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Ultraviolet reflectance by the skin of nestlings

Author

Listed:
  • Violaine Jourdie

    (University of Lausanne
    University of Neuchâtel)

  • Benoît Moureau

    (University of Lausanne)

  • Andrew T. D. Bennett

    (School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol)

  • Philipp Heeb

    (University of Lausanne)

Abstract

Birds can perceive the reflectance of ultraviolet light by biological structures1,2,3,4,5. Here we show that the skin of the mouth and body of starling nestlings substantially reflects light in the ultraviolet range and that young in which this reflectance is reduced will gain less mass than controls, despite low background levels of ultraviolet and visible light in the nest. We suggest that this ultraviolet reflectance from starling nestlings and its contrast with surrounding surfaces are important for parental decisions about food allocation.

Suggested Citation

  • Violaine Jourdie & Benoît Moureau & Andrew T. D. Bennett & Philipp Heeb, 2004. "Ultraviolet reflectance by the skin of nestlings," Nature, Nature, vol. 431(7006), pages 262-262, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:431:y:2004:i:7006:d:10.1038_431262a
    DOI: 10.1038/431262a
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    Cited by:

    1. Daisuke Kojima & Suguru Mori & Masaki Torii & Akimori Wada & Rika Morishita & Yoshitaka Fukada, 2011. "UV-Sensitive Photoreceptor Protein OPN5 in Humans and Mice," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(10), pages 1-12, October.
    2. Laurie J Mitchell & Fabio Cortesi & N Justin Marshall & Karen L Cheney, 2023. "Higher ultraviolet skin reflectance signals submissiveness in the anemonefish, Amphiprion akindynos," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 34(1), pages 19-32.

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