Chemotaxonomical relationships between penguins and tubenoses

The compositions of the uropygial gland wax of seven species of birds of the order Procellariiformes (tubenoses) belonging to four different families are compared with one another and with those of birds belonging to other orders. The results are discussed from a chemotaxonomical viewpoint. For this purpose, the various parameters have been depicted on a 3-dimensional matrix. Although all birds investigated are obviously related to each other, two of the species (Diomedea and Garrodia) also show a relationship to different orders. The results support the opinion that the Procellariiformes are closely related to the Sphenisciformes (penguins).     

The uropygial gland secretions of birds of the family sylviidae

The preen gland secretions from eight species of the genera Acrocephalus and Sylvia (Sylviidae, Passeriformes) mainly consist of monoester waxes. The fatty acids and alcohols are methyl-substituted at even numbered positions only. One of the methyl groups of the fatty acids is always located in the 2-position. Two patterns of methyl substitution are found for the alkanols: $\text{2-}\text{mono-}$, $\text{2,6-di-}$, and $\text{2,6,x-}\text{trimethyl}$ on the one hand, and 4-mono-, 4,8-di-, and 4,8,$\text{y-}\text{trimethyl}$ on the other. There is, however, no doubt in the uniformity of the family Sylviidae from the chemotaxonomical point of view; the waxes of the species investigated can be arranged in a gradual succession of substitution patterns. The monoester waxes of Sylviidae are similar to those found for the closely related family Turdidae.     

Chemotaxonomy of Anseriformes

The composition of the uropygial gland wax of 8 species of birds of the order Anseriformes was investigated. As was expected, the waxes are composed of more or less methyl-branched fatty acids and alcohols. The results obtained have been compared with those on other species of Anseriformes and discussed from a chemotaxonomical viewpoint. For this purpose the various parameters have been depicted on a 3-dimensional matrix.     

Composition of uropygial gland waxes in relation to the classification of some passerine birds

The uropygial gland waxes of Aegithalos, Certhia, Leiothrix, Mesia, Panurus, Paradoxornis, Regulus, Remiz and Siva are monoester waxes composed of 2-; 2,x-; 2,x,y-; and 2,x,y,z-methyl-branched acids and unbranched as well as monomethyl-branched alcohols. Dimethylbranched alcohols occur in traces. All waxes are very similar. Chemotaxonomically all birds investigated are closely related and well separated from the family Paridae (tits).     

The chemical composition of uropygial gland secretions from ralliformes

The uropygial gland wax from rails contains ester waxes, triester waxes and triglycerides. The ester waxes are composed of mainly methyl-substituted fatty acids with predominantly n-alkanols. Methyl-branched alcohols are only found in minor amounts. The occurrence of 2,6,10- and 4,8,12-trimethyl-substituted acids can be used as chemotaxonomie markers. The triester waxes contain n-fatty acids, n-alkanols and alkyl-hydroxymalonic acids.     

Uropygial gland lipids of penguins

The uropygial gland secretion of penguins (Sphenisciformes) is a complex mixture of monoester waxes. The wax fatty acids of Pygoscelis and Eudyptes are predominantly 3-methyl- and 3, x-dimethyl-substituted, whereas 2- and 4-monomethyl-, or 2, x-as well as 4, x-dimethyl-substituted acids predominate in the case of Spheniscus. The wax alcohols are very similar within all three species and are mainly composed of mono- and dimethyl-substituted compounds with branches predominantly in the middle or near the methyl end of the carbon chain. From these data, it is concluded that, chemotaxonomically, the penguins are closely related to the tubenoses (Procellariiformes).     

Chemotaxonomische untersuchungen an limikolen: Die zusammensetzung des bürzeldrüsensekretes von austernfischer, rotschenkel, knutt und alpenstrandläufer

The fatty acid and alcohol composition of the uropygial gland wax from four species of birds of the order Laro-limicolae was investigated. Compounds were identified by GLC-MS and the major components were found to be mono-, di and tri-methyl-branched fatty acids and n-, mono- and di-methyl-substituted alcohols. The wax patterns of the three species of the family Scolopacidae (Tringa totanus L., Calidris canutus L., Calidris alpina L.) were shown to be closely related and different from that of the oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus L.) by the occurrence of trimethyl-substituted fatty acids and dimethyl-substituted alcohols. In contrast to the species of Scolopacidae, the substituents in the monomethyl-branched alcohols of the oystercatcher are exclusively located in postions near the aliphatic end of the molecule. There are some relationships in uropygial gland wax composition between the Scolopacidae and the Alicae and Laridae.

Résumé

Die Zusammensetzung der Bürzelwachsbestandteile von vier Vertretern der Larolimicolae wurde mit Hilfe der GLC-MS-Kombination bestimmt. Hauptbestandteile sind mono-, di- und tri-methyl-verzvveigte Fettsäuren sowie n-, Mono- und Di-methyl-alkanole. Die Bürzelwachsmuster dieser Arten aus der Familie Scolopacidea (Tringa totanus L., Calidris canutus L., Calidris alpina L.) sind untereinander sehr ähnlich, unterscheiden sich jedoch von dem des Austernfischers (Haematopus ostralegus L.) durch das Auftreten von trimethylsubstituierten Fettsäuren und dimethyl-substituierten Alkoholen. Im Gegensatz zu den ScolopacidaeArten liegt die Methylverzweigung der Methylalkanole beim Austernfischer ausschlieβlich im aliphatischen Molekülende. Es existieren chemotaxonomische Beziehungen der Familie Scolopacidae zu den Alcidae und Laridae.     

Sex differences in the chemical composition of uropygial gland waxes in domestic ducks

Sexual differences in the chemical composition of the uropygial gland waxes in domestic ducks have been detected before the nesting period. 3-Hydroxy fatty acids containing diester waxes and significant differences in the composition of the fatty acid and alcohol moieties of the monoester waxes occur during February–June only in the female preen wax. Males as well as ducklings, however, show constant wax patterns. Moreover, no significant influence on wax composition of testosterone or estradiol, respectively in male or female ducklings could be verified.     

The evolution of size of the uropygial gland: mutualistic feather mites and uropygial secretion reduce bacterial loads of eggshells and hatching failures of European birds

Potentially, pathogenic bacteria are one of the main infective agents against which a battery of chemical and physical barriers has evolved in animals. Among these are the secretions by the exocrine uropygial gland in birds. The antimicrobial properties of uropygial secretions may prevent colonization and growth of microorganisms on feathers, skin and eggshells. However, uropygial gland secretions also favour the proliferation of feather mites that feed on secretions and microorganisms living on feathers that would otherwise reach eggshells during incubation if not consumed by feather mites. Therefore, at the interspecific level, uropygial gland size (as an index of volume of uropygial secretion) should be positively related to eggshell bacterial load (i.e. the risk of egg infection), whereas eggshell bacterial loads may be negatively related to abundance of feather mites eating bacteria. Here, we explore these previously untested predictions in a comparative framework using information on eggshell bacterial loads, uropygial gland size, diversity and abundance of feather mites and hatching success of 22 species of birds. The size of the uropygial gland was positively related to eggshell bacterial loads (mesophilic bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae), and bird species with higher diversity and abundance of feather mites harboured lower bacterial density on their eggshells (Enterococcus and Staphylococcus), in accordance with the hypothesis. Importantly, eggshell bacterial loads of mesophilic bacteria, Enterococcus and Enterobacteriaceae were negatively associated with hatching success, allowing us to interpret these interspecific relationships in a functional scenario, where both uropygial glands and mutualistic feather mites independently reduce the negative effects of pathogenic bacteria on avian fitness.     

Fatty acid composition and the classification of the Porifera

Investigation of the fatty acid profiles of 55 species of Porifera has confirmed the occurrence of high percentages of both long chain fatty acids (C₂₄-C₃₀) and polyunsaturated acids. These features of the fatty acid profile in conjunction with the content of branched chain acids and the dominance of particular acids in different species allow some systematic discussion. The Dictyoceratida, Clathriidae, Halichondrida, Homoscleromorpha and Calcarea are distinguished by aspects of their fatty acid profiles. The diversity in number and type of sponge fatty acids exceeds that of any other phylum. Environmentally induced variation in fatty acid content is such that percentage compositions alone have little taxonomic informational value.