Strength of parrot fight feathers is a function of positionon the wing  

作　　者：Denis Charles Deeming Connor J.Hutchings Fern G.Seaward Adrian M.Goodman 

机构地区：[1]School of Natural Sciences,University of Lincoln,Joseph Banks Laboratories,Green Lane,Lincoln LN67DL,UK

出　　处：《Current Zoology》2025年第2期212-222,共11页动物学报(英文版)

摘　　要：Powered fight in birds is reliant on feathers forming an aerodynamic surface that resists air pressures.Many basic aspects of feather functionality are unknown,which hampers our understanding of wing function in birds.This study measured the dimensions of primary and secondaryfight feathers of 19 species of parrots.The maximum force the feathers could withstand from below was also measured to mimic the pressuresexperienced during a downstroke.The analysis tested whether:(1)feather dimensions differed along the wing and among secondary and primary remiges;(2)the force that feathers could withstand varied among the remiges;and(3)there would be isometric relationships with bodymass for feather characteristics.The results show that body mass signifcantly affected vane width,rachis thickness,maximum force,and ultimate bending moment,but the relationship for feather length only approached signifcance.Many of the proximal secondary feathers showedsignifcantly lower values relative to the frst primary,whereas for distal primaries the values were greater.There were isometric relationships forforce measurements of primary and secondary feathers with body mass,but there was positive allometry for feather lengths and vane widths.The forces feathers can withstand vary along the wing may be a proxy for the aerodynamic properties of the feathers in situ.Broader taxonomicstudies that explore these topics are required for other species representing a range of different orders.A better understanding of the functionality of feathers will improve our understanding of how avian fight works particularly considering the variety in fight style and wing shape in birds.

关 键 词：bending moment dimensions FEATHER force primary SECONDARY 

分 类 号：Q95[生物学—动物学]