In animals, iridescence is generated by the interaction of light with biological tissues that are
nanostructured to produce thin films or diffraction gratings. Uniquely among animal visual …

For most, the mere mention of lice forces an immediate hand to the head and recollection of
childhood experiences with nits, medicated shampoos, and traumatic haircuts. But for a …

Much attention has been devoted to understanding the evolution of elaborate male
ornaments and how they may signal male quality. However, the evolution of multicomponent …

Iridescence is produced by coherent scattering of light waves from alternating layers of
materials of different refractive indices. In birds, iridescent colours are produced by feather …

Gaudy plumage coloration is a widespread ornamental trait in birds and thought to be
sexually selected. Although much attention has been devoted to structural coloration …

It is poorly understood whether female morphological and behavioural traits can be used as
'signals'. In particular, experimental tests of the hypothesis that female ornaments reflect …

Wild turkeys, Meleagris gallopavo, are among the most ornamented birds in North America,
displaying vividly coloured fleshy ornaments on their heads and bright, iridescent structural …

Recent studies suggest that structural plumage coloration can indicate male quality and is
used in female mate choice decisions. Whether or not structural coloration functions as a …

Choosing to mate with an infected partner has several potential fitness costs, including
disease transmission and infection-induced reductions in fecundity and parental care. By …

Animal colouration is typically the product of nanostructures that reflect or scatter light and
pigments that absorb it. The interplay between these colour-producing mechanisms may …