A5076161212- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Plant and animal studies
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Wildlife Conservation and Criminology Analyses
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Animal Nutrition and Physiology
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- bioluminescence and chemiluminescence research
- Marine animal studies overview
- Retinal Development and Disorders
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Reproductive tract infections research
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
The University of Melbourne
1969-2025
Deakin University
2014-2024
La Trobe University
2023
University of Bristol
2007-2020
The University of Adelaide
1996-2018
University of Regensburg
1997
University of Oxford
1993-1996
Google (United States)
1993
Université Libre de Bruxelles
1993
Courtauld Institute of Art
1992
Many long-standing evolutionary hypotheses make predictions about trends in color patterns. Examples of these include crypsis, mimicry and warning coloration, fruit flower the handicap principle honest advertisement, Fisher's runaway process, parasite theory sexual selection, sensory drive theories signaling. The majority tests hypotheses, particularly with regard to have been conducted on objects that birds perceive visually, human vision used assess color. This assumes see patterns as...
Abstract Co‐flowering plant species commonly share flower visitors, and thus have the potential to influence each other's pollination. In this study we analysed 750 quantitative plant–pollinator networks from 28 studies representing diverse biomes worldwide. We show that for one another indirectly via shared pollinators was greater plants whose resources were more abundant (higher floral unit number nectar sugar content) accessible. The indirect also stronger between phylogenetically closer...
Assessment of color using human vision (or standards based thereon) is central to tests many evolutionary hypotheses. Yet fundamental differences in between humans and other animals call this approach into question. Here we use techniques for objectively assessing patterns that avoid reliance on species‐specific (e.g., human) perception. Reflectance spectra are the invariant features expect animal's cognition have evolved extract. We performed multivariate analyses principal components...
Avian plumage has long been used to test theories of sexual selection, with humans assessing the colors. However, many birds see in ultraviolet (<400 nm), which are blind. Consequently, it is important know whether natural variation UV reflectance from functions signaling. We show that female starlings rank males differently when wavelengths present or absent. Principal component analysis ≈1300 spectra (300–700 nm) taken sexually dimorphic regions predicted preference under UV+ treatment....
The blue tit (Parus caeruleus) has been classified as sexually monochromatic. This classification is based on human colour perception yet, unlike humans, most birds have four spectrally distinct classes of cone and are visually sensitive to wavelengths in the near–ultraviolet (300 400 nm). Reflectance spectrophotometry reveals that plumage shows considerable reflection UV light. For example, crest peak reflectance at around 352 nm. Furthermore, dichromatic for multiple regions plumage,...
1. The effects of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) on adrenergic nerves in the domestic fowl have been investigated with ultrastructural and fluorescence histochemical methods.2. 6-OHDA depletes catecholamine, initially by displacing it from storage vesicles. enters large as well small vesicles, indicating that granular vesicles are sites amine storage.3. Doses 6-OHDA, insufficient to cause degeneration, still loading vesicles.4. various drugs action indicate this drug must be taken up reach a...
Despite major differences between human and avian colour vision, previous studies of cuckoo egg mimicry have used vision (or standards based thereon) to assess matching. Using ultraviolet–visible reflectance spectrophotometry (300–700 nm), we measured museum collections eggs the red–chested its hosts. The first three principal components explained more than 99% variance in spectra, measures cuckoo–host similarity derived from these transformations were compared with estimated by observers...
The function of avian ultraviolet (UV) vision is only just beginning to be understood. One plausible hypothesis that UV enhances the foraging ability birds. To test this, we carried out behavioural experiments using wild–caught blue tits for cabbage moth and winter caterpillars on natural artificial backgrounds. light environment in our was manipulated either UV–blocking or UV–transmitting filters. We found tended find first prey item (out four) more quickly when cues were present. This...
Gaudy plumage coloration is a widespread ornamental trait in birds and thought to be sexually selected. Although much attention has been devoted structural reflecting UV, the signaling function of colors lacking UV reflectance those that exhibit iridescence are poorly documented. The train peacock (Pavo cristatus), classical example selected trait, composed iridescent structurally colored eyespots not UV. Until today, role played by color female mate choice never investigated using...
As in many parrots, the plumage of budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus reflects near–ultraviolet (UVA) wavelengths (300–400 nm) and exhibits UVA–induced fluorescence. However, there have, to our knowledge, been no tests whether yellow fluorescence observed under intense UVA illumination has any role signalling. Four experiments were carried out on wild–type budgerigars, where presence absence UV reflectance manipulated using filters. Few studies have attempted separate contribution hue as...
SUMMARY There is growing evidence that ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths play an important role in avian mate choice. One of the first experiments to support this idea showed female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) prefer UV-reflecting males whose reflection has been removed. The effect was very strong despite little or no UV from several plumage areas. However, it not clear how importance waveband compares other regions bird-visible spectrum. We tested whether response removal male greater...
Speciation, despite ongoing gene flow can be studied directly in nature ring species that comprise two reproductively isolated populations connected by a chain or of intergrading populations. We applied three tiers spatio-temporal analysis (phylogeny/historical biogeography, phylogeography and landscape/population genetics) to the data from mitochondrial nuclear genomes eastern Australian parrots Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans complex understand history present genetic structure they...
A fundamental issue in biology is explaining the diversity of coloration found nature. Birds provide some best‐studied examples evolution and causes color variation most arresting displays natural world. They possess perhaps richly endowed visual system any vertebrate, including UV‐A sensitivity tetrachromatic vision over 300–700‐nm waveband. model systems for multidisciplinary study animal vision. Recent advances understanding avian are due to recognition that birds see colors a different...