Osiak-Wicha Cezary, Tomaszewska Ewa, Muszyński Siemowit, Flis Marian, Świetlicki Michał, Arciszewski Marcin B
Department of Animal Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 12, 20-950 Lublin, Poland.
Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 12, 20-950 Lublin, Poland.
Animals (Basel). 2024 Jul 27;14(15):2191. doi: 10.3390/ani14152191.
Ducks () 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 (), Tufted Duck (), and Green-Winged Teal (). 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.
鸭子在湿地生态系统中发挥着至关重要的作用，有助于种子传播和养分循环。本研究调查了三种鸭子的骨骼适应性：绿头鸭、凤头潜鸭和绿翅鸭。重点关注胫跗骨和肱骨，以了解这些适应性如何支持它们不同的运动方式和栖息地偏好。对每个物种的6只死亡鸭子（雌雄皆有）的骨骼样本（共36个样本）进行清理，并测量其长度、重量和密度。使用双能X射线吸收法测定骨矿物质密度（BMD）和骨矿物质含量（BMC），并通过三点弯曲试验测试屈服力和刚度等力学性能。结果表明，各物种之间在体重、骨骼重量和骨骼长度上存在显著差异，绿头鸭最大，绿翅鸭最小。雄性绿翅鸭胫骨的相对骨重（RBW）高于雄性绿头鸭，而雄性绿头鸭肱骨的RBW显著低于其他物种。雌性绿翅鸭的RBW高于其他物种。绿翅鸭胫骨的BMD也低得多，而雌性绿头鸭肱骨的BMD较低。种子指数显示，雄性绿头鸭胫骨的值最高，而雌性绿翅鸭的值最低。力学测试表明，绿翅鸭胫骨的屈服力和断裂力较低，而绿头鸭在两根骨骼中的刚度最高。凤头潜鸭的值居中，与其潜水行为一致。这些发现表明，绿头鸭强壮的骨骼支持其对各种环境以及多样的运动和觅食策略的适应性。绿翅鸭较轻且密度较小的骨骼有助于在浅湿地中快速飞行和灵活行动。凤头潜鸭的中间骨骼特征反映了其在潜水方面的特化，需要力量和灵活性的平衡。了解这些骨骼差异可能为这些物种的进化生物学和生物力学提供有价值的见解，有助于它们的保护，并增进我们对它们在湿地生态系统中作用的认识。通过探索这些鸭子的功能形态，本研究旨在阐明支撑其运动和觅食行为的生物力学机制。
