10.5061/DRYAD.40R6P
Osváth, Gergely
University of Debrecen
Daubner, Timea
Babeș-Bolyai University
Dyke, Gareth
University of Debrecen
Fuisz, Tibor I.
Hungarian Natural History Museum
Nord, Andreas
Lund University
Pénzes, Janka
Babeș-Bolyai University
Vargancsik, Dorottya
Babeș-Bolyai University
Vagasi, Csongor I.
University of Debrecen
Vincze, Orsolya
University of Debrecen
Pap, Péter L.
University of Debrecen
Data from: How feathered are birds? environment predicts both the mass and
density of body feathers
Dryad
dataset
2017
feather density
feather mass
thermo-insulation
waterproofing
2017-11-22T17:28:54Z
2017-11-22T17:28:54Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.13019
833024 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
1.Studies modelling heat transfer of bird plumage design suggest that
insulative properties can be attributed to the density and structure of
the downy layer, while waterproofing is the result of the outer layer,
comprised of contour feathers. In this study, we test how habitat and
thermal condition affect feather mass and density of body feathers
(contour, semiplume and downy feathers) measured on the ventral and dorsal
sides of the body, using a phylogenetic comparative analysis of 152 bird
species. 2.Our results demonstrate that feather mass and the density of
downy feathers are higher in species that inhabit colder environments,
while total feather density is higher of species breeding under
intermediate temperatures compared to the ones breeding under more extreme
conditions. The density of contour feathers, depending on the body region,
is either quadratically related or negatively correlated to minimum winter
temperature. 3.The density of contour and downy feathers, measured on both
sides of the body, is higher in aquatic than in terrestrial birds.
However, among the former, diving behaviour does not select for further
increases in body feather mass or density. 4.The results of this study
provides key insights into how the plumage of birds is adapted to
different environments and lifestyles and provides a basis for
understanding the diverse range and the evolution of variation in these
characteristics.
Raw data: Mass and density of body feathers. In this table, N is the
sample size for each parameter. See Material and methods for
sources.FEpap_dryad1.docRaw data: Contour feather lengths and the presence
of afterfeathers on contour feathers (1, present, 0, absent). N is the
sample size for each parameter. See Material and methods for
sources.FEpap_dryad2.docFEpap_dryad3