Preening correlates with lower feather bacteria abundance but not feather coloration in a lek‐breeding bird
Feathers are structures unique to birds that serve important functions such as flight, thermoregulation, and communication. Bacteria that live on the feathers, particularly ones that can break down keratin, have the potential to damage feathers and disrupt their use in communication. We predicted th...
| Published in: | Journal of Avian Biology |
|---|---|
| Main Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2024-07-01
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/jav.03209 |