Malavika Rajesh

<p>
 College : CMR National PU College, ITPL, Bengaluru
</p>
<p>
 Sample: One feather of
 <em>
  Columbia livia
 </em>
 (pigeon)
</p>
<p>
 Site of sample collection: CMR National PU College, ITPL
</p>
<p>
 Date of Collection: 19 February 2019
</p>
<p>
 Date of Observation: 19 February 2019
</p>
<p>
 Students involved: Navyaa Shah, A.S.Vidisha, Malavika Rajesh
</p>
<p>
 The specimen observed were two strands taken from the same quill feather of
 <em>
  Columbia livia
 </em>
 (pigeon). Quill feathers are found on wings and tail of birds for flight. The black strand was taken from the upper part of the feather whereas the white strand was taken from the main body of the feather.
</p>
<p>
 Each quill feather has a central stem. It is divided into lower hollow part called the quill or calamus and a solid upper part termed rachis. First, a black colour feather strand was observed. Each feather hair appears to be its own singular unit with multiple micro hairs attached to a central stem like structure. Next, a white strand was observed. The anatomy appeared similar, but, the white feather strand sample appears to be less opaque that the black hair strand .Dark feathers containing melanin are more resistant to damage than other feathers. This is why the outer wing feathers of many birds with white wings, as in this case, have black tips.
</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG-20190219-WA0000" class="wp-image-128834 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="128834" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG-20190219-WA0000" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_128832/IMG-20190219-WA0000.jpg"/>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG-20190219-WA0005" class="wp-image-128835 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="128835" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG-20190219-WA0005" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_128832/IMG-20190219-WA0005.jpg"/>
</figure>


Feathers of pigeon- black and white coloured strands

<p>
 College : CMR National PU College, ITPL, Bengaluru
</p>
<p>
 Sample:
 <em>
  Parthenium hysterophorus
 </em>
</p>
<p>
 Site of sample collection: University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore
</p>
<p>
 Date of Collection: 18 June 2019
</p>
<p>
 Date of Observation: 21 June 2019
</p>
<p>
 Students involved: Malavika Rajesh, Ramya Nambiar, , Gopika Anil, Shwetha Santhosh
</p>
<p>
 <em>
  Parthenium hysterophorus
 </em>
 is a noxious weed in America, Asia, Africa and Australia. The pollen of this weed is  considered to be a major allergy causing agent especially in India where it is abundantly found. Besides causing respiratory problems,
 <em>
  P.hysterophorus
 </em>
 has also been recorded to cause dermatitis and result in mutagenic characters in both humans and livestock.
</p>
<p>
 Under the foldscope, we were able to observe the anther and pollen of the sample, both of which seemed to be brownish-yellow in colour. When observed carefully minute pollen grains can be observed which have a spiky appearance.  Pollen often cause allergies when the bodies immune system considers it to be a harmful substance- like bacteria or virus and has an adverse immune response. The spiky nature of the pollen helps it cling on to objects easily and thus it can spread over a vast area.
</p>
<p>
 We also got to observe a developing leaf of the plant. In
 <em>
  P.hysterophorus
 </em>
 the first leaves are simple, arranged in rosette and petiolated. A fully grown leaf is about 11 to 15cm in length and 6 to 10cm wide and shows pinnate venation.
</p>
<p>
 <br/>
</p>
<div class="wp-block-image">
 <figure class="aligncenter is-resized">
  <img alt="IMG-20190621-WA0003" class="wp-image-159430 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="159430" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG-20190621-WA0003" height="377" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_159415/IMG-20190621-WA0003.jpg" width="283"/>
 </figure>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-image">
 <figure class="aligncenter is-resized">
  <img alt="IMG-20190621-WA0004" class="wp-image-159431 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="159431" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG-20190621-WA0004" height="437" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_159415/IMG-20190621-WA0004.jpg" width="328"/>
 </figure>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-image">
 <figure class="aligncenter is-resized">
  <img alt="IMG-20190621-WA0005" class="wp-image-159432 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="159432" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG-20190621-WA0005" height="422" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_159415/IMG-20190621-WA0005.jpg" width="317"/>
 </figure>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-image">
 <figure class="aligncenter">
  <img alt="IMG-20190621-WA0006" class="wp-image-159433 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="159433" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG-20190621-WA0006" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_159415/IMG-20190621-WA0006.jpg"/>
 </figure>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-image">
 <figure class="aligncenter is-resized">
  <img alt="IMG-20190621-WA0000" class="wp-image-159434 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="159434" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG-20190621-WA0000" height="564" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_159415/IMG-20190621-WA0000.jpg" width="423"/>
 </figure>
</div>


Malavika Rajesh

Earth

Posts

Feathers of pigeon- black and white coloured strands

Observation of Parthenium weed- anther and leaf

Locations

Statistics

Type of Sample

Foldscope Lens Magnification