Data Base BL 2

This experimental study explores the partial contribution of uropygial gland secretion to final colouration of nestling mouth-flanges. The main findings of our study are that after cleaning, flanges were brighter, more UV and less yellow-red coloured (chroma). Our findings therefore support the hypothesis that nestlings use their uropygial secretion as cosmetics, and open the possibility for future research to investigate the role of uropygial secretion in reinforcing the signalling role of begging-related traits involved in parent-offspring communication.

本实验研究探讨了尾脂腺（uropygial gland）分泌物对雏鸟口缘最终色泽的部分作用。本研究的主要发现为：经清洁处理后，雏鸟口缘亮度更高、紫外反射特性更强，黄红色调的彩度（chroma）更低。据此，本研究结果支持"雏鸟将尾脂腺分泌物作为妆饰剂使用"这一假说，并为后续探索尾脂腺分泌物在强化参与亲子通讯的乞食相关性状的信号功能中的作用开辟了研究路径。