UV scattering by pores in avian eggshells

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Abstract

Eggshell is essential for the reproduction of birds. The optical properties of their shells may have an impact on biological functions such as heat and UV protection, recognition by the parents or camouflage. Whereas ultraviolet reflection by bird eggshells has been superficially described in the scientific literature, the physical origin of this phenomenon remains poorly understood. In this article, reflectance peaks in the near UV range were observed by spectrophotometric measurements of hen eggshells. In addition, electron microscopy imaging revealed the presence of pores within the so-called "calcified shell"part (i.e., between ca. 20 μm and ca. 240 μm deep from the outer surface). The average radii of these pores range from 120 to 160 nm. Mercury intrusion porosimetry allowed to highlight a distribution of pore radii around 175 nm. Numerical and analytical predictions using scattering theory indicate that these pores are responsible for the optical response observed in the UV range.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationLight in Nature VIII
EditorsVasudevan Lakshminarayanan, Katherine Creath, Joseph A. Shaw
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510637689
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Aug 2020
EventLight in Nature VIII 2020 - Virtual, Online, United States
Duration: 24 Aug 20204 Sept 2020

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume11481
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceLight in Nature VIII 2020
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityVirtual, Online
Period24/08/204/09/20

Funding

The authors thank C. Charlier (Electron Microscopy Service, UNamur) for technical support during electron microscopy observations, respectively. S.R.M. was supported by the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research (FRS-FNRS) as a Postdoctoral Researcher (91400/1.B.309.18F). This research was also supported by FRS-FNRS through the Researchers’ Credit CC 1.5075.11F. This research used resources of the Technological Platform High Performance Computing (PTCI) (http://www.ptci.unamur.be) located at UNamur and the resources of the Electron Microscopy Service (SME) of UNamur (http://www.unamur.be/en/sevmel). PTCI is supported by FNRS-FRFC, the Walloon Region and UNamur (Conventions No. 2.5020.11, GEQ U.G006.15, 1610468 and RW/GEQ2016). PTCI and SME are members of the "Consortium des Équipements de Calcul Intensif (CÉCI)" (http://www.ceci-hpc.be) and the Technological Platform Morphology - Imaging (MORPH-IM) of UNamur, respectively.

FundersFunder number
FNRS‐FRFC
Walloon Region and UNamur1610468, 2.5020.11, RW/GEQ2016, GEQ U.G006.15
Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique F.R.S.-FNRS91400/1
Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique F.R.S.-FNRS

    Keywords

    • Avian eggshell
    • Cuticle
    • Eggshell
    • Nanostructure
    • Natural photonic structures
    • Photonics
    • Ultraviolet radiation
    • Ultraviolet reflectance
    • UV scattering

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