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Study Reveals Light Emission in Birds-of-Paradise

Feb 18, 2025

Study Shows Birds-of-Paradise Give Off Light

Overview

  • Date of publication: February 13, 2025
  • Researchers discovered that many species of birds-of-paradise exhibit biofluorescence, where their feathers glow under certain types of light.

Key Discoveries

  • Biofluorescence: Phenomenon where animals take in one kind of light and emit another kind.
    • Found in 37 out of 45 species of birds-of-paradise.
    • Different from bioluminescence (e.g., fireflies), where animals produce their own light.

Study Details

  • Conducted by Dr. Rene Martin and her team at the American Museum of Natural History.
  • Methodology:
    • Samples of male and female birds from 45 species tested.
    • UV and blue light shone on birds in a dark room.
    • Special tools measured the light emitted.

Findings

  • Biofluorescence is most prominent in males:
    • Bright green and green-yellow glow.
    • Strongest in areas shown during mating dances (head, neck, stomach, tail feathers).
    • Also present on faces and inside mouths, often opened during displays.
  • Females also exhibit biofluorescence but to a lesser extent, possibly for camouflage.

Additional Observations

  • Some birds-of-paradise have ultrablack feathers that absorb almost all light, enhancing color contrast.
  • Biofluorescence may aid in attracting mates; more research needed to understand its full role.

Challenges and Future Research

  • Current findings based on museum samples.
  • Natural habitat studies could offer more insights but pose logistical challenges.

Evolutionary Insight

  • Biofluorescence possibly inherited from a common ancestor.
  • Six species without biofluorescence might have lost this trait over time.

Sources

  • Cited sources include articles from NY Times, The Guardian, Phys.org, New Scientist, and Royal Society Publishing.

Visuals

  • Included images depict biofluorescence in various birds-of-paradise.

Did You Know?

  • The study hints at an ancient evolutionary origin for biofluorescence in these bird species.