Not so black,not so white:differences in microorganism load of contiguous feathers from white stork chicks

• 作者: Zaid AL RUBAIEE Haider AL MURAYATI Marcin TOBOLKA Piotr TRYJANOWSKI Anders Pape M?LLER
• 来源期刊: 动物学报（英文版）
• 年，卷（期）: 2021,（3）
• 所属期刊栏目: Articles
• 页码范围: 263-270
• 页数: 8页
• 语种: 英文
• DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoaa062

摘要

Many organisms are characterized by strikingly contrasting black and white coloration,but the function of such contrasts has been inadequately studied.In this article,we tested the function of black and white contrasting plumage in white stork Ciconia ciconia chicks.We found greater abun-dance and diversity of microorganisms on black compared with adjacent white feathers.In add-ition,nest size was positively correlated with the abundance and diversity of microorganisms on white feathers.Flight initiation distance(FID),defined as the distance at which adult white storks took flight when approached by a human,was negatively correlated with most measurements of microorganism abundance.Breeding success was generally positively correlated with the abun-dance and diversity of microorganisms on black feathers.The feather growth rate was positively correlated with some and negatively correlated with other measurements of microbial abundance and diversity.Finally,chick growth was negatively correlated with the number of microbial species on black feathers and positively with the abundance and diversity of microorganisms on white feathers.These findings are consistent not only with the role of microorganisms in the mainten-ance of a benign microbial environment which differs between black and white feathers,but also with the hypothesis that several taxa of microorganisms found in black and white plumage are virulent,with negative effects on the fitness of their hosts.