Find research datasets worth reusing

opencc-by-4.0Nov 2020View details →

BERTs of a feather do not generalize together: Large variability in generalization across models with similar test set performance

This Zenodo repository contains 100 copies of the model BERT fine-tuned on the MNLI dataset, created for the paper "BERTs of a feather do not generalize together: Large variability in generalization across models with similar test set performance." Please see the project GitHub page for more details about using these models and how to cite any such usage: https://github.com/tommccoy1/hans/tree/master/berts_of_a_feather

opencc-zeroApr 2020View details →

Data from: Mechanical and structural adaptations to migration in the flight feathers of a Palaearctic passerine

Current avian migration patterns in temperate regions have been developed during the glacial retreat and subsequent colonization of the ice-free areas during the Holocene. This process resulted in a geographic gradient of greater seasonality as latitude increased that favoured migration-related morphological and physiological (co)adaptations. Most evidence of avian morphological adaptations to migration comes from the analysis of variation in the length and shape of the wings, but the existence of intra-feather structural adjustments has been greatly overlooked despite their potential to be under natural selection. To shed some light on this question, we used data from European robins Erithacus rubecula overwintering in Campo de Gibraltar (Southern Iberia), where sedentary robins coexist during winter with conspecifics showing a broad range of breeding origins and, hence, migration distances. We explicitly explored how wing length and shape, as well as several functional (bending stiffness), developmental (feather growth rate) and structural (size and complexity of feather components) characteristics of flight feathers varied in relation to migration distance, which was estimated from the hydrogen stable isotope ratios of the summer-produced tail feathers. Our results revealed that migration distance not only favoured longer and more concave wings, but also promoted primaries with a thicker dorsoventral rachis and shorter barb lengths, which in turn conferred more bending stiffness to these feathers. We suggest that these intra-feather structural adjustments could be an additional, largely unnoticed, adaptation within the avian migratory syndrome that might have the potential to evolve relatively quickly to facilitate the occupation of seasonal environments.

opencc-zeroOct 2023View details →

Adaptive and non-adaptive convergent evolution in feather reflectance of Channel Islands songbirds

Convergent evolution is widely regarded as a signature of adaptation. But testing the adaptive consequences of convergent phenotypes is challenging, making it difficult to exclude non-adaptive explanations for convergence. Here, we combined feather reflectance spectra and phenotypic trajectory analyses with visual and thermoregulatory modeling to test the adaptive significance of dark plumage in songbirds of the California Channel Islands. By evolving dark dorsal plumage, island birds are generally less conspicuous to visual-hunting raptors in the island environment than mainland birds. Dark dorsal plumage also reduces the energetic demands associated with maintaining homeothermy in the cool island climate. We also found an unexpected pattern of convergence, wherein the most divergent island populations evolved greater reflectance of near-infrared radiation. However, our heat flux models indicate that elevated near-infrared reflectance is not adaptive. Analysis of feather microstructure suggests that island-mainland differences are related to coloration of feather barbs and barbules rather than their structure. Our results indicate that adaptive and non-adaptive mechanisms interact to drive plumage evolution in this system. This study sheds light on the mechanisms driving the association between dark color and wet, cold environments across the tree of life, especially in island birds.

opencc-zeroNov 2023View details →

DNA sequence data generated using non-invasive feather and eggshell samples from the Grenada Dove for two gene regions: Cyt b and ND2

As an island endemic with a decreasing population, the Critically Endangered Grenada Dove Leptotila wellsi is threatened by accelerated loss of genetic diversity resulting from ongoing habitat fragmentation. Small, threatened populations are difficult to sample directly but advances in molecular methods mean that non-invasive samples can be used. We performed the first assessment of genetic diversity of populations of Grenada Dove by a) assessing mtDNA genetic diversity in the only two areas of occupancy on Grenada, b) defining the number of haplotypes present at each site and c) evaluating evidence of isolation between sites. We used non-invasively collected samples from two locations: Mt Hartman (n=18) and Perseverance (n=12). DNA extraction and PCR were used to amplify 1,751 bps of mtDNA from two mitochondrial markers: NADH dehydrogenase 2 (ND2) and Cytochrome b (Cyt b). Haplotype diversity (h) of 0.4, a nucleotide diversity (π) of 0.00023 and two unique haplotypes were identified within the ND2 sequences; a single haplotype was identified within the Cyt b sequences. Of the two haplotypes identified; the most common haplotype (haplotype A = 73.9%) was observed at both sites and the other (haplotype B = 26.1%) was unique to Perseverance. Our results show low mitochondrial genetic diversity and clear evidence for genetically isolated populations. The Grenada Dove needs urgent conservation action, including habitat protection and potential augmentation of gene flow by translocation in order to increase genetic resilience and diversity with the ultimate aim of securing the long-term survival of this Critically Endangered species.

opencc-by-4.0Dec 2023View details →

Data and code from "Facial blushing and feather fluffing are indicators of emotions in domestic fowl"

Data  to produce the manuscript and R codes use to analyse the data

opencc-byApr 2020View details →

Sandy Kauer & Deborah Hay – circular feather

##SandyKauer | DeborahHay | notimetofly | circular feater # # ######Contemporary 3d-module by Sandy Kauer in in co-operation with (2012) ***** - Choreographer: Deborah Hay - Performance Artist: Jeanne Durning - Data-provider: Motion Bank # # ######Description: **** **NO TIME TO FLY** Inspirend through the piece: "no time to fly" by Deborah Hay – I created a circular form out of Jeanine Durning s performance interpretation an converted into a static spinning object first. This obejct was deep connected to the speed and position of the performance artist Jeanine Durning. Data were provided by motion bank. #![alt text](https://66.media.tumblr.com/1c374c6753c1fabf5aa0a88221b85850/tumblr_n9kvt9uOBQ1tyc2xdo1_1280.png "sandykauer–Deborah Hay - notimetofly") *** *** ######In further studies these formes were connected by dynamic hotspot to the female artist body, speed and period of movment on the stage. Next week I will tackel the other objects. Source: Objaverse 1.0 / Sketchfab

opencc-zeroMar 2024View details →

Data for: 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 that birds could behaviorally manage their feather bacterial abundances by preening their feathers. We also predicted that individuals with lower feather bacterial abundances would have brighter and more colorful feathers. To test these predictions, we measured the amount of time individuals in a colony of captive Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) spent preening their feathers. We also collected feathers to determine bacteria abundance on the feather surface and to measure feather coloration. We found that birds had lower feather bacteria levels when they spent more time preening their own feathers, but only in female birds. We also found that bacteria abundances were not correlated with any feather color variables we measured. These results suggest that birds can manage feather bacterial abundances by preening but feather bacteria may not influence feather coloration in this species.

Figure 5. Gabucinia delibata—A. Female, B in New records of feather mites (Sarcoptiformes: Astigmata) from some birds in Türkiye

Figure 5. Gabucinia delibata—A. Female, B. Tritonymph (scale bars: 100).

Figure 1. Scutomegninia phalacrocoracis—A. Male, B in New records of feather mites (Sarcoptiformes: Astigmata) from some birds in Türkiye

Figure 1. Scutomegninia phalacrocoracis—A. Male, B. Tritonymph (scale bars: 200).

Figure 4. Michaelia heteropus—A. Male, B in New records of feather mites (Sarcoptiformes: Astigmata) from some birds in Türkiye

Figure 4. Michaelia heteropus—A. Male, B. Female (scale bars: 200).

Figure 7. Ardeacarus ardeae—A-B in New records of feather mites (Sarcoptiformes: Astigmata) from some birds in Türkiye

Figure 7. Ardeacarus ardeae—A-B. Male and female (scale bars: 200).

opencc-by-4.0Mar 2024View details →

Detailed Occurrence of Feather Features in Quartz in Experimentally Shocked Granite

Data supporting Figures 1, 3-6 in the main text are available.

opencc-zeroNov 2021View details →

Feather corticosterone reveals developmental challenges in a long‐term study of juvenile northern spotted owls

1. Corticosterone is a steroid hormone integral to a variety of physiological pathways and is strongly associated with the vertebrate stress–response. In avian species, circulating corticosterone is sequestered into developing feathers and is used as an indicator of energy allocation during feather growth and widely applied in conservation physiology. 2. The northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) is a federally threatened old–growth forest obligate of conservation concern endemic to the Pacific Northwest of the United States and Canada. The effects of landscape characteristics and individual variation on early development in spotted owls remain unstudied despite long recognition of this knowledge gap and its potential importance to species conservation. 3. We quantified corticosterone concentrations in 4,720 feathers from 1,056 juvenile spotted owls across seven study areas between 2001 and 2017. We used an information–theoretic approach to examine the environmental and individual factors related to feather corticosterone in juvenile spotted owls as an indicator of challenges during early development. 4. Feather corticosterone was positively related to temperature and precipitation, and negatively related to juvenile mass at banding. We found strong support for an interaction between mass and precipitation, with greater amounts of precipitation being associated with higher levels of feather corticosterone in lighter juveniles. The temperature and precipitation metric with the strongest relationship with feather corticosterone occurred during the fledging period, suggesting that this period presents an energetic challenge for juvenile spotted owls. Greater juvenile mass decreased the effect of precipitation, suggesting that greater mass was important for juveniles to maintain homeostasis during fledgling. 5. Feather corticosterone in juvenile spotted owls provided insights to the challenges faced during early development, adding to our understanding of spotted owl life history and potential for population recovery.

opencc-zeroNov 2021View details →

Host diversity outperforms climate as a global driver of symbiont diversity in the bird-feather mite system

Aim: The simultaneous influence of abiotic and biotic factors as main drivers of global species distributions remains poorly understood, especially in host-dependent groups. In this study, we diverge from traditional macroecological approaches by considering both biotic (avian species diversity) and abiotic (climatic) factors in determining the global distribution pattern of feather mite species richness, one of the most abundant and diverse bird ectosymbionts. Location: Global. Methods: We used a global dataset of feather mite-bird interactions published in 2016, complemented with an up-to-date literature survey. We created statistical models designed to explain the effect of abiotic (i.e., temperature, precipitation, and energy-related variables) and biotic factors (bird species richness) on the species richness of feather mites. We used these models to predict global distribution patterns of mites and estimate each explanatory variable's relative importance in temperate and tropical regions. Results: According to our models, bird species richness accounts for ~63% of the global distribution pattern of mites, which is ten times more relevant than climatic variables. Among abiotic drivers, precipitation intensity and seasonality were the most important variables, accounting for 10% of mite species richness. This figure is lower in tropical regions, where biotic factors are seven times more important than in temperate regions. Main Conclusions: We demonstrate that global mite diversity was primarily determined by biotic and, to a lesser extent, abiotic factors. The relative importance of the predictive variables, however, varied between tropical and temperate regions. The strong association between bird species richness and feather mite species diversity at a global scale raises concerns about the potential for future co-extinctions.

opencc-zeroNov 2021View details →

Birds may decorated their nest to exploit a fear of feathers

This dataset contains data from experiments carried out in a woodland area and described in the paper: "T. Slagsvold, and Wiebe, K. L. (2021) "Nest decoration: birds exploit a fear of feathers to guard their nest from usurpation". The experiments investigated a new hypothesis, namely that some cavity nesting birds, like titmice, add feathers on the top of their nest to prevent usurpation by triggering a fear response in their rivals. We presented pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca), blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) and tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) that were prospecting for a nest site in spring with a dyad of nest boxes, to study whether they hesitated to enter a box depending on the content of feathers. Main results of the experiments were that (1) all three species hesitated to enter boxes with white feathers. (2) A similar avoidance of white feathers was found when the alternate nest box of a dyad held black feathers. (3) However, the birds readily collected white feathers that we placed on the ground in front of their nest box, showing the fear of such feathers was context-dependent. We suggest that naive prospecting birds may perceive feathers in nests as the result of a predation event, and that owners decorate nests with bright feathers that can be seen from the opening to deter others from entering.