Bacterial Degradation of Black and White Feathers

Goldstein, Gérald; Burtt, Edward H.

doi:10.2307/4090304

Cited by 67 publications

(115 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Third, microbes preferentially colonized and completely degraded those feather regions most easily broken down (e.g. unpigmented)3738; thus were no longer present in these regions during fossilization, but continued to act on the more resistant, melanin-containing regions. (2.)…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Melanosomes or Microbes: Testing an Alternative Hypothesis for the Origin of Microbodies in Fossil Feathers

Moyer

Zheng

Johnson

et al. 2014

Sci Rep

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Microbodies associated with fossil feathers, originally attributed to microbial biofilm, have been reinterpreted as melanosomes: pigment-containing, eukaryotic organelles. This interpretation generated hypotheses regarding coloration in non-avian and avian dinosaurs. Because melanosomes and microbes overlap in size, distribution and morphology, we re-evaluate both hypotheses. We compare melanosomes within feathers of extant chickens with patterns induced by microbial overgrowth on the same feathers, using scanning (SEM), field emission (FESEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy. Melanosomes are always internal, embedded in a morphologically distinct keratinous matrix. Conversely, microbes grow across the surface of feathers in continuous layers, more consistent with published images from fossil feathers. We compare our results to both published literature and new data from a fossil feather ascribed to Gansus yumenensis (ANSP 23403). ‘Mouldic impressions’ were observed in association with both the feather and sediment grains, supporting a microbial origin. We propose criteria for distinguishing between these two microbodies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Melanosomes or Microbes: Testing an Alternative Hypothesis for the Origin of Microbodies in Fossil Feathers

Moyer

Zheng

Johnson

et al. 2014

Sci Rep

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“…In addition, some images of purported melanosomes clearly display the alveolar structure that is characteristic of microbial mats (Figure 1b,c [8]) [16], [17]. The fact that melanosomes are only found within darker areas of fossilized feathers is probably not coincidental, though it is possible that this pattern could be replicated by bacteria, as there are still conflicting reports about whether feather degrading bacteria preferentially feed on melanin or not [18]–[20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphological and Geochemical Evidence of Eumelanin Preservation in the Feathers of the Early Cretaceous Bird, Gansus yumenensis

Barden

Wogelius

et al. 2011

PLoS ONE

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Recent studies have shown evidence for the preservation of colour in fossilized soft tissues by imaging melanosomes, melanin pigment containing organelles. This study combines geochemical analyses with morphological observations to investigate the preservation of melanosomes and melanin within feathers of the Early Cretaceous bird, Gansus yumenensis. Scanning electron microscopy reveals structures concordant with those previously identified as eumelanosomes within visually dark areas of the feathers but not in lighter areas or sedimentary matrices. Fourier transform infrared analyses show different spectra for the feathers and their matrices; melanic functional groups appear in the feather including carboxylic acid and ketone groups that are not seen in the matrix. When mapped, the carboxylic acid group absorption faithfully replicates the visually dark areas of the feathers. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy of one specimen demonstrates the presence of organic signals but proved too insensitive to resolve melanin. Pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry shows a similar distribution of aliphatic material within both feathers that are different from those of their respective matrices. In combination, these techniques strongly suggest that not only do the feathers contain endogenous organic material, but that both geochemical and morphological evidence supports the preservation of original eumelanic pigment residue.

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“…Feather-degrading ( keratinolytic) bacteria, predominantly Bacillus licheniformes , were initially reported in the plumage of wild birds by Burtt and Ichida ( 1999 ). Th ey have been shown to be important in the evolution of feather colour Goldstein et al, 2004 ) and are known to be inhibited by preen fat (Reneerkens et al, 2008 ;Shawkey et al, 2003). Likewise, our preliminary investigations indicated that pigeon fat quill secretion might be able to inhibit growth of B. licheniformes to a similar extent as pigeon preen gland secretion (both secretions collected from the same birds and tested in a disc diff usion test as described by Shawkey et al ( 2003 ), although the magnitude of bacterial growth inhibition detected by us was generally much smaller than that reported by Shawkey et al ( 2003 )).…”

Section: Optical Eff Ects Of Fat Quill Secretionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fat quill secretion in pigeons: could it function as a cosmetic?

Klonczinski

Delhey

2010

Animal Biol

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In order to maintain functionality of the plumage, birds apply a variety of fatty substances to the feathers, usually derived from the preen gland. Such secretions could also have cosmetic functions, altering plumage refl ectance, and there is indeed some evidence for such cosmetic functions of preen fats. Some birds, noticeably pigeons, use fats derived from modifi ed feathers, so called fat quills, in a presumably similar fashion, but almost nothing is known about their putative functions. Here we present a fi rst test of the possibility that fat quill secretion could function as a cosmetic. As models we used domestic pigeon races that produce fat quills, we fi rst confi rm their extensive use in plumage maintenance behaviour. We then assessed the eff ect of experimental addition and removal fat quill secretion on refl ectance of white feathers using refl ectance spectrometry and physiological models of avian colour vision. Addition of secretion to cleaned white feathers resulted in a signifi cant, discriminable change in the feather refl ectance spectrum, which was strikingly similar to the absorbance spectrum of passerine preen gland secretion. However, like previous studies on preen gland secretion, removal of fats from intact feathers did not signifi cantly alter feather refl ectance, indicating that fat quill secretion when present in quantities as applied by the birds does not noticeably aff ect plumage refl ectance. Th erefore we conclude that the potential for the fat quill secretion to modify plumage colour appears limited at best, and other functions, such as antibiotic defense against feather-degrading bacteria, should be considered. © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2010.

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Bacterial Degradation of Black and White Feathers

Cited by 67 publications

References 9 publications

Melanosomes or Microbes: Testing an Alternative Hypothesis for the Origin of Microbodies in Fossil Feathers

Melanosomes or Microbes: Testing an Alternative Hypothesis for the Origin of Microbodies in Fossil Feathers

Morphological and Geochemical Evidence of Eumelanin Preservation in the Feathers of the Early Cretaceous Bird, Gansus yumenensis

Fat quill secretion in pigeons: could it function as a cosmetic?

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