Feather Duster Research Articles

Measuring the motivation of domestic fowl in response to a positive and a negative reinforcer

Ten ISA Brown hens were trained to run an alleyway of 14.4 m in length to obtain a food reward. Each hen was deprived of food for each of 0, 6, 12 and 18 h on four occasions and the times taken to run the alleyway were recorded. The three deprivation periods resulted in greater speeds than the control ( P<0.001), but there was no difference between the speeds for the deprivations. In a second experiment, 15 ISA Brown hens were trained to run the same alleyway for a food reward and then allocated to three groups which received differing numbers of exposures to a feather duster (negative reinforcement) on entry to the goal box. The three groups (0, 1 and 2) were given zero, four or eight exposures, respectively, during a 32 day period. The speeds of Groups 0 and 1 increased linearly during the experiment, but the slopes were not statistically distinguishable. The speeds of Group 2 showed a curvilinear pattern, with no overall change between the start and end of the experiment, but with a decrease in speeds during the middle part of the experiment.

Geologic form and setting of a hydrothermal vent field at lat 10°56′N, East Pacific Rise: A detailed study using Angus and Alvin

A hydrothermal vent field, here called the Feather Duster site, occurs on the eastern marginal high near the edge of a narrow (95-m) and shallow (15-20-m) axial graben, within an area dominated by sheet flows and collapse features. The sheet flows are intermediate in relative age between younger fluid-flow lavas on the floor of the axial graben and older pillow (constructional) lavas on the marginal highs. Hydrothermal activity occurs in two zones within a 65 by 45 m area. The main zone is located where a fissure system and sulfide-sulfate chimneys vent warm (9-47/sup 0/C) and hot (347/sup 0/C) hydrothermal fluids. Here, two mounds of massive sulfide totaling about 200 t are forming. One occurs at the base of a 3-m-high scarp which is the wall of a drained lava lake; the other is perched on top of the scarp. 19 references, 4 figures.

A new sentinel organism for vanadium and titanium

Using X-ray Energy Spectroscopy trace metal concentrations (Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Pb) were measured in specimens of Eudistylia vancouveri (feather duster tube worms) collected from floating wharves near and far from a storm water outfall in a metropolitan area. As for the well-studied bio-accumulator Mytilus edulis (mussels), higher metal concentrations were noted in specimens near the pollution source. In particular the worms accumulated certain metals, namely vanadium and titanium, not picked up by the mussels, signaling that a new sentinel organism could be available.

Paint scenery with a feather duster?

Paint scenery with a feather duster?