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    STUDIA BIOLOGIA - Issue no. 2 / 2007  
         
  Article:   REVIEW=== CAROTENOIDS IN BIRDS’ LIFE.

Authors:  CRISTINA BERCIU, ALIN DAVID.
 
       
         
  Abstract:  Carotenoid pigments are biologically active, fat-soluble compounds that are responsible for red, orange and yellow secondary sexual coloration in many animal species. Besides, they act as antioxidants and stimulate various aspects of immune function, detain photoprotective activities, enhance motor performance and cognition, and improve intercellular (gap-junctional) communication. Carotenoid availability may be physiologically limiting, because animals cannot synthesize carotenoids de novo, and they must obtain them through diet, but also because there may be trade-offs in the allocation of carotenoids between competing somatic demands such as sexual display and other functions. Unfortunately, all these aspects, and functions, essential for the individuals themselves and their offsprings, too, are insufficient or less known. According to the previous studies, this paper is a review concerning the essential information accumulated over the past years which may catalyze future lines of research on the profile and functions of carotenoids in birds (in different moments of their life and in different structures), and finally, the possibility to use the useful information to the bird’s benefit.  
         
     
         
         
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