Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea

국립생태원 (National Institute of Ecology)
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Microstructures in Blue Feathers of the Common Kingfisher

  • Lee, Eunok (Biomimicry Team, Division of Ecological Information, National Institute of Ecology) ;
  • Bae, Haejin (Biomimicry Team, Division of Ecological Information, National Institute of Ecology) ;
  • Jeon, Deok-Jin (School of Integrated Technology, Yonsei University) ;
  • Ji, Seungmuk (School of Integrated Technology, Yonsei University) ;
  • Yeo, Jong-Souk (School of Integrated Technology, Yonsei University) ;
  • Kim, Jinhee (Biomimicry Team, Division of Ecological Information, National Institute of Ecology)
  • 투고 : 2020.09.23
  • 심사 : 2020.12.15
  • 발행 : 2021.02.01
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초록

We measured the sizes of microstructures and the reflectance of blue feathers in the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis). The colors were mainly produced in the barbs, which were composed of keratin sponge layers with air spaces and melanin rods. The reflectance spectra of back and tail feathers of the Common Kingfisher showed a peak with a broad plateau in the visible wavelength, whereas those of the wing feathers showed peaks in ultraviolet and visible and short-wavelengths. Moreover, the reflectance of back and tail feathers was higher than that of wing feathers. The blue color of the feathers comes from the keratin sponge layer due to coherent scattering. The back and tail feathers are composed of the keratin sponge layer only, and the wing feathers are composed of the keratin sponge layer and the keratin honeycomb structure. Due to the difference in these structures, it supposed that the reflectance is different. Determining why the reflectance spectra of the back and tail feathers were flattened will require further study.

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참고문헌

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