Comparative reproductive and physiological responses of northern bobwhite and scaled quail to water deprivation

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology
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Abstract

We compared reproductive and physiological responses of captive female northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) and scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) under control and water deprivation conditions. Scaled quail required less food and water to reproduce successfully under control conditions than northern bobwhite. Additionally, in scaled quail, serum osmolality levels and kidney mass were unaffected by water deprivation, whereas in northern bobwhite, serum osmolality levels increased and kidney mass declined. This finding indicates that scaled quail may have osmoregulatory abilities superior to those of northern bobwhite. Under control conditions, northern bobwhite gained more body mass and produced more but smaller eggs than scaled quail. Under water deprivation conditions, northern bobwhite lost more body mass but had more laying hens with a higher rate of egg production than scaled quail. Our data suggest that northern bobwhite allocated more resources to reproduction than to body maintenance, while scaled quail apparently forego reproduction in favor of body maintenance during water deprivation conditions.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Comparative reproductive and physiological responses of northern bobwhite and scaled quail to water deprivation
Series title Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology
DOI 10.1016/S1095-6433(98)01015-0
Volume 119
Issue 3
Year Published 1998
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Description 6 p.
First page 781
Last page 786
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