Which effect occurs when migratory birds encounter icing conditions that affect feather barbules?

💡 Explanation

When icing conditions occur, ice accumulates on feather barbules because of rapid cooling, reducing their ability to interlock and maintain the airfoil shape during flight, leading to disrupted airflow. Therefore, flight maneuverability is reduced, rather than mite infestation, decreased heat loss or pigment damage, which involve different biological mechanisms.

• Which outcome follows when a marine iguana emerges onto cold rocks after swimming?
• Which consequence results when soil bacteria perform anammox?
• Which consequence results when industrial fertilizer runoff overwhelms riparian zones?
• Which risk increases when a saltwater fish inhabiting a hypertonic environment develops kidney failure?
• Which mechanism allows saltwater fish to counteract osmotic water loss in hypertonic environments?
• Which risk increases when certain fish ascend rapidly after feeding heavily near the seabed?