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Molecular and microstructural inventory of an isolated fossil bird feather from the Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark

Gren, Johan LU ; Sjövall, Peter ; Eriksson, Mats LU ; Sylvestersen, Rene ; Marone, Federica ; Sigfridsson Clauss, Kajsa LU ; Taylor, Gavin LU orcid ; Carlson, Stefan LU ; Uvdal, Per LU and Lindgren, Johan LU (2017) In Palaeontology 60(1). p.73-90
Abstract
An isolated, yet virtually intact contour feather (FUM-1980) from the lower Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark was analysed using multiple imaging and molecular techniques, including field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), X-ray absorption spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Additionally, synchrotron radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy (SRXTM) was employed in order to produce a digital reconstruction of the fossil. Under FEG-SEM, the proximal, plumulaceous part of the feather revealed masses of ovoid microstructures, about 1.7 μm long and 0.5 μm wide. Microbodies in the distal, pennaceous portion were substantially smaller (averaging 0.9 × 0.2 μm), highly elongate, and more densely... (More)
An isolated, yet virtually intact contour feather (FUM-1980) from the lower Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark was analysed using multiple imaging and molecular techniques, including field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), X-ray absorption spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Additionally, synchrotron radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy (SRXTM) was employed in order to produce a digital reconstruction of the fossil. Under FEG-SEM, the proximal, plumulaceous part of the feather revealed masses of ovoid microstructures, about 1.7 μm long and 0.5 μm wide. Microbodies in the distal, pennaceous portion were substantially smaller (averaging 0.9 × 0.2 μm), highly elongate, and more densely packed. Generally, the microbodies in both the plumulaceous and pennaceous segments were aligned along the barbs and located within shallow depressions on the exposed surfaces. Biomarkers consistent with animal eumelanins were co-localized with the microstructures, to suggest that they represent remnant eumelanosomes (i.e. eumelanin-housing cellular organelles). Additionally, ToF-SIMS analysis revealed the presence of sulfur-containing organics – potentially indicative of pheomelanins – associated with eumelanin-like compounds. However, since there was no correlation between melanosome morphology and sulfur content, we conclude these molecular structures derive from diagenetically incorporated sulfur rather than pheomelanin. Melanosomes corresponding roughly in both size and morphology with those in the proximal part of FUM-1980 are known from contour feathers of extant parrots (Psittaciformes), an avian clade that has previously been reported from the Fur Formation. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
An isolated, yet virtually intact contour feather
(FUM-1980) from the lower Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark
was analysed using multiple imaging and molecular
techniques, including field emission gun scanning electron
microscopy (FEG-SEM), X-ray absorption spectroscopy and
time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS).
Additionally, synchrotron radiation X-ray tomographic
microscopy (SRXTM) was employed in order to produce a
digital reconstruction of the fossil. Under FEG-SEM, the
proximal, plumulaceous part of the feather revealed masses
of ovoid microstructures, about 1.7 µm long and 0.5 µm
wide. Microbodies in the distal, pennaceous portion were
substantially smaller (averaging... (More)
An isolated, yet virtually intact contour feather
(FUM-1980) from the lower Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark
was analysed using multiple imaging and molecular
techniques, including field emission gun scanning electron
microscopy (FEG-SEM), X-ray absorption spectroscopy and
time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS).
Additionally, synchrotron radiation X-ray tomographic
microscopy (SRXTM) was employed in order to produce a
digital reconstruction of the fossil. Under FEG-SEM, the
proximal, plumulaceous part of the feather revealed masses
of ovoid microstructures, about 1.7 µm long and 0.5 µm
wide. Microbodies in the distal, pennaceous portion were
substantially smaller (averaging 0.9 x 0.2 µm), highly elongate,
and more densely packed. Generally, the microbodies
in both the plumulaceous and pennaceous segments were
aligned along the barbs and located within shallow depressions
on the exposed surfaces. Biomarkers consistent with
animal eumelanins were co-localized with the microstructures,
to suggest that they represent remnant eumelanosomes
(i.e. eumelanin-housing cellular organelles). Additionally,
ToF-SIMS analysis revealed the presence of sulfur-containing
organics – potentially indicative of pheomelanins – associated
with eumelanin-like compounds. However, since there
was no correlation between melanosome morphology and
sulfur content, we conclude these molecular structures derive
from diagenetically incorporated sulfur rather than pheomelanin.
Melanosomes corresponding roughly in both size and
morphology with those in the proximal part of FUM-1980
are known from contour feathers of extant parrots (Psittaciformes),
an avian clade that has previously been reported
from the Fur Formation. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Palaeontology
volume
60
issue
1
pages
18 pages
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:85003936063
  • wos:000396894100005
ISSN
1475-4983
DOI
10.1111/pala.12271
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
968d4d2a-66cc-404b-ac33-ffdb93fa160a
date added to LUP
2016-12-14 10:49:26
date last changed
2022-04-09 01:39:00
@article{968d4d2a-66cc-404b-ac33-ffdb93fa160a,
  abstract     = {{An isolated, yet virtually intact contour feather (FUM-1980) from the lower Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark was analysed using multiple imaging and molecular techniques, including field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), X-ray absorption spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Additionally, synchrotron radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy (SRXTM) was employed in order to produce a digital reconstruction of the fossil. Under FEG-SEM, the proximal, plumulaceous part of the feather revealed masses of ovoid microstructures, about 1.7 μm long and 0.5 μm wide. Microbodies in the distal, pennaceous portion were substantially smaller (averaging 0.9 × 0.2 μm), highly elongate, and more densely packed. Generally, the microbodies in both the plumulaceous and pennaceous segments were aligned along the barbs and located within shallow depressions on the exposed surfaces. Biomarkers consistent with animal eumelanins were co-localized with the microstructures, to suggest that they represent remnant eumelanosomes (i.e. eumelanin-housing cellular organelles). Additionally, ToF-SIMS analysis revealed the presence of sulfur-containing organics – potentially indicative of pheomelanins – associated with eumelanin-like compounds. However, since there was no correlation between melanosome morphology and sulfur content, we conclude these molecular structures derive from diagenetically incorporated sulfur rather than pheomelanin. Melanosomes corresponding roughly in both size and morphology with those in the proximal part of FUM-1980 are known from contour feathers of extant parrots (Psittaciformes), an avian clade that has previously been reported from the Fur Formation.}},
  author       = {{Gren, Johan and Sjövall, Peter and Eriksson, Mats and Sylvestersen, Rene and Marone, Federica and Sigfridsson Clauss, Kajsa and Taylor, Gavin and Carlson, Stefan and Uvdal, Per and Lindgren, Johan}},
  issn         = {{1475-4983}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{73--90}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Palaeontology}},
  title        = {{Molecular and microstructural inventory of an isolated fossil bird feather from the Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/pala.12271}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/pala.12271}},
  volume       = {{60}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}