PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Ducks (Anatinae) play a crucial role in wetland ecosystems, contributing to seed dispersal and nutrient cycling. This study investigates the skeletal adaptations of three duck species: the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), and Green-Winged Teal (Anas crecca). The focus is on the tibiotarsus and humerus bones to understand how these adaptations support their different locomotion and habitat preferences. Bone samples n = 6 of deceased ducks (both male and female) from each species (for a total of 36 samples) were cleaned and measured for length, weight, and density. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to determine bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC), and mechanical properties like yield force and stiffness were tested using a 3-point bending test. The results show significant differences in body weight, bone weight, and bone length among the species, with Mallards being the largest and Teals the smallest. Male Teals displayed higher relative bone weight (RBW) in their tibia compared to male Mallards, and male Mallards had significantly lower RBW in the humerus compared to the other species. Female Teals had higher RBW than the other species. Teals also exhibited much lower BMD in the tibia, whereas female Mallards had lower BMD in the humerus. The Seedor index revealed that male Mallards had the highest values in the tibia, while female Teals had the lowest. Mechanical testing indicated that Teals had lower yield force and breaking force in the tibia, whereas Mallards showed the highest stiffness in both bones. Tufted Ducks had intermediate values, consistent with their diving behaviour. These findings suggest that the Mallard\'s robust bones support its adaptability to various environments and diverse locomotion and foraging strategies. The Teal\'s lighter and less dense bones facilitate rapid flight and agility in shallow wetlands. The Tufted Duck\'s intermediate bone characteristics reflect its specialization in diving, requiring a balance of strength and flexibility. Understanding these skeletal differences may provide valuable insights into the evolutionary biology and biomechanics of these species, aiding in their conservation and enhancing our knowledge of their roles in wetland ecosystems. By exploring the functional morphology of these ducks, this study aims to shed light on the biomechanical mechanisms that underpin their locomotion and foraging behaviours.
摘要：
鸭（Anatinae）在湿地生态系统中起着至关重要的作用，有助于种子扩散和养分循环。这项研究调查了三种鸭的骨骼适应：野鸭（Anasplatyrhynchos），簇绒鸭（Aythyafuligula），和绿翼蓝绿色（Anascrecca）。重点是胫骨和肱骨，以了解这些适应如何支持其不同的运动和栖息地偏好。每个物种（共36个样本）的死亡鸭的骨样本n=6（雄性和雌性）被清洁并测量长度，体重,和密度。采用双能X线骨密度仪测定骨密度(BMD)和骨矿物质含量(BMC),和机械性能，如屈服力和刚度进行了测试，使用三点弯曲试验。结果显示体重有显著差异,骨骼重量,物种之间的骨骼长度，绿头鸭是最大的，蓝头鱼是最小的。与雄性野鸭相比，雄性蓝绿色在胫骨中显示出更高的相对骨重（RBW），与其他物种相比，雄性野鸭的肱骨RBW明显较低。雌性蓝绿色的RBW高于其他物种。Teals在胫骨中的BMD也低得多，而雌性野鸭的肱骨骨密度较低。Seedor指数显示，雄性野鸭在胫骨中的值最高，而女性蓝绿色的最低。机械测试表明，Teals在胫骨中具有较低的屈服力和断裂力，而野鸭在两个骨骼中都表现出最高的刚度。簇绒鸭子有中等价值，与他们的潜水行为一致。这些发现表明，绿头鸭健壮的骨骼支持其对各种环境以及多种运动和觅食策略的适应性。蓝绿色的骨骼较轻，密度较低，有助于在浅湿地中快速飞行和敏捷性。簇绒鸭的中间骨特征反映了其在潜水中的专业化，需要力量和灵活性的平衡。了解这些骨骼差异可能会为这些物种的进化生物学和生物力学提供有价值的见解，协助保护它们，并增强我们对它们在湿地生态系统中的作用的认识。通过探索这些鸭子的功能形态，这项研究的目的是阐明支撑其运动和觅食行为的生物力学机制。
