Hi Billy, > Re: [RC] now that we have Real Clear Science we have access to really > important news
Dude, you have way too much time on your hands. Isn't there an election or something tomorrow? Or did you manage to find a Flamingo Swastika.... E On Nov 1, 2010, at 2:32 PM, [email protected] wrote: > Vanity of the Flamingos > > > Flamingos use colourful cosmetics to enhance feathers > > By Victoria Gill > Science and nature reporter, BBC News > > > > > Flamingos in the wild use pigments as "cosmetics" to enhance the colour of > their plumage, according to scientists. > > Researchers studying greater flamingos in the wetlands of southern Spain > found that the birds rubbed pigmented secretions onto their feathers. > > They produce the pigments in glands near the base of their tails. > > The scientists describe in the journal Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology > how the birds use the pigments to signal to potential mates. > > > The researchers identified pigments called carotenoids in the mixture of wax > oil that the birds secrete in their preen glands. > > They noticed that, as well as smoothing and tidying their feathers, many > birds deliberately rubbed their cheeks against the preen gland and then > immediately onto their neck, breast and back feathers. > > Reddish-orange carotenoid pigments in the oils then brightened the signature > pink hue of the birds' feathers. > > High maintenance > > Juan Amat from the Donana Biological Station in Spain led the study. > > He said that the birds appeared to "manipulate the colour of their plumage" > as a signal of their quality. > > Since it takes time and energy to apply the pigments, being more colourful > could be a powerful visual signal of a healthy, well-nourished flamingo with > time to take care of its appearance. > > "The rubbing is time-consuming," Dr Amat told BBC News. "And the more > frequently the birds practise it, the more coloured they appear. > > > SOURCES > > > Read Juan Amat's article on cosmetic-using flamingos > Find out more about the greater flamingo on BBC Wildlife Finder > "If the birds stop the rubbing, [their] plumage colour fades in a few days > because carotenoids bleach quickly in the sunlight." > > This means that, like with make-up, frequent reapplication is necessary to > stay colourful. > > The scientists have not directly investigated how this cosmetic use benefits > the birds, but they think that the more colourful flamingos might have more > success in finding a mate. > > "We found that the more coloured birds started breeding earlier than paler > ones," explained Dr Amat. > > "So by mating to a colourful bird an individual may increase its reproductive > success, as from previous studies we know that the first pairs to start > breeding gain access to the best breeding sites." > > And there is more to the story of cosmetic-using flamingos than this one > study, according to Dr Amat. > > "We have data indicating that females make-up much more often than males - > just like in humans," he told BBC News. > > "Also, we know that flamingos apply make-up more often in better habitats, > and that the more coloured birds obtain food of better quality." > > Professor Matthew Anderson from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, > US, said the study provided "convincing evidence that plumage colouration may > be involved in mate choice in these birds". > > He added: "The beautiful pink plumage of flamingos has long captured the > attention of the general public. It [now] appears that flamingos may be > paying as much attention to their vibrant colouration as we are." > > > > > -- > Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community > <[email protected]> > Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism > Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org
