Function of the uropygial gland in eiders (Somateria mollissima)
Background: The uropygial gland is an exocrine gland located above the tail of birds that produces a diverse range of biochemicals. It has been hypothesized to be involved in chemical protection, water-proofing and maintenance of plumage brightness. Although these not necessarily mutually exclusive...
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ftuniaarhuspubl:oai:pure.atira.dk:publications/d4277f54-05ff-4938-a08b-bb492ce0f71f 2023-12-17T10:50:01+01:00 Function of the uropygial gland in eiders (Somateria mollissima) Møller, Anders Pape Laursen, Karsten 2019-07-05 https://pure.au.dk/portal/da/publications/function-of-the-uropygial-gland-in-eiders-somateria-mollissima(d4277f54-05ff-4938-a08b-bb492ce0f71f).html https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-019-0163-8 http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85068562288&partnerID=8YFLogxK eng eng https://pure.au.dk/portal/da/publications/function-of-the-uropygial-gland-in-eiders-somateria-mollissima(d4277f54-05ff-4938-a08b-bb492ce0f71f).html info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Møller , A P & Laursen , K 2019 , ' Function of the uropygial gland in eiders (Somateria mollissima) ' , Avian Research , vol. 10 , no. 1 , 24 . https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-019-0163-8 Anti-microbial substance Eider Somateria mollissima Uropygial gland Water-proofing article 2019 ftuniaarhuspubl https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-019-0163-8 2023-11-23T00:00:43Z Background: The uropygial gland is an exocrine gland located above the tail of birds that produces a diverse range of biochemicals. It has been hypothesized to be involved in chemical protection, water-proofing and maintenance of plumage brightness. Although these not necessarily mutually exclusive functions have received some empirical support, there has been little empirical research on the function of water-proofing. Methods: Here we analyzed data for 229 individual eiders (Somateria mollissima) collected by Danish hunters during 2016-2018. Results: The Eider is a sea-duck that spends almost its entire life in sea water emphasizing water-proofing of the plumage. The size of the uropygial gland increased with body mass in males, but not in females, and it increased with age. The size of the uropygial gland decreased during winter. Eiders with small uropygial glands grew their feathers at a fast rate. Eiders with large wing areas had large uropygial glands. Conclusions: These findings are consistent with large uropygial glands playing a role in water-proofing during molt and foraging, but also that uropygial glands may play a role in chemical defense. Article in Journal/Newspaper Somateria mollissima Aarhus University: Research Avian Research 10 1 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Aarhus University: Research |
op_collection_id |
ftuniaarhuspubl |
language |
English |
topic |
Anti-microbial substance Eider Somateria mollissima Uropygial gland Water-proofing |
spellingShingle |
Anti-microbial substance Eider Somateria mollissima Uropygial gland Water-proofing Møller, Anders Pape Laursen, Karsten Function of the uropygial gland in eiders (Somateria mollissima) |
topic_facet |
Anti-microbial substance Eider Somateria mollissima Uropygial gland Water-proofing |
description |
Background: The uropygial gland is an exocrine gland located above the tail of birds that produces a diverse range of biochemicals. It has been hypothesized to be involved in chemical protection, water-proofing and maintenance of plumage brightness. Although these not necessarily mutually exclusive functions have received some empirical support, there has been little empirical research on the function of water-proofing. Methods: Here we analyzed data for 229 individual eiders (Somateria mollissima) collected by Danish hunters during 2016-2018. Results: The Eider is a sea-duck that spends almost its entire life in sea water emphasizing water-proofing of the plumage. The size of the uropygial gland increased with body mass in males, but not in females, and it increased with age. The size of the uropygial gland decreased during winter. Eiders with small uropygial glands grew their feathers at a fast rate. Eiders with large wing areas had large uropygial glands. Conclusions: These findings are consistent with large uropygial glands playing a role in water-proofing during molt and foraging, but also that uropygial glands may play a role in chemical defense. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Møller, Anders Pape Laursen, Karsten |
author_facet |
Møller, Anders Pape Laursen, Karsten |
author_sort |
Møller, Anders Pape |
title |
Function of the uropygial gland in eiders (Somateria mollissima) |
title_short |
Function of the uropygial gland in eiders (Somateria mollissima) |
title_full |
Function of the uropygial gland in eiders (Somateria mollissima) |
title_fullStr |
Function of the uropygial gland in eiders (Somateria mollissima) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Function of the uropygial gland in eiders (Somateria mollissima) |
title_sort |
function of the uropygial gland in eiders (somateria mollissima) |
publishDate |
2019 |
url |
https://pure.au.dk/portal/da/publications/function-of-the-uropygial-gland-in-eiders-somateria-mollissima(d4277f54-05ff-4938-a08b-bb492ce0f71f).html https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-019-0163-8 http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85068562288&partnerID=8YFLogxK |
genre |
Somateria mollissima |
genre_facet |
Somateria mollissima |
op_source |
Møller , A P & Laursen , K 2019 , ' Function of the uropygial gland in eiders (Somateria mollissima) ' , Avian Research , vol. 10 , no. 1 , 24 . https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-019-0163-8 |
op_relation |
https://pure.au.dk/portal/da/publications/function-of-the-uropygial-gland-in-eiders-somateria-mollissima(d4277f54-05ff-4938-a08b-bb492ce0f71f).html |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-019-0163-8 |
container_title |
Avian Research |
container_volume |
10 |
container_issue |
1 |
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1785574668045910016 |