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Macro- and Microstructural Features from the Feathers of Four Columbidae Species

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Abstract

Plumology is being used in a variety of avian research fields such as from ecology and evolution to prey-predator relationship. However, very few systematic studies have been conducted in India using plumology. The paper compares macro- and micro-structural feathers’ features from four species of family Columbidae viz. the Spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis), Grey-fronted green pigeon (Treron affinis), Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto) and Common pigeon (Columba livia) from different Indian localities. A morphometric analysis of the downy and contour feathers’ structures of the listed species was carried out. Since the feathers were taken from significantly damaged carcasses, it was necessary to determine the pterylae of the flying feathers to which the latter belong. Morphometric features of feathers viz. calamus, rachis, vane and mounted barb length were measured. An atypical for Columbidae feature presence of villi has been observed but only for T. affinis species. The presence of typical pigmented quadrilobed nodes was noted in all Columbidae species. Pigmented and non-pigmented plain pronged nodes and plain swollen nodes were observed. The presence of three different nodes on barbules and nodes’ pigmentation may be considered as key taxonomic characteristics for studied Columbidae species. The feather comparison method made it possible to identify pterylae of studied feathers.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are thankful to the Tamil Nadu Forest department, Gujrat Forest department, Assam Forest department and Assam state biodiversity board for providing necessary permissions. We are greatly thankful to the field assistance Mr. Niren Singh for his assistance during field works in Assam.

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Avian Forensic Laboratory, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, 641108, Anaikatty, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

    Swapna Devi Ray, Prateek Dey & Padmanabhan Pramod

  2. Bharathiar University, Maruthamalai Main Road, 641046, Coimbatore North Taluk, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

    Swapna Devi Ray & Prateek Dey

  3. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071, Moscow, Russia

    Olga Silaeva

  4. Wetland Ecology Division, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, 641108, Anaikatty, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

    Goldin Quadros

  5. Department of Life Science, School of Earth, Biological and Environmental Sciences, Central University of South Bihar, 824236, Gaya, Bihar, India

    Ram Pratap Singh

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  1. Swapna Devi Ray
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Contributions

Conceptualization: RPS, PP, SDR and GQ; Data curation: SDR and PD; Formal analysis: SDR, OS and GQ; Funding acquisition: RPS and PP; Investigation: RPS, PP and GQ; Methodology: RPS, SDR, OS, GQ, PD and PP; Supervision: RPS, OS and GQ; Visualization: RPS, GQ, SDR; Roles/Writing—original draft: SDR, OS, RPS and GQ; Writing—review and editing: RPS, OS, SDR and GQ.

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Correspondence to Ram Pratap Singh.

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Supplementary Information

10525_2024_9612_MOESM1_ESM.docx

Table 1S. Colour and texture of the studied Columbidae species. In Spilopelia chinensis (P1, P4, S1, S2), Treron affinis (P2, P4, S2, S7, R5, R6) and Streptopelia decaocto (P2, P3, S3, S7, R3, R5) and Columba livia (P2, P3, S3, S5, R3, R5)

Table 2S. Average barb length in the studied Columbidae species

Table 3S. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the difference of feathers and barb lengths in four Columbidae species. S. chinensis (P1, P4, S1, S2), T. affinis (P2, P4, S2, S7, R5, R6) and S. decaocto (P2, P3, S3, S7, R3, R5) and C. livia (P2, P3, S3, S5, R3, R5).

Fig. 1S. Upper and lower surface (ventral and dorsal) close up views of the flight contour rachis in S. chinensis (A and B), T. affinis (C and D), S. decaocto (E and F) and C. livia (G and H).

Fig. 2S. Cross-sections views of the flight contour feather to show the presence of continuous hollowness of the studied rachis in S. chinensis (A), T. affinis (B), S. decaocto (C) and C. livia (D).

Fig. 3S. Subpennaceous region at the proximal segments of feather barbs of S. chinensis (A), T. affinis (B), S. decaocto (C) and C. livia (D) at 10× resolutions.

Fig. 4S. Hooklets at pennaceous feather barbules in S. chinensis (A), T. affinis (B), S. decaocto (C) and C. livia (D) at 40× resolutions.

Fig. 5S. Cilia at pennaceous feather barbules in S. chinensis (A), T. affinis (B), S. decaocto (C) and C. livia (D) at 10× resolutions.

Fig. 6S . Ventral teeth at pennaceous feather barbules in S. chinensis (A), T. affinis (B), S. decaocto (C) and C. livia (D) at 40× resolutions.

Fig. 7S . Ramus with dark and patchy pigmentation in S. chinensis (A), T. affinis (B), S. decaocto (C) and C. livia (D) at 10× resolutions.

Fig. 8S . Topographical illustration of different feather parts in C. livia.

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Swapna Devi Ray, Silaeva, O., Quadros, G. et al. Macro- and Microstructural Features from the Feathers of Four Columbidae Species. Biol Bull Russ Acad Sci 51, 684–699 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1134/S106235902360650X

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