Chemical defence in the red-billed wood hoopoe : phoeniculus purpureus

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorDu Plessis, Mornéen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorLaw-Brown, Janetteen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-08-13T14:04:41Z
dc.date.available2014-08-13T14:04:41Z
dc.date.issued2001en_ZA
dc.description.abstractRed-billed Woodhoopoes, Phoeniculus purpureus, produce a pungent smelling secretion from their uropygial gland. Previous researchers have noted this odour and there has been much speculation on its function. This encouraged me to undertake this study to determine the origin of the odour and the role that the secretion plays. The chemical analysis of this secretion shows that it consists of 17 compounds including acids, aldehydes, lactones and other miscellaneous compounds. Cultures of the secretion showed the presence of a symbiotic bacterium resident within the gland. Antibiotic treatment of the gland suggested that this bacterium was instrumental in the synthesis of the secretion of P. purpureus. This bacterium has not previously been identified and has been proposed as 'Enterococcus phoeniculicola' (GenBank accession number: AYO28437). The secretion was synthesized and the responses of a range of 13 pathogenic and one parasitic bacteria were tested against it and its individual constituent compounds. The synthetic secretion and seven of its constituent compounds inhibited the growth of these bacteria. However, exposing feather mites resident upon the birds to the synthetic secretion did not illicit any significant response from these mites. Wanless (1998) showed that the synthetic secretion causes an averse reaction in cats. In this study I was able to identify indole, phenol and propionaldehyde as being responsible for eliciting this reaction in cats. A similar averse reaction is shown by Rock Monitor Lizards, Varanus albigularis, upon encountering mice tainted with the synthetic secretion. This is the first demonstration of a symbiotic relationship between birds and bacteria in which the modification of the birds' uropygial oils affords the birds some protection against pathogens and preators.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationLaw-Brown, J. (2001). <i>Chemical defence in the red-billed wood hoopoe : phoeniculus purpureus</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6119en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationLaw-Brown, Janette. <i>"Chemical defence in the red-billed wood hoopoe : phoeniculus purpureus."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6119en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationLaw-Brown, J. 2001. Chemical defence in the red-billed wood hoopoe : phoeniculus purpureus. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Law-Brown, Janette AB - Red-billed Woodhoopoes, Phoeniculus purpureus, produce a pungent smelling secretion from their uropygial gland. Previous researchers have noted this odour and there has been much speculation on its function. This encouraged me to undertake this study to determine the origin of the odour and the role that the secretion plays. The chemical analysis of this secretion shows that it consists of 17 compounds including acids, aldehydes, lactones and other miscellaneous compounds. Cultures of the secretion showed the presence of a symbiotic bacterium resident within the gland. Antibiotic treatment of the gland suggested that this bacterium was instrumental in the synthesis of the secretion of P. purpureus. This bacterium has not previously been identified and has been proposed as 'Enterococcus phoeniculicola' (GenBank accession number: AYO28437). The secretion was synthesized and the responses of a range of 13 pathogenic and one parasitic bacteria were tested against it and its individual constituent compounds. The synthetic secretion and seven of its constituent compounds inhibited the growth of these bacteria. However, exposing feather mites resident upon the birds to the synthetic secretion did not illicit any significant response from these mites. Wanless (1998) showed that the synthetic secretion causes an averse reaction in cats. In this study I was able to identify indole, phenol and propionaldehyde as being responsible for eliciting this reaction in cats. A similar averse reaction is shown by Rock Monitor Lizards, Varanus albigularis, upon encountering mice tainted with the synthetic secretion. This is the first demonstration of a symbiotic relationship between birds and bacteria in which the modification of the birds' uropygial oils affords the birds some protection against pathogens and preators. DA - 2001 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2001 T1 - Chemical defence in the red-billed wood hoopoe : phoeniculus purpureus TI - Chemical defence in the red-billed wood hoopoe : phoeniculus purpureus UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6119 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/6119
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationLaw-Brown J. Chemical defence in the red-billed wood hoopoe : phoeniculus purpureus. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2001 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6119en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.titleChemical defence in the red-billed wood hoopoe : phoeniculus purpureusen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
thesis_sci_2001_law_brown_j.pdf
Size:
7.85 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Other Theses