
Q

What structures make up a feather?

A

Calamus/quill, rachis (shaft), barbs, barbules, hooks and ridges and vanes

23
Q

What is the layout of the barbs and barbules on the feather?

A

The barbules on one of the barbs hooks onto the barbules on the barb next to it

24
Q

What are the 2 main hypotheses for feather evolution?

A
  1. Evolves from filaments, to branching structures like downy feathers then into vaned structures
  2. Evolved from a strap/scaly type skin, then a vaned structure and then into a downy structure
25
Q

What are the reasons for developing feathers?

A 
Flight
Insulation- perhaps most likely 
Display 
Prey capture- less likely 
Waterproofing- perhaps 
Temperature regulation
26
Q

What animal has critical evidence for the origin and evolution of feathers?

(Its extinct)

A

Protopteryx fengninengis

Extinct group of birds dominant in the Mesozoic era

27
Q

What is the evolutionary model for the early stages of feathers?

A
  1. Elongation if scales
  2. Appearance of central shaft
  3. Differentiation of vanes into barbs
  4. Appearance of barbules and barbicels
28
Q

What additional flight surfaces are there?

A

Tail
Feet
Streamlined back

29
Q

What is the definition of moulting?

A

Periodic shedding of the epidermal structures called feathers

30
Q

Why moult?

A

Feathers wear out

Feathers that are worn are

inefficient in flight and insulation

Inefficient for waterproofing

They will appear dull, making them poor at attracting a mate

31
Q

What can cause wear in feathers?

A

Abrasion

UV damage

Bacterial activity

Mallophaga (feather lice)

General wear and tear

32
Q

What increases the structural strength of feathers?

A

Increased melanin

33
Q

How can feather wear be used to a birds advantage?

A

Instead of moulting they change the colour of their feathers by wearing them down

E.g chaffinch and reed bunting

34
Q

What are the two moult types?

A
  1. Partial: body only

2. Full: body and flight feathers

35
Q

What type of moult is the juvenile moult?

A

Partial moult- won’t moult it’s flight feathers

36
Q

What is a typical moult cycle for a Northern temperate resident species?

A

Juvenile undergoes partial moult

After breeding it undergoes a full moult

It then repeats the same cycle the following year

37
Q

In general how many full moults will a bird do in a year?

A

One

38
Q

Where does the flight feathers moult usually start?

A

The inner most primary, and the primary feathers move outwards

39
Q

When do the secondary feathers start moulting?

A

After the primary feathers are partly complete

40
Q

In Europe/Asia how many birds are involved in autumn migration every year?

A

5 million

41
Q

What are true migrants?

A

Those that move long distances and retain historical patterns of dispersal

42
Q

What is the cost of migration?

A

Travel can cause increased mortality risks and it’s imperative they get back to breed on time

43
Q

What do birds use for energy during migration?

A

Sub-cutaneous and intra-abdominal fat

44
Q

What additional source of fuel can be used during migration?

A

Protein

45
Q

Why is fat the main source of energy?

A

It has twice the energy and water per gram metabolised than protein or carbohydrate

46
Q

How is migratory behaviour stimulated?

A

By changes in photoperiod, which results in hormonal changes, particularly an increase in thyroid hormone

Vertebrate Biology (13 decks)

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