Outstanding
- La Fundación Jaime González-Gordon ofrece cuatro becas para el desarrollo de Trabajos de Fin de Máster sobre Doñana
- Five contracts to carry out a doctoral thesis in the Doñana Biological Station - CSIC
- Actividades de la Estación Biológica de Doñana en la Noche Europea de los Investigadores
- ICTS-RBD prepares the 30th Migratory Passerine Bird Ringing Campaign in Doñana
- Start of selection procedure for new EBD Director
News
Juvenile pheomelanin-based plumage colouration has evolved more frequently in carnivorous species
Distinctive pheomelanin-based plumage colouration in juvenile birds has been proposed as a signal of immaturity to avoid aggression by older conspecifics, but recent findings suggest a detoxifying strategy. Pheomelanin synthesis implies the consumption of cysteine, a semi-essential amino acid that is necessary for the synthesis of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) but that may be toxic if in excess in the diet. As the nestling stage probably represents a low stress period with limited requirement for GSH protection, the synthesis of pheomelanin in developing birds may help maintain cysteine homeostasis, particularly in species with a high content of protein in the diet (i.e. carnivores). Here this hypothesis was confirmed showing that, among 53 species of Western Palearctic birds, juvenile pheomelanin based colouration has evolved more frequently in strictly carnivorous species than in species with other diets. Understanding the physiological mechanisms of colour production helps to explain the evolution of plumage diversity. informacion[at]ebd.csic.es: Rodriguez-Martinez et al (2019) Juvenile pheomelanin?based plumage colouration has evolved more frequently in carnivorous species. IBIS DOI 10.1111/ibi.12770