1
|
Janas K, Gudowska A, Drobniak SM. Avian colouration in a polluted world: a meta-analysis. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:1261-1277. [PMID: 38494176 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Brilliant, diverse colour ornaments of birds were one of the crucial cues that led Darwin to the idea of sexual selection. Although avian colouration plays many functions, including concealment, thermoregulation, or advertisement as a distasteful prey, a quality-signalling role in sexual selection has attracted most research attention. Sexually selected ornaments are thought to be more susceptible to external stressors than naturally selected traits, and as such, they might be used as a test for environmental quality. For this reason, the last two decades have seen numerous studies on the impact of anthropogenic pollution on the expression of various avian colour traits. Herein, we provide the first meta-analytical summary of these results and examine whether there is an interaction between the mechanism of colour production (carotenoid-based, melanin-based and structural) and the type of anthropogenic factor (categorised as heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, urbanisation, or other). Following the assumption of heightened condition dependence of ornaments under sexual selection, we also expected the magnitude of effect sizes to be higher in males. The overall effect size was close to significance and negative, supporting a general detrimental impact of anthropogenic pollutants on avian colouration. In contrast to expectations, there was no interaction between pollution types and colour-producing mechanisms. Yet there were significant differences in sensitivity between colour-producing mechanisms, with carotenoid-based colouration being the most affected by anthropogenic environmental disturbances. Moreover, we observed no significant tendency towards heightened sensitivity in males. We identified a publication gap on structural colouration, which, compared to pigment-based colouration, remains markedly understudied and should thus be prioritised in future research. Finally, we call for the unification of methods used in colour quantification in ecological research to ensure comparability of results among studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Janas
- Ornithological Station, Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Gudowska
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Szymon M Drobniak
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hegyi G, Laczi M, Wacha A, Gyarmathy H, Klein Á, Rosivall B, Sarkadi F, Szabó G, Török J. Prediction of individual differences in non-iridescent structural plumage colour from nanostructural periodicity and regularity. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:231804. [PMID: 39100180 PMCID: PMC11296197 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Non-iridescent structural plumage reflectance is a sexually selected indicator of individual quality in several bird species. However, the structural basis of individual differences remains unclear. In particular, the dominant periodicity of the quasi-ordered feather barb nanostructure is of key importance in colour generation, but no study has successfully traced back reflectance parameters, and particularly hue, to nanostructural periodicity, although this would be key to deciphering the information content of individual variation. We used matrix small-angle X-ray scattering measurements of intact, stacked feather samples from the blue tit crown to estimate the sex-dependence and individual variation of nanostructure and its effects on light reflectance. Measures of nanostructural periodicity successfully predicted brightness, ultraviolet chroma and also hue, with statistically similar effects in the two sexes. However, we also observed a lack of overall effect of the nanostructural inhomogeneity estimate on reflectance chromaticity, sex-dependent accuracy in hue prediction and strong sex-dependence in position estimation error. We suggest that reflectance attributes are modified by other feather structures in a sex-specific manner, and that within-individual variation in nanostructural parameters exists within or among feathers and this confounds the interpretation of structure-reflectance relationships at the plumage area level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gergely Hegyi
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, Budapest1117, Hungary
- HUN-REN-ELTE-MTM Integrative Ecology Research Group, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, Budapest1117, Hungary
| | - Miklós Laczi
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, Budapest1117, Hungary
- HUN-REN-ELTE-MTM Integrative Ecology Research Group, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, Budapest1117, Hungary
- The Barn Owl Foundation, Temesvári út 8, Orosztony8744, Hungary
| | - András Wacha
- Biological Nanochemistry Research Group, Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar Tudósok körútja 2, Budapest1117, Hungary
| | - Helga Gyarmathy
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, Budapest1117, Hungary
| | - Ákos Klein
- The Barn Owl Foundation, Temesvári út 8, Orosztony8744, Hungary
| | - Balázs Rosivall
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, Budapest1117, Hungary
| | - Fanni Sarkadi
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, Budapest1117, Hungary
| | - Gyula Szabó
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, Budapest1117, Hungary
- Lendület Ecosystem Services Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány út 2-4, Vácrátót2163, Hungary
| | - János Török
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, Budapest1117, Hungary
- HUN-REN-ELTE-MTM Integrative Ecology Research Group, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, Budapest1117, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Duque CM, Hall DM, Tyukodi B, Hagan MF, Santangelo CD, Grason GM. Limits of economy and fidelity for programmable assembly of size-controlled triply periodic polyhedra. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2315648121. [PMID: 38669182 PMCID: PMC11067059 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2315648121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
We propose and investigate an extension of the Caspar-Klug symmetry principles for viral capsid assembly to the programmable assembly of size-controlled triply periodic polyhedra, discrete variants of the Primitive, Diamond, and Gyroid cubic minimal surfaces. Inspired by a recent class of programmable DNA origami colloids, we demonstrate that the economy of design in these crystalline assemblies-in terms of the growth of the number of distinct particle species required with the increased size-scale (e.g., periodicity)-is comparable to viral shells. We further test the role of geometric specificity in these assemblies via dynamical assembly simulations, which show that conditions for simultaneously efficient and high-fidelity assembly require an intermediate degree of flexibility of local angles and lengths in programmed assembly. Off-target misassembly occurs via incorporation of a variant of disclination defects, generalized to the case of hyperbolic crystals. The possibility of these topological defects is a direct consequence of the very same symmetry principles that underlie the economical design, exposing a basic tradeoff between design economy and fidelity of programmable, size controlled assembly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos M. Duque
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden01307, Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden01307, Germany
- Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA01003
| | - Douglas M. Hall
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA01003
| | - Botond Tyukodi
- Department of Physics, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca400084, Romania
- Martin A. Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA02453
| | - Michael F. Hagan
- Martin A. Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA02453
| | - Christian D. Santangelo
- Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA01003
- Department of Physics, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY13210
| | - Gregory M. Grason
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA01003
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Sin SYW, Ke F, Chen G, Huang PY, Enbody ED, Karubian J, Webster MS, Edwards SV. Genetic Basis and Evolution of Structural Color Polymorphism in an Australian Songbird. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae046. [PMID: 38415852 PMCID: PMC10962638 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Island organisms often evolve phenotypes divergent from their mainland counterparts, providing a useful system for studying adaptation under differential selection. In the white-winged fairywren (Malurus leucopterus), subspecies on two islands have a black nuptial plumage whereas the subspecies on the Australian mainland has a blue nuptial plumage. The black subspecies have a feather nanostructure that could in principle produce a blue structural color, suggesting a blue ancestor. An earlier study proposed independent evolution of melanism on the islands based on the history of subspecies divergence. However, the genetic basis of melanism and the origin of color differentiation in this group are still unknown. Here, we used whole-genome resequencing to investigate the genetic basis of melanism by comparing the blue and black M. leucopterus subspecies to identify highly divergent genomic regions. We identified a well-known pigmentation gene ASIP and four candidate genes that may contribute to feather nanostructure development. Contrary to the prediction of convergent evolution of island melanism, we detected signatures of a selective sweep in genomic regions containing ASIP and SCUBE2 not in the black subspecies but in the blue subspecies, which possesses many derived SNPs in these regions, suggesting that the mainland subspecies has re-evolved a blue plumage from a black ancestor. This proposed re-evolution was likely driven by a preexisting female preference. Our findings provide new insight into the evolution of plumage coloration in island versus continental populations, and, importantly, we identify candidate genes that likely play roles in the development and evolution of feather structural coloration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Yung Wa Sin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Fushi Ke
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Guoling Chen
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pei-Yu Huang
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Erik D Enbody
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Jordan Karubian
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Michael S Webster
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Scott V Edwards
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Jeon DJ, Ji S, Lee E, Kang J, Kim J, D'Alba L, Manceau M, Shawkey MD, Yeo JS. How keratin cortex thickness affects iridescent feather colours. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:220786. [PMID: 36686555 PMCID: PMC9832292 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The bright, saturated iridescent colours of feathers are commonly produced by single and multi-layers of nanostructured melanin granules (melanosomes), air and keratin matrices, surrounded by an outer keratin cortex of varying thicknesses. The role of the keratin cortex in colour production remains unclear, despite its potential to act as a thin film or absorbing layer. We use electron microscopy, optical simulations and oxygen plasma-mediated experimental cortex removal to show that differences in keratin cortex thickness play a significant role in producing colours. The results indicate that keratin cortex thickness determines the position of the major reflectance peak (hue) from nanostructured melanosomes of common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) feathers. Specifically, the common pheasant has appropriate keratin cortex thickness to produce blue and green structural colours. This finding identifies a general principle of structural colour production and sheds light on the processes that shaped the evolution of brilliant iridescent colours in the common pheasant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deok-Jin Jeon
- School of Integrated Technology, Yonsei Institute of Convergence Technology, Yonsei University, Incheon 21983, Republic of Korea
| | - Seungmuk Ji
- School of Integrated Technology, Yonsei Institute of Convergence Technology, Yonsei University, Incheon 21983, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunok Lee
- Department of Research Planning, National Institute of Ecology, Chungcheongnam-do 33657, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihun Kang
- School of Integrated Technology, Yonsei Institute of Convergence Technology, Yonsei University, Incheon 21983, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyeong Kim
- Ecological Technology Research Team, Division of Ecological Applications Research, National Institute of Ecology, Chungcheongnam-do 33657, Republic of Korea
| | - Liliana D'Alba
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ledeganckstraat 35, Ghent 9000, Belgium
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, Leiden 2333 CR, The Netherlands
| | - Marie Manceau
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, CNRS UMR7241, INSERM U1050, Collège de France, Paris Sciences et Lettres University, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Matthew D. Shawkey
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ledeganckstraat 35, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Jong-Souk Yeo
- School of Integrated Technology, Yonsei Institute of Convergence Technology, Yonsei University, Incheon 21983, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Yang Q, Liu Y, Jia X, Zhang T, Tian H, Fan J, Xu Q, Song F. Phase-field numerical study on the dynamic process of thermocapillary patterning. Phys Rev E 2022; 106:015111. [PMID: 35974516 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.106.015111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
It is well known that surface tension is dependent on temperature, and thus a nonuniform temperature may cause thermocapillary flow which is referred to as the Marangoni effect. For a thin liquid-air film confined between a flat hot plate and a topographical cold template, it undergoes deformation due to thermocapillary flow. This phenomenon is termed as thermocapillary patterning, and has been used to fabricate micro- and nanostructure in polymer films. In most cases, the obtained structure conforms to the template; i.e., it can be considered as a replication technique. In this paper, we developed a two-phase flow numerical model based on the phase field to study the dynamic process of thermocapillary patterning. As a remeshing-free method, the phase field enables the incorporation of thermal field and multiphase flow with free surface deformation. The numerical model was employed to study the dynamic process of thermocapillary patterning. Meanwhile, the effects of some parameters, e.g., temperature, geometry parameters, and contact angle, were also investigated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qingzhen Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, People's Republic of China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, People's Republic of China
- Micro-/Nano-technology Research Center, State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, People's Republic of China
- Research Institute of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311215, People's Republic of China
| | - Yankui Liu
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Northeast Electric Power University, Jilin, Jilin 132012, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinmiao Jia
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, People's Republic of China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, People's Republic of China
| | - Tingting Zhang
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710021, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongmiao Tian
- Micro-/Nano-technology Research Center, State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Fan
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Northeast Electric Power University, Jilin, Jilin 132012, People's Republic of China
| | - Quange Xu
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Northeast Electric Power University, Jilin, Jilin 132012, People's Republic of China
| | - Fenhong Song
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Northeast Electric Power University, Jilin, Jilin 132012, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Lopez-Idiaquez D, Teplitsky C, Grégoire A, Fargevieille A, Rey MD, Franceschi CD, Charmantier A, Doutrelant C. Long-term decrease in coloration: a consequence of climate change? Am Nat 2022; 200:32-47. [DOI: 10.1086/719655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
|
8
|
Fernández-Rico C, Sai T, Sicher A, Style RW, Dufresne ER. Putting the Squeeze on Phase Separation. JACS AU 2022; 2:66-73. [PMID: 35098222 PMCID: PMC8790737 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.1c00443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Phase separation is a ubiquitous process and finds applications in a variety of biological, organic, and inorganic systems. Nature has evolved the ability to control phase separation to both regulate cellular processes and make composite materials with outstanding mechanical and optical properties. Striking examples of the latter are the vibrant blue and green feathers of many bird species, which are thought to result from an exquisite control of the size and spatial correlations of their phase-separated microstructures. By contrast, it is much harder for material scientists to arrest and control phase separation in synthetic materials with such a high level of precision at these length scales. In this Perspective, we briefly review some established methods to control liquid-liquid phase separation processes and then highlight the emergence of a promising arrest method based on phase separation in an elastic polymer network. Finally, we discuss upcoming challenges and opportunities for fabricating microstructured materials via mechanically controlled phase separation.
Collapse
|
9
|
White TE, Locke A, Latty T. Heightened condition dependent expression of structural coloration in the faces, but not wings, of male and female flies. Curr Zool 2021; 68:600-607. [PMID: 36324536 PMCID: PMC9616059 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoab087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Structurally colored sexual signals are a conspicuous and widespread class of ornament used in mate choice, though the extent to which they encode information on the quality of their bearers is not fully resolved. Theory predicts that signaling traits under strong sexual selection as honest indicators should evolve to be more developmentally integrated and exaggerated than nonsexual traits, thereby leading to heightened condition dependence. Here, we test this prediction through examination of the sexually dimorphic faces and wings of the cursorial fly Lispe cana. Males and females possess structural UV-white and golden faces, respectively, and males present their faces and wings to females during close-range, ground-based courtship displays, thereby creating the opportunity for mutual inspection. Across a field-collected sample of individuals, we found that the appearance of the faces of both sexes scaled positively with individual condition, though along separate axes. Males in better condition expressed brighter faces as modeled according to conspecific flies, whereas condition scaled with facial saturation in females. We found no such relationships for their wing interference pattern nor abdomens, with the latter included as a nonsexual control. Our results suggest that the structurally colored faces, but not the iridescent wings, of male and female L. cana are reliable guides to individual quality and support the broader potential for structural colors as honest signals. They also highlight the potential for mutual mate choice in this system, while arguing for 1 of several alternate signaling roles for wing interferences patterns among the myriad taxa which bear them.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas E White
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2106, Australia
| | - Amy Locke
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2106, Australia
| | - Tanya Latty
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2106, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Price-Waldman R, Stoddard MC. Avian Coloration Genetics: Recent Advances and Emerging Questions. J Hered 2021; 112:395-416. [PMID: 34002228 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esab015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The colorful phenotypes of birds have long provided rich source material for evolutionary biologists. Avian plumage, beaks, skin, and eggs-which exhibit a stunning range of cryptic and conspicuous forms-inspired early work on adaptive coloration. More recently, avian color has fueled discoveries on the physiological, developmental, and-increasingly-genetic mechanisms responsible for phenotypic variation. The relative ease with which avian color traits can be quantified has made birds an attractive system for uncovering links between phenotype and genotype. Accordingly, the field of avian coloration genetics is burgeoning. In this review, we highlight recent advances and emerging questions associated with the genetic underpinnings of bird color. We start by describing breakthroughs related to 2 pigment classes: carotenoids that produce red, yellow, and orange in most birds and psittacofulvins that produce similar colors in parrots. We then discuss structural colors, which are produced by the interaction of light with nanoscale materials and greatly extend the plumage palette. Structural color genetics remain understudied-but this paradigm is changing. We next explore how colors that arise from interactions among pigmentary and structural mechanisms may be controlled by genes that are co-expressed or co-regulated. We also identify opportunities to investigate genes mediating within-feather micropatterning and the coloration of bare parts and eggs. We conclude by spotlighting 2 research areas-mechanistic links between color vision and color production, and speciation-that have been invigorated by genetic insights, a trend likely to continue as new genomic approaches are applied to non-model species.
Collapse
|
11
|
Sicher A, Ganz R, Menzel A, Messmer D, Panzarasa G, Feofilova M, Prum RO, Style RW, Saranathan V, Rossi RM, Dufresne ER. Structural color from solid-state polymerization-induced phase separation. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:5772-5779. [PMID: 34027537 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm00210d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Structural colors are produced by wavelength-dependent scattering of light from nanostructures. While living organisms often exploit phase separation to directly assemble structurally colored materials from macromolecules, synthetic structural colors are typically produced in a two-step process involving the sequential synthesis and assembly of building blocks. Phase separation is attractive for its simplicity, but applications are limited due to a lack of robust methods for its control. A central challenge is to arrest phase separation at the desired length scale. Here, we show that solid-state polymerization-induced phase separation can produce stable structures at optical length scales. In this process, a polymeric solid is swollen and softened with a second monomer. During its polymerization, the two polymers become immiscible and phase separate. As free monomer is depleted, the host matrix resolidifies and arrests coarsening. The resulting polymeric composites have a blue or white appearance. We compare these biomimetic nanostructures to those in structurally-colored feather barbs, and demonstrate the flexibility of this approach by producing structural color in filaments and large sheets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alba Sicher
- Laboratory for Soft and Living Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
- Laboratory for Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
| | - Rabea Ganz
- Laboratory for Soft and Living Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Andreas Menzel
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Messmer
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Guido Panzarasa
- Laboratory for Soft and Living Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Maria Feofilova
- Laboratory for Soft and Living Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Richard O Prum
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the Peabody Museum, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Robert W Style
- Laboratory for Soft and Living Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | | | - René M Rossi
- Laboratory for Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
| | - Eric R Dufresne
- Laboratory for Soft and Living Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
D'Alba L, Meadows M, Maia R, Jong-Souk Y, Manceau M, Shawkey M. Morphogenesis of iridescent feathers in Anna's hummingbird Calypte anna. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:1502-1510. [PMID: 34104966 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Color is a phenotypic trait of utmost importance, particularly in birds, which are known for their diverse color signals and color-producing mechanisms including pigment-based colors, light scattering from nanostructured feather tissues and combinations thereof. Bright iridescent plumage colors of hummingbirds are caused by light scattering by an organized array of flattened, pigment organelles, containing air-filled vesicles, called melanosomes. These hollow platelets are organized in multilayer arrays that contain numerous sharp air/melanin refractive index interfaces, producing brilliant iridescent colors. Despite their ecological significance and potential for inspiration of new optical materials, how platelets form and spatially arrange in nanostructures in growing feathers remains unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis that melanosome formation and organization occurs mostly through passive self-assembly processes by assembling a developmental time series of growing hummingbird feathers using optical and electron microscopy. We show that hummingbird platelets contain air bubbles or vesicles upon their formation in pigment-producing cells, melanocytes. When melanosomes are transferred to neighboring keratinocytes (the cells shaping barbule structure) they drastically expand in size; and variation in this enlargement appears to be driven by physical constraints caused by the placement of the melanosomes within the barbule plate and their proximity to other melanosomes. As the barbule elongates and narrows, polymerizing feather corneous beta protein (CβP) orients melanosomes unilaterally, forcing them into a stacked configuration. These results reveal potentially novel forces driving the self-assembly of the nanostructures producing some of the brightest colors in nature.<.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liliana D'Alba
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Department of Biology, University of Ghent, Ledeganckstraat 35, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Melissa Meadows
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, 220 Bartram Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611-8525
| | - Rafael Maia
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Yeo Jong-Souk
- School of Integrated Technology, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Republic of Korea
| | - Marie Manceau
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, CNRS 7241, INSERM U1050, Collège de France, Paris, France
| | - Matthew Shawkey
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Department of Biology, University of Ghent, Ledeganckstraat 35, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Schaedler LM, Taylor LU, Prum RO, Anciães M. CONSTRAINT AND FUNCTION IN THE PREDEFINITIVE PLUMAGES OF MANAKINS (AVES: PIPRIDAE). Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:1363-1377. [PMID: 33956153 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Birds with delayed plumage maturation exhibit a drab predefinitive plumage, often despite gonad maturation, before developing the definitive plumage associated with increased reproductive success. Manakins are a diverse clade of neotropical lekking birds with extreme sexual dichromatism, radical sexual displays, and a unique diversity in the predefinitive plumages of males across species. Here, we provide the first full review of the natural history of manakin predefinitive plumages as the basis for qualitatively addressing the six major hypotheses about the production and function of predefinitive plumages. We find little evidence to support the possibilities that manakin predefinitive plumages are directly constrained by inflexible molt schedules, resource limitations to definitive coloration, or hormonal ties to reproductive behaviors. There is little evidence that could support a crypsis function, although direct experimentation is needed, and mimicry is refuted except for one unusual species in which predefinitive males sire young. Instead, evidence from a handful of well-studied species suggests that predefinitive plumages help young males explicitly signal their social status, and thereby gain entry to the social hierarchies which dictate future reproductive success. Our conclusions are especially influenced by the unique fact that males of at least 11 species throughout the family exhibit multiple predefinitive plumage stages with distinctively male patches. For each hypothesis, we highlight ways in which a better knowledge of female and young male birds offers critical opportunities for the use of manakins as a model clade.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Schaedler
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, AM 69067-375, Brazil
| | - Liam U Taylor
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Richard O Prum
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Marina Anciães
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, AM 69067-375, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Hagan MF, Grason GM. Equilibrium mechanisms of self-limiting assembly. REVIEWS OF MODERN PHYSICS 2021; 93:025008. [PMID: 35221384 PMCID: PMC8880259 DOI: 10.1103/revmodphys.93.025008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembly is a ubiquitous process in synthetic and biological systems, broadly defined as the spontaneous organization of multiple subunits (e.g. macromolecules, particles) into ordered multi-unit structures. The vast majority of equilibrium assembly processes give rise to two states: one consisting of dispersed disassociated subunits, and the other, a bulk-condensed state of unlimited size. This review focuses on the more specialized class of self-limiting assembly, which describes equilibrium assembly processes resulting in finite-size structures. These systems pose a generic and basic question, how do thermodynamic processes involving non-covalent interactions between identical subunits "measure" and select the size of assembled structures? In this review, we begin with an introduction to the basic statistical mechanical framework for assembly thermodynamics, and use this to highlight the key physical ingredients that ensure equilibrium assembly will terminate at finite dimensions. Then, we introduce examples of self-limiting assembly systems, and classify them within this framework based on two broad categories: self-closing assemblies and open-boundary assemblies. These include well-known cases in biology and synthetic soft matter - micellization of amphiphiles and shell/tubule formation of tapered subunits - as well as less widely known classes of assemblies, such as short-range attractive/long-range repulsive systems and geometrically-frustrated assemblies. For each of these self-limiting mechanisms, we describe the physical mechanisms that select equilibrium assembly size, as well as potential limitations of finite-size selection. Finally, we discuss alternative mechanisms for finite-size assemblies, and draw contrasts with the size-control that these can achieve relative to self-limitation in equilibrium, single-species assemblies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael F Hagan
- Martin Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Gregory M Grason
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Saranathan V, Finet C. Cellular and developmental basis of avian structural coloration. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2021; 69:56-64. [PMID: 33684846 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2021.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Vivid structural colors in birds are a conspicuous and vital part of their phenotype. They are produced by a rich diversity of integumentary photonic nanostructures in skin and feathers. Unlike pigmentary coloration, whose genetic basis is being elucidated, little is known regarding the pathways underpinning organismal structural coloration. Here, we review available data on the development of avian structural colors. In particular, feather photonic nanostructures are understood to be intracellularly self-assembled by physicochemical forces typically seen in soft colloidal systems. We identify promising avenues for future research that can address current knowledge gaps, which are also highly relevant for the sustainable engineering of advanced bioinspired and biomimetic materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vinodkumar Saranathan
- Division of Science, Yale-NUS College, 10 College Avenue West, 138609, Singapore; NUS Nanotechnology and Nanoscience Initiative, National University of Singapore, 117581, Singapore.
| | - Cédric Finet
- Division of Science, Yale-NUS College, 10 College Avenue West, 138609, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Janas K, Łatkiewicz A, Parnell A, Lutyk D, Barczyk J, Shawkey MD, Gustafsson L, Cichoń M, Drobniak SM. Differential effects of early growth conditions on colour-producing nanostructures revealed through small angle X-ray scattering and electron microscopy. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb228387. [PMID: 32764026 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.228387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The costs associated with the production and maintenance of colour patches is thought to maintain their honesty. Although considerable research on sexual selection has focused on structurally coloured plumage ornaments, the proximate mechanisms of their potential condition dependence, and thus their honesty, is rarely addressed, particularly in an experimental context. Blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) nestlings have ultraviolet (UV)-blue structurally coloured tail feathers, providing a unique opportunity for investigation of the causes of variation in their colour. Here, we examined the influence of early growing conditions on the reflectance and structural properties of UV-blue-coloured tail feathers of blue tit nestlings. We applied a two-stage brood size manipulation to determine which stage of development more strongly impacts the quality of tail feather colouration and microstructure. We used small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and electron microscopy to characterise the nanoscale and microscale structure of tail feather barbs. Nestlings from the broods enlarged at a later stage of growth showed a sex-specific rectrix development delay, with males being more sensitive to this manipulation. Contrary to predictions, treatment affected neither the quality of the barbs' nanostructures nor the brightness and UV chroma of feathers. However, at the microscale, barbs' keratin characteristics were impaired in late-enlarged broods. Our results suggest that nanostructure quality, which determines the UV-blue colour in tail feathers, is not sensitive to early rearing conditions. Furthermore, availability of resources during feather growth seems to impact the quality of feather microstructure more than body condition, which is likely to be determined at an earlier stage of nestling growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Janas
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Anna Łatkiewicz
- Institute of Geological Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 3a, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Andrew Parnell
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Sheffield, The Hicks Building, Sheffield S3 7RH, UK
| | - Dorota Lutyk
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Julia Barczyk
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Matthew D Shawkey
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures, Department of Biology, University of Ghent, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Lars Gustafsson
- Department of Animal Ecology/Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18 D, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mariusz Cichoń
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Szymon M Drobniak
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
- School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Abstract
Colourful ornaments often communicate salient information to mates, and theory predicts covariance between signal expression and individual quality. This has borne out among pigment-based signals, but the potential for 'honesty' in structural coloration is unresolved. Here, I synthesized the available evidence to test this prediction via meta-analysis and found that, overall, the expression of structurally coloured sexual signals is positively associated with individual quality. The effects varied by the measure of quality, however, with body condition and immune function reliably encoded across taxa, but not age nor parasite resistance. The relationship was apparent for both the colour and brightness of signals and was slightly stronger for iridescent ornaments. These results suggest diverse pathways to the encoding and exchange of information among structural colours while highlighting outstanding questions as to the development, visual ecology and evolution of this striking adornment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas E White
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2106, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Twomey E, Kain M, Claeys M, Summers K, Castroviejo-Fisher S, Van Bocxlaer I. Mechanisms for Color Convergence in a Mimetic Radiation of Poison Frogs. Am Nat 2020; 195:E132-E149. [PMID: 32364784 DOI: 10.1086/708157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
In animals, bright colors often evolve to mimic other species when a resemblance is selectively favored. Understanding the proximate mechanisms underlying such color mimicry can give insights into how mimicry evolves-for example, whether color convergence evolves from a shared set of mechanisms or through the evolution of novel color production mechanisms. We studied color production mechanisms in poison frogs (Dendrobatidae), focusing on the mimicry complex of Ranitomeya imitator. Using reflectance spectrometry, skin pigment analysis, electron microscopy, and color modeling, we found that the bright colors of these frogs, both within and outside the mimicry complex, are largely structural and produced by iridophores but that color production depends crucially on interactions with pigments. Color variation and mimicry are regulated predominantly by iridophore platelet thickness and, to a lesser extent, concentration of the red pteridine pigment drosopterin. Compared with each of the four morphs of model species that it resembles, R. imitator displays greater variation in both structural and pigmentary mechanisms, which may have facilitated phenotypic divergence in this species. Analyses of nonmimetic dendrobatids in other genera demonstrate that these mechanisms are widespread within the family and that poison frogs share a complex physiological "color palette" that can produce diverse and highly reflective colors.
Collapse
|
19
|
Baek K, Kim Y, Mohd-Noor S, Hyun JK. Mie Resonant Structural Colors. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:5300-5318. [PMID: 31899614 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b16683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Structural colors refer to colors produced by the interference of light scattered by judiciously arranged nano- or microscopic structures. In this Forum Article, we discuss the use of Mie resonant scattering in structural colors with dielectric and metal-dielectric hybrid structures to achieve notable figures of merit in pixel size and gamut range. Compared with plasmonic structures, resonant dielectric and hybrid structures are subjected to less loss while providing strong field confinement and large scattering cross sections, making them appealing for realizing vibrant colors at ultrahigh resolutions. We outline the basic principles behind Mie resonances in analytically solvable structures and highlight the relation between these resonances and color with demonstrations in dielectric metasurfaces. Mie resonant colors occurring in nonplanar designs including disordered systems are also explored. We review recent advances in dynamic and reversibly tunable Mie resonant colors and conclude by providing an outlook for future research directions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyungnae Baek
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience , Ewha Womans University , Seoul 03760 , Republic of Korea
| | - Youngji Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience , Ewha Womans University , Seoul 03760 , Republic of Korea
| | - Syazwani Mohd-Noor
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience , Ewha Womans University , Seoul 03760 , Republic of Korea
| | - Jerome K Hyun
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience , Ewha Womans University , Seoul 03760 , Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Knapp EM, Dagastine RR, Tu RS, Kretzschmar I. Effect of Orientation and Wetting Properties on the Behavior of Janus Particles at the Air-Water Interface. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:5128-5135. [PMID: 31885259 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b21067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The adhesion force and contact angle of gold-capped silica Janus particles and plain silica particles at an air-water interface are studied via colloidal atomic force microscopy. Particles are attached to cantilevers at various orientations, and wetting properties of the gold surface are varied through modification with dodecanethiol. Thiol modification increases the hydrophobicity of the gold surface, thereby increasing the difference between the contact angles of the gold hemisphere and the silica hemisphere and, thus, increasing the degree of amphiphilicity of the Janus particle. Subsequently, the colloidal probe is pushed into a stationary bubble from the water phase followed by retraction back into the water phase. Adhesion force is found to be higher for Janus particles than isotropic silica particles, regardless of orientation of the anisotropic hemisphere. Particles with their polar half oriented toward the water and apolar half facing the air show an increase in adhesion force and contact angle as the degree of amphiphilicity of the particles increases. For particles of the reverse orientation, no significant difference is observed as wetting properties change. Both adhesion force and contact angle display an inverse relationship with a cap angle for particles with a higher degree of amphiphilicity. These results are of importance for using Janus particles to stabilize interfaces as well as for understanding the equilibrium height of Janus particles at the interface, which will impact capillary interactions and thus self-assembly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ellen M Knapp
- Department of Chemical Engineering , The City College of New York , New York 10031 , United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering and the Particulate Fluids Processing Centre , University of Melbourne , Parkville 3010 , Australia
| | - Raymond R Dagastine
- Department of Chemical Engineering and the Particulate Fluids Processing Centre , University of Melbourne , Parkville 3010 , Australia
| | - Raymond S Tu
- Department of Chemical Engineering , The City College of New York , New York 10031 , United States
| | - Ilona Kretzschmar
- Department of Chemical Engineering , The City College of New York , New York 10031 , United States
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Abstract
Recent advances suggest that the response of RNA metabolism to stress has an important role in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementias and Alzheimer disease. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) control the utilization of mRNA during stress, in part through the formation of membraneless organelles termed stress granules (SGs). These structures form through a process of liquid-liquid phase separation. Multiple biochemical pathways regulate SG biology. The major signalling pathways regulating SG formation include the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4F (eIF4F) and eIF2α pathways, whereas the pathways regulating SG dispersion and removal are mediated by valosin-containing protein and the autolysosomal cascade. Post-translational modifications of RBPs also strongly contribute to the regulation of SGs. Evidence indicates that SGs are supposed to be transient structures, but the chronic stresses associated with ageing lead to chronic, persistent SGs that appear to act as a nidus for the aggregation of disease-related proteins. We suggest a model describing how intrinsic vulnerabilities within the cellular RNA metabolism might lead to the pathological aggregation of RBPs when SGs become persistent. This process might accelerate the pathophysiology of many neurodegenerative diseases and myopathies, and it suggests new targets for disease intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Wolozin
- Department of Pharmacology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Pavel Ivanov
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Soliman SA. Morphological and Histochemical Description of Quail Feather Development. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2019; 303:1865-1883. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.24276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 08/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
|
23
|
Fan M, D’alba L, Shawkey MD, Peters A, Delhey K. Multiple components of feather microstructure contribute to structural plumage colour diversity in fairy-wrens. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
AbstractClosely related species often differ in coloration. Understanding the mechanistic bases of such differences can reveal whether evolutionary changes in colour are driven by single key mechanisms or changes in multiple pathways. Non-iridescent structural plumage colours in birds are a good model in which to test these questions. These colours result from light absorption by pigments, light scattering by the medullary spongy layer (a nanostructure found within barbs) and contributions from other structural elements. Fairy-wrens (Malurus spp.) are a small clade of closely related birds that display a large diversity of ornamental structural colours. Using spectrometry, electron microscopy and Fourier analysis, we show that 30 structural colours, varying from ultraviolet to blue and purple, share a similar barb morphology. Despite this similarity, we find that at the microscopic scale, variation across multiple structural elements, including the size and density of the keratin cortex, spongy layer and melanin, explains colour diversity. These independent axes of morphological variation together account for sizeable amounts of structural colour variability (R2 = 0.21–0.65). The coexistence of many independent, evolutionarily labile mechanisms that generate colour variation suggests that the diversity of structural colours in this clade could be mediated by many independent genetic and environmental factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie Fan
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Liliana D’alba
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Department of Biology, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Matthew D Shawkey
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Department of Biology, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Anne Peters
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kaspar Delhey
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Vogelwarte Radolfzell, Radolfzell, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Babarović F, Puttick MN, Zaher M, Learmonth E, Gallimore EJ, Smithwick FM, Mayr G, Vinther J. Characterization of melanosomes involved in the production of non-iridescent structural feather colours and their detection in the fossil record. J R Soc Interface 2019; 16:20180921. [PMID: 31238836 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2018.0921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-iridescent structural colour in avian feathers is produced by coherent light scattering through quasi-ordered nanocavities in the keratin cortex of the barbs. To absorb unscattered light, melanosomes form a basal layer underneath the nanocavities. It has been shown that throughout Aves, melanosome morphology reflects broad categories of melanin-based coloration, as well as iridescence, allowing identification of palaeocolours in exceptionally preserved fossils. However, no studies have yet investigated the morphology of melanosomes in non-iridescent structural colour. Here, we analyse a wide sample of melanosomes from feathers that express non-iridescent structural colour from a phylogenetically broad range of extant avians to describe their morphology and compare them with other avian melanosome categories. We find that investigated melanosomes are typically wide (approx. 300 nm) and long (approx. 1400 nm), distinct from melanosomes found in black, brown and iridescent feathers, but overlapping significantly with melanosomes from grey feathers. This may suggest a developmental, and perhaps evolutionary, relationship between grey coloration and non-iridescent structural colours. We show that through analyses of fossil melanosomes, melanosomes indicative of non-iridescent structural colour can be predicted in an Eocene stem group roller ( Eocoracias: Coraciiformes) and with phylogenetic comparative methods the likely hue can be surmised. The overlap between melanosomes from grey and non-iridescent structurally coloured feathers complicates their distinction in fossil samples where keratin does not preserve. However, the abundance of grey coloration relative to non-iridescent structural coloration makes the former a more likely occurrence except in phylogenetically bracketed specimens like the specimen of Eocoracias studied here.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frane Babarović
- 1 Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield , Sheffield S10 2TN , UK.,3 School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol , Wills Memorial Building, Queen's Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ , UK
| | - Mark N Puttick
- 2 Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath , Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY , UK
| | - Marta Zaher
- 3 School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol , Wills Memorial Building, Queen's Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ , UK
| | - Elizabeth Learmonth
- 4 School of Biological Sciences , Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TH , UK
| | - Emily-Jane Gallimore
- 4 School of Biological Sciences , Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TH , UK
| | - Fiann M Smithwick
- 3 School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol , Wills Memorial Building, Queen's Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ , UK
| | - Gerald Mayr
- 5 Senckenberg Research Institute, Section of Ornithology , Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main , Germany
| | - Jakob Vinther
- 3 School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol , Wills Memorial Building, Queen's Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ , UK.,4 School of Biological Sciences , Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TH , UK
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Luo Z, Evans BA, Chang CH. Magnetically Actuated Dynamic Iridescence Inspired by the Neon Tetra. ACS NANO 2019; 13:4657-4666. [PMID: 30889354 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b00822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Inspired by the tropical fish neon tetra, we report a mechanism to achieve dynamic iridescence that can be magnetically tuned. This approach is based on the tilting of periodic photonic nanostructures, as opposed to the more common strain-induced color tuning. In this method, a periodic array of magnetic nanopillars serves as a template to guide the assembly of iron oxide nanoparticles when magnetized in a liquid environment. The periodic local fields induced by the magnetic template anchor the assembled particle columns, allowing the structure to tilt about the base when the angle of the applied field is changed. This effect emulates a microscopic "Venetian blind" and results in dynamic optical properties through structural coloration that is tunable in real time. The fabricated prototype demonstrates tunable reflectance spectra with peak wavelength shift from 528 to 720 nm. The magnetic actuation mechanism is reversible and has a fast response time around 0.3 s. This structure can be implemented on an arbitrary surface as dynamic camouflage, iridescent display, and tunable photonic elements, as well as in other applications such as active fluidic devices and particle manipulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiren Luo
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering , North Carolina State University , Raleigh , North Carolina 27695 , United States
| | - Benjamin Aaron Evans
- Department of Physics , Elon University , Elon , North Carolina 27244 , United States
| | - Chih-Hao Chang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering , North Carolina State University , Raleigh , North Carolina 27695 , United States
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Laczi M, Hegyi G, Kötél D, Csizmadia T, Lőw P, Török J. Reflectance in relation to macro- and nanostructure in the crown feathers of the great tit (Parus major). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Miklós Laczi
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- The Barn Owl Foundation, Orosztony, Hungary
| | - Gergely Hegyi
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dóra Kötél
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tamás Csizmadia
- Department of Anatomy, Cell and Developmental Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Péter Lőw
- Department of Anatomy, Cell and Developmental Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - János Török
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- Ecology Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Kertész K, Piszter G, Bálint Z, Biró LP. Biogeographical patterns in the structural blue of male Polyommatus icarus butterflies. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2338. [PMID: 30787341 PMCID: PMC6382816 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-38827-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Color is a widely used communication channel in the living world for a variety of functions ranging from sexual communication to warning colors. A particularly rich spectrum of colors appears on the wings of many butterflies. The males of lycaenid butterflies often exhibit a conspicuous blue coloration generated by photonic nanoarchitectures on their dorsal wing surfaces. Using UV-VIS spectroscopy, we investigated the spatio-temporal variations of this coloration for Polyommatus icarus butterflies, considering an interval of more than 100 years and a geographical range spanning Europe (west) and Asia (east). The blue coloration in Hungary is very stable both within a year (three broods typical in Hungary) and within the period of 100 years (more than 300 generations). East-west geographic variation was investigated among 314 male P. icarus butterflies. In agreement with earlier genetic and morphometric studies, it was found that the western males are not divided in distinct lineages. Clear differences in coloration were found between the eastern and western groups, with a transition in the region of Turkey. These differences are tentatively attributed to bottleneck effects during past glaciations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Krisztián Kertész
- Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science, Centre for Energy Research, P.O. Box 49, H-1525, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Gábor Piszter
- Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science, Centre for Energy Research, P.O. Box 49, H-1525, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Bálint
- Hungarian Natural History Museum, Baross utca 13, H-1088, Budapest, Hungary
| | - László P Biró
- Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science, Centre for Energy Research, P.O. Box 49, H-1525, Budapest, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Wilts BD, Saranathan V. A Literal Elytral Rainbow: Tunable Structural Colors Using Single Diamond Biophotonic Crystals in Pachyrrhynchus congestus Weevils. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2018; 14:e1802328. [PMID: 30112799 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201802328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The brilliant colors of many insects arise from the interference of incident light with complex nanostructured biomaterials that are present in their cuticle. Here, the rainbow-colored spots on the elytra of a snout weevil, Pachyrrhynchus congestus pavonius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), are investigated using synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering, scanning electron microscopy, microspectrophotometry, and photonic bandgap modeling. It is shown that the iridescent scales present in the rainbow-hued spots are due to a 3D photonic crystal network of chitin in air with a single diamond (Fd-3m) symmetry. In many insects, different orientations of photonic crystal domains are used to create various hues. In this weevil, however, both the chitin volume fractions as well as the lattice parameters of the biologically self-assembled single diamond nanostructure are varied to achieve the remarkable tuning of the structural colors across the visible light spectrum on a scale-by-scale basis. Uncovering the precise mechanism of color tuning employed by this weevil has important implications for further structural and developmental research on biophotonic nanostructures and may provide fresh impetus for bioinspired and biomimetic multifunctional applications, as synthesis of photonic crystals at visible length scales is currently challenging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bodo D Wilts
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Vinodkumar Saranathan
- Division of Science, Yale-NUS College, 10 College Avenue West, Singapore, 138609, Singapore
- NUS Nanotechnology and Nanoscience Initiative (NUSNNI-NanoCore), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117576, Singapore
- Department of Biological Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117377, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Burg SL, Parnell AJ. Self-assembling structural colour in nature. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2018; 30:413001. [PMID: 30137023 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/aadc95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The diversity and vividness of structural colour in the natural world have been recognised as far back as William Hooke in the 17th century. Whilst it is only recently that advances in the field have revealed the elegance and finesse of the physics used to create these effects. In this topical review we will highlight some of the structures and effects responsible for colour in butterfly scales, bird feathers, plants, insects and beetle elytra that have been studied to date. We will discuss the structures responsible and look at similarities and differences in these structures between species. This will be alongside our current understanding of how these are created biologically, how they develop structurally and what control mechanisms nature has at its disposal to control structure formation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L Burg
- The Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Sheffield, Hicks Building, Western Bank, Sheffield S3 7RH, United Kingdom
| | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Hegyi G, Laczi M, Kötél D, Csizmadia T, Lőw P, Rosivall B, Szöllősi E, Török J. Reflectance variation in the blue tit crown in relation to feather structure. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:jeb.176727. [PMID: 29615523 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.176727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Structural plumage colour is one of the most enigmatic sexually selected traits. The information content of structural colour variation is debated, and the heterogeneity of the findings is hard to explain because the proximate background of within-species colour differences is very scarcely studied. We combined measurements of feather macrostructure and nanostructure to explain within-population variability in blue tit crown reflectance. We found that sexual dichromatism in aspects of crown reflectance was explained only by feather macrostructure, whereas nanostructural predictors accounted for some of the age-related differences in reflectance. Moreover, we found that both mean reflectance and spectral shape traits reflected a combination of quantity and regularity aspects in macrostructure and nanostructure. This rich proximate background provides ample scope for reflectance to convey various types of information on individual quality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gergely Hegyi
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Miklós Laczi
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary.,The Barn Owl Foundation, Temesvári út 8, H-8744 Orosztony, Hungary
| | - Dóra Kötél
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tamás Csizmadia
- Department of Anatomy, Cell and Developmental Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Péter Lőw
- Department of Anatomy, Cell and Developmental Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Balázs Rosivall
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Eszter Szöllősi
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - János Török
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary.,Ecology Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Nagi RK, Montanari DE, Bartl MH. Photonic crystal micro-pixelation and additive color mixing in weevil scales. BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS 2018; 13:035003. [PMID: 29443002 DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/aaaf55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The origin of the brilliant near angle-independent coloration of the weevil Eupholus chevrolati was investigated by a combination of optical and electron microscopy tools, photonic band structure calculations, and color mixing analysis. Optical microscopy and scanning micro-spectroscopy revealed the presence of micrometer-sized red, yellow, green, and blue reflective pixels covering the entire exoskeleton of the weevil. Scanning electron microscopy in combination with focused ion beam milling showed that each micro-pixel consisted of a diamond-based photonic crystal structure and the different reflective colors were the result of different orientations of the photonic crystal. Color mixing analysis was used to study the collective behavior of the reflective micro-pixels. A pointillist, additive color-mixing scheme of the reflective photonic crystal micro-pixels was determined as the origin of the weevil's bright and near angle-independent yellow-green coloration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ramneet K Nagi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States of America. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States of America
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Abstract
Naturally occurring photonic structures are responsible for the bright and vivid coloration in a large variety of living organisms. Despite efforts to understand their biological functions, development, and complex optical response, little is known of the underlying genes involved in the development of these nanostructures in any domain of life. Here, we used Flavobacterium colonies as a model system to demonstrate that genes responsible for gliding motility, cell shape, the stringent response, and tRNA modification contribute to the optical appearance of the colony. By structural and optical analysis, we obtained a detailed correlation of how genetic modifications alter structural color in bacterial colonies. Understanding of genotype and phenotype relations in this system opens the way to genetic engineering of on-demand living optical materials, for use as paints and living sensors.
Collapse
|
33
|
Choi SM, Chaudhry P, Zo SM, Han SS. Advances in Protein-Based Materials: From Origin to Novel Biomaterials. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1078:161-210. [PMID: 30357624 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-0950-2_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Biomaterials play a very important role in biomedicine and tissue engineering where they directly affect the cellular activities and their microenvironment . Myriad of techniques have been employed to fabricate a vast number natural, artificial and recombinant polymer s in order to harness these biomaterials in tissue regene ration , drug delivery and various other applications. Despite of tremendous efforts made in this field during last few decades, advanced and new generation biomaterials are still lacking. Protein based biomaterials have emerged as an attractive alternatives due to their intrinsic properties like cell to cell interaction , structural support and cellular communications. Several protein based biomaterials like, collagen , keratin , elastin , silk protein and more recently recombinant protein s are being utilized in a number of biomedical and biotechnological processes. These protein-based biomaterials have enormous capabilities, which can completely revolutionize the biomaterial world. In this review, we address an up-to date review on the novel, protein-based biomaterials used for biomedical field including tissue engineering, medical science, regenerative medicine as well as drug delivery. Further, we have also emphasized the novel fabrication techniques associated with protein-based materials and implication of these biomaterials in the domain of biomedical engineering .
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Soon Mo Choi
- Regional Research Institute for Fiber&Fashion Materials, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, South Korea
| | - Prerna Chaudhry
- School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, South Korea
| | - Sun Mi Zo
- School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, South Korea
| | - Sung Soo Han
- School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, South Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Takeoka Y. Environment and human friendly colored materials prepared using black and white components. Chem Commun (Camb) 2018; 54:4905-4914. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cc01894d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A review describing how to prepare structural colored materials with less angle dependency using white and black substances.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yukikazu Takeoka
- Department of Molecular & Macromolecular Chemistry
- Nagoya University
- Nagoya 464-8603
- Japan
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Abstract
Despite their seemingly random appearances in the real space, quasi-random nanophotonic structures exhibit distinct structural correlations and have been widely utilized for effective photon management. However, current design approaches mainly rely on the deterministic representations consisting two-dimensional (2D) discretized patterns in the real space. They fail to capture the inherent non-deterministic characteristic of the quasi-random structures and inevitably result in a large design dimensionality. Here, we report a new design approach that employs the one-dimensional (1D) spectral density function (SDF) as the unique representation of non-deterministic quasi-random structures in the Fourier space with greatly reduced design dimensionality. One 1D SDF representation can be used to generate infinite sets of real space structures in 2D with equally optimized performance, which was further validated experimentally using light-trapping structures in a thin film absorber as a model system. The optimized non-deterministic quasi-random nanostructures improve the broadband absorption by 225% over the unpatterned cell.
Collapse
|
36
|
Onelli OD, Kamp TVD, Skepper JN, Powell J, Rolo TDS, Baumbach T, Vignolini S. Development of structural colour in leaf beetles. Sci Rep 2017; 7:1373. [PMID: 28465577 PMCID: PMC5430951 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-01496-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural colours in living organisms have been observed and analysed in a large number of species, however the study of how the micro- and nano-scopic natural structures responsible of such colourations develop has been largely ignored. Understanding the interplay between chemical composition, structural morphology on multiple length scales, and mechanical constraints requires a range of investigation tools able to capture the different aspects of natural hierarchical architectures. Here, we report a developmental study of the most widespread strategy for structural colouration in nature: the cuticular multilayer. In particular, we focus on the exoskeletal growth of the dock leaf beetle Gastrophysa viridula, capturing all aspects of its formation: the macroscopic growth is tracked via synchrotron microtomography, while the submicron features are revealed by electron microscopy and light spectroscopy combined with numerical modelling. In particular, we observe that the two main factors driving the formation of the colour-producing multilayers are the polymerization of melanin during the ecdysis and the change in the layer spacing during the sclerotisation of the cuticle. Our understanding of the exoskeleton formation provides a unique insight into the different processes involved during metamorphosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olimpia D Onelli
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Thomas van de Kamp
- Laboratory for Applications of Synchrotron Radiation (LAS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Kaiserstr. 12, D-76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Jeremy N Skepper
- CAIC, Anatomy Building, Cambridge University, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Janet Powell
- CAIC, Anatomy Building, Cambridge University, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Tomy Dos Santos Rolo
- Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation (IPS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, D-76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Tilo Baumbach
- Laboratory for Applications of Synchrotron Radiation (LAS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Kaiserstr. 12, D-76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
- Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation (IPS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, D-76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Silvia Vignolini
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Wang Z, Guo Z. Biomimetic superwettable materials with structural colours. Chem Commun (Camb) 2017; 53:12990-13011. [DOI: 10.1039/c7cc07436k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
This review aims at offering a comprehension elaboration of the mechanism, recent biomimetic research and applications of biomimetic superwettable materials with structural colours. Futhermore, this review will provide significant insight into the design, fabrication and application of biomimetic superwettable materials with structural colours.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zelinlan Wang
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Centre for Advanced Organic Chemical Materials and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials
- Hubei University
- Wuhan 430062
- People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication
| | - Zhiguang Guo
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Centre for Advanced Organic Chemical Materials and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials
- Hubei University
- Wuhan 430062
- People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Abstract
Nature has mastered the construction of nanostructures with well-defined macroscopic effects and purposes. Structural colouration is a visible consequence of the particular patterning of a reflecting surface with regular structures at submicron length scales. Structural colours usually appear bright, shiny, iridescent or with a metallic look, as a result of physical processes such as diffraction, interference, or scattering with a typically small dissipative loss. These features have recently attracted much research effort in materials science, chemistry, engineering and physics, in order to understand and produce structural colours. In these early stages of photonics, researchers facing an infinite array of possible colour-producing structures are heavily inspired by the elaborate architectures they find in nature. We review here the recent technological strategies employed to artificially mimic the structural colours found in nature, as well as some of their current and potential applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahu Gümrah Dumanli
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Appel E, Heepe L, Lin CP, Gorb SN. Ultrastructure of dragonfly wing veins: composite structure of fibrous material supplemented by resilin. J Anat 2016; 227:561-82. [PMID: 26352411 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Dragonflies count among the most skilful of the flying insects. Their exceptional aerodynamic performance has been the subject of various studies. Morphological and kinematic investigations have showed that dragonfly wings, though being rather stiff, are able to undergo passive deformation during flight, thereby improving the aerodynamic performance. Resilin, a rubber-like protein, has been suggested to be a key component in insect wing flexibility and deformation in response to aerodynamic loads, and has been reported in various arthropod locomotor systems. It has already been found in wing vein joints, connecting longitudinal veins to cross veins, and was shown to endow the dragonfly wing with chordwise flexibility, thereby most likely influencing the dragonfly's flight performance. The present study revealed that resilin is not only present in wing vein joints, but also in the internal cuticle layers of veins in wings of Sympetrum vulgatum (SV) and Matrona basilaris basilaris (MBB). Combined with other structural features of wing veins, such as number and thickness of cuticle layers, material composition, and cross-sectional shape, resilin most probably has an effect on the vein's material properties and the degree of elastic deformations. In order to elucidate the wing vein ultrastructure and the exact localisation of resilin in the internal layers of the vein cuticle, the approaches of bright-field light microscopy, wide-field fluorescence microscopy, confocal laser-scanning microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were combined. Wing veins were shown to consist of up to six different cuticle layers and a single row of underlying epidermal cells. In wing veins of MBB, the latter are densely packed with light-scattering spheres, previously shown to produce structural colours in the form of quasiordered arrays. Longitudinal and cross veins differ significantly in relative thickness of exo- and endocuticle, with cross veins showing a much thicker exocuticle. The presence of resilin in the unsclerotised endocuticle suggests its contribution to an increased energy storage and material flexibility, thus to the prevention of vein damage. This is especially important in the highly stressed longitudinal veins, which have much lower possibility to yield to applied loads with the aid of vein joints, as the cross veins do. These results may be relevant not only for biologists, but may also contribute to optimise the design of micro-air vehicles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Esther Appel
- Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Lars Heepe
- Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Chung-Ping Lin
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Stanislav N Gorb
- Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Spatially modulated structural colour in bird feathers. Sci Rep 2015; 5:18317. [PMID: 26686280 PMCID: PMC4685390 DOI: 10.1038/srep18317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) feathers display periodic variations in the reflected colour from white through light blue, dark blue and black. We find the structures responsible for the colour are continuous in their size and spatially controlled by the degree of spinodal phase separation in the corresponding region of the feather barb. Blue structures have a well-defined broadband ultra-violet (UV) to blue wavelength distribution; the corresponding nanostructure has characteristic spinodal morphology with a lengthscale of order 150 nm. White regions have a larger 200 nm nanostructure, consistent with a spinodal process that has coarsened further, yielding broader wavelength white reflectance. Our analysis shows that nanostructure in single bird feather barbs can be varied continuously by controlling the time the keratin network is allowed to phase separate before mobility in the system is arrested. Dynamic scaling analysis of the single barb scattering data implies that the phase separation arrest mechanism is rapid and also distinct from the spinodal phase separation mechanism i.e. it is not gelation or intermolecular re-association. Any growing lengthscale using this spinodal phase separation approach must first traverse the UV and blue wavelength regions, growing the structure by coarsening, resulting in a broad distribution of domain sizes.
Collapse
|
41
|
Kasinsky H, Ellis S, Martens G, Ausió J. Dynamic aspects of spermiogenic chromatin condensation patterning by phase separation during the histone-to-protamine transition in charalean algae and relation to bryophytes. Tissue Cell 2014; 46:415-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2014.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2014] [Revised: 07/07/2014] [Accepted: 07/21/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
|
42
|
Shawkey MD, D'Alba L, Xiao M, Schutte M, Buchholz R. Ontogeny of an iridescent nanostructure composed of hollow melanosomes. J Morphol 2014; 276:378-84. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2014] [Revised: 10/20/2014] [Accepted: 11/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D. Shawkey
- Department of Biology and Integrated Bioscience Program; The University of Akron; Akron Ohio 44325-3908 USA
| | - Liliana D'Alba
- Department of Biology and Integrated Bioscience Program; The University of Akron; Akron Ohio 44325-3908 USA
| | - Ming Xiao
- Department of Biology and Integrated Bioscience Program; The University of Akron; Akron Ohio 44325-3908 USA
- Department of Polymer Science; The University of Akron; Akron Ohio 44325-3909 USA
| | - Matthew Schutte
- Department of Biology and Integrated Bioscience Program; The University of Akron; Akron Ohio 44325-3908 USA
| | - Richard Buchholz
- Department of Biology; University of Mississippi; University; Mississippi 38677-1848 USA
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Lurie-Luke E. Product and technology innovation: what can biomimicry inspire? Biotechnol Adv 2014; 32:1494-505. [PMID: 25316672 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2014.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2014] [Revised: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 10/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Biomimicry (bio- meaning life in Greek, and -mimesis, meaning to copy) is a growing field that seeks to interpolate natural biological mechanisms and structures into a wide range of applications. The rise of interest in biomimicry in recent years has provided a fertile ground for innovation. This review provides an eco-system based analysis of biomimicry inspired technology and product innovation. A multi-disciplinary framework has been developed to accomplish this analysis and the findings focus on the areas that have been most strikingly affected by the application of biomimicry and also highlight the emerging trends and opportunity areas.
Collapse
|
44
|
Feo TJ, Prum RO. Theoretical morphology and development of flight feather vane asymmetry with experimental tests in parrots. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2014; 322:240-55. [PMID: 24816758 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.22573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2013] [Revised: 02/20/2014] [Accepted: 04/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Asymmetry in flight feather vane width is a major functional innovation associated with the evolution of flight in the ancestors of birds. However, the developmental and morphological basis of feather shape is not simple, and the developmental processes involved in vane width asymmetry are poorly understood. We present a theoretical model of feather morphology and development that describes the possible ways to modify feather development and produce vane asymmetry. Our model finds that the theoretical morphospace of feather shape is redundant, and that many different combinations of parameters could be responsible for vane asymmetry in a given feather. Next, we empirically measured morphological and developmental model parameters in asymmetric and symmetric feathers from two species of parrots to identify which combinations of parameters create vane asymmetry in real feathers. We found that both longer barbs, and larger barb angles in the relatively wider trailing vane drove asymmetry in tail feathers. Developmentally, longer barbs were the result of an offset of the radial position of the new barb locus, whereas larger barb angles were produced by differential expansion of barbs as the feather unfurls from the tubular feather germ. In contrast, the helical angle of barb ridge development did not contribute to vane asymmetry and could be indicative of a constraint. This research provides the first comprehensive description of both the morphological and developmental modifications responsible for vane asymmetry within real feathers, and identifies key steps that must have occurred during the evolution of vane asymmetry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Teresa J Feo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Saenko SV, Teyssier J, van der Marel D, Milinkovitch MC. Precise colocalization of interacting structural and pigmentary elements generates extensive color pattern variation in Phelsuma lizards. BMC Biol 2013; 11:105. [PMID: 24099066 PMCID: PMC4021644 DOI: 10.1186/1741-7007-11-105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2013] [Accepted: 10/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Color traits in animals play crucial roles in thermoregulation, photoprotection, camouflage, and visual communication, and are amenable to objective quantification and modeling. However, the extensive variation in non-melanic pigments and structural colors in squamate reptiles has been largely disregarded. Here, we used an integrated approach to investigate the morphological basis and physical mechanisms generating variation in color traits in tropical day geckos of the genus Phelsuma. RESULTS Combining histology, optics, mass spectrometry, and UV and Raman spectroscopy, we found that the extensive variation in color patterns within and among Phelsuma species is generated by complex interactions between, on the one hand, chromatophores containing yellow/red pteridine pigments and, on the other hand, iridophores producing structural color by constructive interference of light with guanine nanocrystals. More specifically, we show that 1) the hue of the vivid dorsolateral skin is modulated both by variation in geometry of structural, highly ordered narrowband reflectors, and by the presence of yellow pigments, and 2) that the reflectivity of the white belly and of dorsolateral pigmentary red marks, is increased by underlying structural disorganized broadband reflectors. Most importantly, these interactions require precise colocalization of yellow and red chromatophores with different types of iridophores, characterized by ordered and disordered nanocrystals, respectively. We validated these results through numerical simulations combining pigmentary components with a multilayer interferential optical model. Finally, we show that melanophores form dark lateral patterns but do not significantly contribute to variation in blue/green or red coloration, and that changes in the pH or redox state of pigments provide yet another source of color variation in squamates. CONCLUSIONS Precisely colocalized interacting pigmentary and structural elements generate extensive variation in lizard color patterns. Our results indicate the need to identify the developmental mechanisms responsible for the control of the size, shape, and orientation of nanocrystals, and the superposition of specific chromatophore types. This study opens up new perspectives on Phelsuma lizards as models in evolutionary developmental biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne V Saenko
- Laboratory of Artificial and Natural Evolution (LANE), Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, Sciences III, 30, Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Greenwold MJ, Sawyer RH. Molecular evolution and expression of archosaurian β-keratins: Diversification and expansion of archosaurian β-keratins and the origin of feather β-keratins. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2013; 320:393-405. [DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.22514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2012] [Revised: 04/25/2013] [Accepted: 05/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Greenwold
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of South Carolina; Columbia; South Carolina
| | - Roger H. Sawyer
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of South Carolina; Columbia; South Carolina
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Brydegaard M, Samuelsson P, Kudenov MW, Svanberg S. On the exploitation of mid-infrared iridescence of plumage for remote classification of nocturnal migrating birds. APPLIED SPECTROSCOPY 2013; 67:477-490. [PMID: 23643036 DOI: 10.1366/12-06860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
A challenging task in ornithology lies in identifying high-altitude nocturnal migrating bird species and genders. While the current approaches including radar, lunar obscuration, and single-band thermal imaging provide means of detection, a more detailed spectral or polarimetric analysis of light has the potential for retrieval of additional information whereby the species and sex could be determined. In this paper, we explore remote classification opportunities provided by iridescent features within feathers in the mid-infrared region. Our approach first involves characterizing the microstructural features of the feather by using rotation and straining, and a scheme for their remote detection is proposed by correlating these microstructural changes to spectral and polarimetric effects. Furthermore, we simulate the spectral signature of the entire bird by using a model that demonstrates how classification would be achieved. Finally, we apply infrared hyperspectral polarization imaging, showing that the net iridescent effect persists for the bird as a whole.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mikkel Brydegaard
- Atomic Physics Division, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Kreit E, Mäthger LM, Hanlon RT, Dennis PB, Naik RR, Forsythe E, Heikenfeld J. Biological versus electronic adaptive coloration: how can one inform the other? J R Soc Interface 2012; 10:20120601. [PMID: 23015522 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2012.0601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Adaptive reflective surfaces have been a challenge for both electronic paper (e-paper) and biological organisms. Multiple colours, contrast, polarization, reflectance, diffusivity and texture must all be controlled simultaneously without optical losses in order to fully replicate the appearance of natural surfaces and vividly communicate information. This review merges the frontiers of knowledge for both biological adaptive coloration, with a focus on cephalopods, and synthetic reflective e-paper within a consistent framework of scientific metrics. Currently, the highest performance approach for both nature and technology uses colourant transposition. Three outcomes are envisioned from this review: reflective display engineers may gain new insights from millions of years of natural selection and evolution; biologists will benefit from understanding the types of mechanisms, characterization and metrics used in synthetic reflective e-paper; all scientists will gain a clearer picture of the long-term prospects for capabilities such as adaptive concealment and signaling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Kreit
- Novel Devices Laboratory, School of Electronic and Computing Systems, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Maia R, Brasileiro L, Lacava RV, Macedo RH. Social environment affects acquisition and color of structural nuptial plumage in a sexually dimorphic tropical passerine. PLoS One 2012; 7:e47501. [PMID: 23082172 PMCID: PMC3474847 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0047501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2012] [Accepted: 09/14/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural colors result from the physical interaction of light with organic materials of differing refractive indexes organized at nanoscale dimensions to produce significant interference effects. Because color properties emerge from these finely organized nanostructures, the production of structural coloration could respond to environmental factors and be developmentally more plastic than expected, functioning as an indicator of individual quality. However, there are many unknown factors concerning the function and mechanisms regulating structural coloration, especially relative to social environment. We hypothesized that social environment, in the form of competitive settings, can influence the developmental pathways involving production of feather structural coloration. We experimentally assessed the impact of social environment upon body condition, molt and spectral properties of two types of structural color that compose the nuptial plumage in blue-black grassquits: black iridescent plumage and white underwing patches. We manipulated male social environment during nine months by keeping individuals in three treatments: (1) pairs; (2) all-male groups; and (3) male-female mixed groups. All morphological characters and spectral plumage measures varied significantly through time, but only acquisition of nuptial plumage coverage and nuptial plumage color were influenced by social environment. Compared with males in the paired treatment, those in treatments with multiple males molted into nuptial plumage faster and earlier, and their plumage was more UV-purple-shifted. Our results provide experimental evidence that social context strongly influences development and expression of structural plumage. These results emphasize the importance of long-term experimental studies to identify the phenotypic consequences of social dynamics relative to ornament expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Maia
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
- Department of Biology, Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Luiza Brasileiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
- Laboratório de Comportamento Animal, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Roberto V. Lacava
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
- Laboratório de Comportamento Animal, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Regina H. Macedo
- Laboratório de Comportamento Animal, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Ekblom R, Farrell LL, Lank DB, Burke T. Gene expression divergence and nucleotide differentiation between males of different color morphs and mating strategies in the ruff. Ecol Evol 2012; 2:2485-505. [PMID: 23145334 PMCID: PMC3492775 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2012] [Revised: 08/01/2012] [Accepted: 08/08/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
By next generation transcriptome sequencing, it is possible to obtain data on both nucleotide sequence variation and gene expression. We have used this approach (RNA-Seq) to investigate the genetic basis for differences in plumage coloration and mating strategies in a non-model bird species, the ruff (Philomachus pugnax). Ruff males show enormous variation in the coloration of ornamental feathers, used for individual recognition. This polymorphism is linked to reproductive strategies, with dark males (Independents) defending territories on leks against other Independents, whereas white morphs (Satellites) co-occupy Independent's courts without agonistic interactions. Previous work found a strong genetic component for mating strategy, but the genes involved were not identified. We present feather transcriptome data of more than 6,000 de-novo sequenced ruff genes (although with limited coverage for many of them). None of the identified genes showed significant expression divergence between males, but many genetic markers showed nucleotide differentiation between different color morphs and mating strategies. These include several feather keratin genes, splicing factors, and the Xg blood-group gene. Many of the genes with significant genetic structure between mating strategies have not yet been annotated and their functions remain to be elucidated. We also conducted in-depth investigations of 28 pre-identified coloration candidate genes. Two of these (EDNRB and TYR) were specifically expressed in black- and rust-colored males, respectively. We have demonstrated the utility of next generation transcriptome sequencing for identifying and genotyping large number of genetic markers in a non-model species without previous genomic resources, and highlight the potential of this approach for addressing the genetic basis of ecologically important variation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Ekblom
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University Norbyvägen 18 D, SE-75236, Uppsala, Sweden ; Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|