Effects of Specimen Age on Plumage Color

摘要: Abstract Museum specimens are valuable for studies of plumage color in birds, but feather may fade over time and not accurately reflect the colors live birds. In particular, it has been suggested that ultraviolet (UV) be more susceptible to degradation than human-visible colors. We used a reflectance spectrophotometer measure five species passerines which museum were collected consistently past 100 years. found within 50 years related closely fact, wide range different colors, we little change measurements recent (<50 old) specimens. Furthermore, UV was affected severely by fading when confined our analyses These results provide strong support continued use examine coloration provided ...