Nondestructive Raman spectroscopy confirms carotenoid-pigmented plumage in the Pink-headed Duck

Thomas, Daniel B.; James, Helen F.

doi:10.1642/auk-15-152.1

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Spectral peaks corresponded both in the frequencies of the C=C and C–C bands (1,523 and 1,160 cm −1 respectively) as well as in lower intensity bands in the 1,100–1,400 cm −1 fingerprint region associated with the C–C stretching and C–H bending coupled vibrations (see LaFountain et al., 2015). Our results are thus consistent with α‐doradexanthin as the primary ketocarotenoid detected in red tinkerbird feathers as opposed to those with increased effective conjugation lengths, such as canthaxanthin, for example in Apaloderma narina with peaks for C–C and C=C bands at 1,155 and 1,510 cm −1 respectively (Thomas & James, 2016), and astaxanthin (Veronelli et al., 1995).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Indeed, comparison of our Raman spectra with those of related toucans, where α-doradexanthin was the primary pigment identified in red feathers (Thomas & James, 2016), reveals remarkable concordance. Spectral peaks corresponded both in the frequencies of the C=C and C-C bands (1,523 and 1,160 cm −1 respectively) as well as in lower intensity bands in the 1,100-1,400 cm −1 fingerprint region associated with the C-C stretching and C-H bending coupled vibrations (see LaFountain et al, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

“…They suggest the conversion of a yellow dietary carotenoid such as lutein to ketocarotenoid α‐doradexanthin, both of which have been associated with yellow and red feather colour in Piciformes (Stradi et al., 1998; Thomas, et al., 2014). Indeed, comparison of our Raman spectra with those of related toucans, where α‐doradexanthin was the primary pigment identified in red feathers (Thomas & James, 2016), reveals remarkable concordance. Spectral peaks corresponded both in the frequencies of the C=C and C–C bands (1,523 and 1,160 cm −1 respectively) as well as in lower intensity bands in the 1,100–1,400 cm −1 fingerprint region associated with the C–C stretching and C–H bending coupled vibrations (see LaFountain et al., 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 52%

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CYP2J19 mediates carotenoid colour introgression across a natural avian hybrid zone

et al. 2020

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For centuries, species have been classified based on their physical appearance. Early naturalists differentiated between species based on functional traits such as jaw and limb shape, and beak size, or otherwise on traits that function in social selection, such as fur pattern and plumage coloration (Birkhead, 2008; Leroi, 2014). Such phenotypic characters, representing clear visual differences to the human eye, have been thought to aid the species themselves in recognizing their own kind and finding potential mates. It has long

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 52%

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CYP2J19 mediates carotenoid colour introgression across a natural avian hybrid zone

et al. 2020

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“…In contrast, Raman spectroscopy provides a non-destructive, fast and easy way to identify pigments in situ with almost no sample preparation. With Raman spectroscopy, pigmentary colours can be readily categorized into one of the few more common groups of pigments by comparing their Raman signature signals to expedite further biochemical analyses using HPLC and/or MS. Raman spectroscopy has identified many different types of pigments in bird feathers (Galván et al, 2013;Thomas and James, 2016;Thomas et al, 2013) but has rarely been applied to spiders. Thus, we developed a workflow that begins with Raman spectroscopy to evaluate long-standing assumptions about pigmentary colours in spiders.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spiders have rich pigmentary and structural colour palettes

Hsiung

Justyn

Blackledge

et al. 2017

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Elucidating the mechanisms of colour production in organisms is important for understanding how selection acts upon a variety of behaviours. Spiders provide many spectacular examples of colours used in courtship, predation, defence and thermoregulation, but are thought to lack many types of pigments common in other animals. Ommochromes, bilins and eumelanin have been identified in spiders, but not carotenoids or melanosomes. Here, we combined optical microscopy, refractive index matching, confocal Raman microspectroscopy and electron microscopy to investigate the basis of several types of colourful patches in spiders. We obtained four major results. First, we show that spiders use carotenoids to produce yellow, suggesting that such colours may be used for conditiondependent courtship signalling. Second, we established the Raman signature spectrum for ommochromes, facilitating the identification of ommochromes in a variety of organisms in the future. Third, we describe a potential new pigmentary-structural colour interaction that is unusual because of the use of long wavelength structural colour in combination with a slightly shorter wavelength pigment in the production of red. Finally, we present the first evidence for the presence of melanosomes in arthropods, using both scanning and transmission electron microscopy, overturning the assumption that melanosomes are a synapomorphy of vertebrates. Our research shows that spiders have a much richer colour production palette than previously thought, and this has implications for colour diversification and function in spiders and other arthropods.

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“…The pink head and neck in males gives it an appearance as no other duck. The colour on these pink feathers is formed by carotenoid-pigments, which is a near-unique trait as carotenoid-pigmented feathers among waterfowl species (Anseriformes) only has been reported from one additional duck species 1 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A genomic perspective of the pink-headed duck Rhodonessa caryophyllacea suggests a long history of low effective population size

Ericson

Blom

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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The first molecular phylogenetic hypothesis for the possibly extinct pink-headed duck Rhodonessa caryophyllacea unambiguously shows that it belongs to the pochard radiation that also includes the genera Aythya and Netta. It is the sister to all modern-day pochards and belongs to a lineage that branched off from the others more than 2.8 million years ago. Rhodonessa caryophyllacea is believed to never have been common in modern time and we show this has probably been the situation for as long as 100,000 years. Our results suggest that their effective population size varied between 15,000 and 25,000 individuals during the last 150,000 years of the Pleistocene. The reasons behind this are largely unknown as very little is known about the life-history and biology of this species. Presumably it is due to factors related to feeding or to breeding, but we may never know this for sure.

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Nondestructive Raman spectroscopy confirms carotenoid-pigmented plumage in the Pink-headed Duck

Cited by 8 publications

References 22 publications

CYP2J19 mediates carotenoid colour introgression across a natural avian hybrid zone

CYP2J19 mediates carotenoid colour introgression across a natural avian hybrid zone

Spiders have rich pigmentary and structural colour palettes

A genomic perspective of the pink-headed duck Rhodonessa caryophyllacea suggests a long history of low effective population size

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