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To evaluate the involvement of pituitary adenylate cyclase‐activating polypeptide (PACAP)/receptors system in the control of testis activity, we have investigated the expression and localization of PACAP and the distribution of its receptors in the testis of mature samples of quail Coturnix coturnix, and we have performed a phylogenetic analysis of PACAP in birds. Using histological, molecular, and bioinformatics tools, we demonstrated that (a) PACAP messenger RNA shows a high sequence identity with that reported in other birds studied so far and in other vertebrates. Furthermore, we showed that purifying selection acts on PACAP; (b) the PACAP peptide is present only in Leydig cells, whereas its receptors are localized within both Leydig and germ cells; (c) the synthesis of PACAP does not take place in seminiferous tubules. The role of PACAP in the control of spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis in birds is discussed. Finally, we talk about the phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships between PACAP in birds and in other vertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Europe, farm-reared quail used for restocking purposes are often hybrids between the Common Quail Coturnix coturnix and the Japanese Quail Coturnix japonica. These hybrids interbreed with wild Common Quail populations and suffer higher rates of nest predation, which would suggest that the two quail types have different nest-site selection patterns. We monitored 103 radiotagged nesting females (77 wild Common Quail over 18 breeding seasons and 26 hybrid quail over six breeding seasons) and analysed their nest placement behaviour. Our results did not provide any evidence that the quail types showed different nest-site selection trends, as they all preferred to nest near cereal field margins. The higher nest predation rate experienced by hybrids might therefore be explained by less effective anti-predator behaviour among hybrid females during incubation. As no edge effect on nest predation was observed, the preference for nesting close to cereal margins could be due to the greater food resources of field margins. Moreover, Common Quail nest predation decreased with a rise in barley straw production, supporting evidence that nest cover plays an important role in the prevention of nest predation in this species. No such relationship was found for hybrid quail, but this result is not conclusive, as the data on barley straw production for hybrid quail covered a much smaller range of interannual variability. Barley straw production in Catalonia decreased significantly between 1992 and 2012, possibly as a result of a change in the barley varieties used. This practice could entail a conservation threat for ground-nesting bird species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last four decades, the majority of European farmland birds have shown marked population declines attributed to the intensification of agriculture. The Common Quail is a widespread farmland breeder across most of Europe. Its populations have shown marked decline, particularly pronounced at the end of the previous century. Ongoing agriculture intensification may be the factor responsible for the observed declines; however, links between species occurrence and farming intensification have not been addressed so far. We analyzed factors affecting the occurrence of the Quail in Poland using data from 722 1 × 1-km study plots and a set of 22 environmental variables, including proxies for agriculture intensification. Predictors were aggregated using PCAs and related to species presence/absence data using GAMs. The best-supported model of the species' occurrence included eight variables and was clearly better (AIC weight = 0.54) than other models. Quails preferred open fields, showing high photosynthetic activity in March or June, with rather low precipitation and often at relatively high altitudes (up to 900 m a.s.l.). Importantly, quails were more frequent on plots located in regions with rather high inorganic fertilizer input, and showed no avoidance of areas with a high level of agriculture mechanization. We postulate that singing male quails are attracted to areas with medium or high intensity of agriculture but it may represent a maladaptive habitat choice enhanced by changing agriculture practices and peculiarities of the quail's breeding strategy. Given the results, the quail cannot be classified as a good indicator of extensive traditional agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While a number of studies have addressed bioaccumulation of the flame retardant Dechlorane Plus (DP), little information is available regarding the adverse effects of DP on animals, especially on bird species. In the present study, male common quails ( Coturnix coturnix) were consecutively exposed to commercial DP-25 by gavage for 90 d at 1-mg/kg/d, 10-mg/kg/d, and 100-mg/kg/d dosages. Concentrations of DP isomers in liver, muscle, and serum were determined after exposure. Liver enzyme activity involved in xenobiotic biotransformation processes and oxidative stress was measured, as well as glutathione and maleic dialdehyde content. The results showed that DP was more prone to accumulate in the liver than in muscle and serum in all exposed groups. In tested tissues, syn-DP dominated in the high-exposure groups (10 and 100 mg/kg/d), whereas anti-DP tended to accumulate in the low-exposure group (1 mg/kg/d). The concentration ratios of anti-DP to total DP ( f anti values) in the tissues examined were close to commercial DP in the low-exposure group; however, the f anti values were significantly decreased in the high-exposure groups. Enzyme activity of 7-pentoxyresorufin-O-demethylase (PROD) decreased significantly in all exposed groups compared with the control group, whereas activity of erythromycin N-demethylase (ERND) and the antioxidant enzyme catalase significantly increased in high-exposure groups. The results implied that DP exposure levels influenced isomeric compositions in organs and that DP exposure altered hepatic alkoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (AROD) activity and contributed to the biological effects of DP. Environ Toxicol Chem 2013;32:1649-1654. © 2013 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As birds have a diversity of locomotor behaviors, their skeleton is subjected to a variety of mechanical constraints (gravitational, aerodynamic and sometimes hydrodynamic forces). Yet, only minor modifications in post-cranial skeleton shape are observed across the diversity of avian species in comparison with other vertebrates. The goal of this study was to explore potential morphological adjustments that allow locomotion in different habitats in Anatidae. Specifically, we compared a strictly terrestrial bird, the common quail Coturnix coturnix, and a semi-aquatic bird, the ringed teal Callonetta leucophrys, to explore whether their anatomy reflects the constraints of locomotion in different habitats (water vs. land). We compared the tibiotarsus and the tarsometatarsus shape between the two species using a geometric morphometric approach. Our data illustrate distinct differences between species with a more medially oriented intertarsal joint in the ringed teal than in the common quail, which may be linked to the kinematics of walking and paddling. This study lays the foundations to understand the functional requirements for moving in both terrestrial and aquatic environments in Anatidae, and suggests morphological characteristics of the bird hindlimb skeleton that may help to predict the motions it is capable of. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species' distribution models are widely used in landscape ecology but usually lack explicit information about species' responses to ecosystem dynamics, leading to uncertainty when applied to the prediction of seasonal change in distributions. In this study, we aimed to build a species' distribution model for the Common Quail Coturnix coturnix, a farmland species that shows changes in its distribution in response to seasonal changes in habitat suitability. During the course of three breeding seasons we collected temporal replicates of presence-absence data in 13 sampling locations in four countries ( Morocco, Portugal, Spain and France). We used generalized linear mixed models to relate the species' presence or absence to environmental variables and to the normalized difference vegetation index at each sampling location through the seasons, the latter variable being an indicator of within- and between-season habitat changes. The preferred model showed that occurrence was highly dependent on habitat changes associated with crop seasonality, as measured by the normalized difference vegetation index. Common Quail selected areas with dense vegetation and warm climate and tracked spatial changes in these two parameters. The model allows accurate mapping of within- and between-season distribution changes. Such changes are related to habitat variations caused mainly by drought and agricultural practices. Our results demonstrate that seasonal changes in farmland ecosystems can be incorporated into a simple distribution model, and our approach could be applied to other species to predict the effects of agricultural changes on the distribution of birds inhabiting farmland landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cathelicidins comprise a family of antimicrobial peptides sharing a highly conserved cathelin domain, which play a central role in the early innate host defense against infection. In the present study, we report three novel avian cathelicidin orthologs cloned from a constructed spleen cDNA library of Coturnix coturnix, using a nested-PCR-based cloning strategy. Three coding sequences containing ORFs of 447, 465 and 456 bp encode three mature antimicrobial peptides (named Cc-CATH1, 2 and 3) of 26, 32 and 29 amino acid residues, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that precursors of Cc-CATHs are significantly conserved with known avian cathelicidins. Synthetic Cc-CATH2 and 3 displayed broad and potent antimicrobial activity against most of the 41 strains of bacteria and fungi tested, especially the clinically isolated drug-resistant strains, with minimum inhibitory concentration values in the range 0.3-2.5 μ for most strains with or without the presence of 100 m NaCl. Cc-CATH2 and 3 showed considerable reduction of cytotoxic activity compared to other avian cathelicidins, with average IC values of 20.18 and 17.16 μ, respectively. They also exerted a negligible hemolytic activity against human erythrocytes, lysing only 3.6% of erythrocytes at a dose up to 100 μg·mL. As expected, the recombinant Cc-CATH2 (rCc-CATH2) also showed potent bactericidal activity. All these features of Cc-CATHs encourage further studies aiming to estimate their therapeutic potential as drug leads, as well as coping with current widespread antibiotic resistance, especially the new prevalent and dangerous 'superbug' that is resistant to almost all antibiotics. Three novel avian cathelicidin orthologues were cloned encoding three antimicrobial peptides of 26, 32, 29 amino acid residues length. Synthetic Cc-CATH2 and 3 displayed broad and potent antimicrobial activity. Cc-CATH2 and 3 showed much reduced cytotoxicity, and a negligible hemolytic activity, lysing only 3.6% of erythrocytes at doses up to 100 μg·mL. Recombinant Cc-CATH2 showed potent bactericidal activity as expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Information on the movements of bird populations in extensive landscapes is needed to assess environmental effects and conservation strategies over appropriate temporal and spatial scales. The common quail ( Coturnix coturnix) is a game bird that breeds mainly in dense cereal crops. These crops cover huge areas of the Iberian Peninsula. The aim of this work is to relate cereal mowing, which causes rapid and massive habitat loss for the common quail, to population movements of the species during its breeding season. Location Spain, southern Europe. Methods We used ring recoveries to analyse, using circular statistics, the orientation of movements by male common quails in the northern half of Spain. Forward stepwise multiple regressions were applied to correlate (1) the Julian day of cereal harvesting at 770 locations with the respective latitude, longitude and elevation, and (2) the number of hunted birds with hunting pressure, breeding densities and mean mowing date by province. Finally, data concerning the number of quails hunted at the end of the breeding season were compared by province and year using two-way ANOVA. Results Our results show that during the breeding season in the northern half of Spain, male quails orient their movements towards higher areas, and mainly to the northern Castilian Plateau. These are the areas of Spain where cereals are harvested latest. Moreover, records show that the number of quails hunted is significantly higher in these areas than in other areas of the country, independently of hunting pressure and breeding densities, and it is extremely high in the northern Castilian Plateau. Main conclusions Cereal mowing combined with some Spanish geographical characteristics acts as a funnel, forcing quail populations to concentrate in certain areas of Spain at the end of the breeding season. This implies that the number of quails hunted in these areas may be high, and that they therefore constitute priority conservation areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ovalbumin gene was cloned from Chinese quail ( Coturnix coturnix) oviduct by RT-PCR and then inserted into the P. pastoris genome under the control of the methanol inducible 5′ alcohol oxidase (AOX) promoter. The recombinant P. pastoris strain was demonstrated to be able to efficiently secrete quail ovalbumin by ELISA analysis using a polyclonal antibody raised against quail ovalbumin. The results showed that induction by 0.75% methanol for 48 h led to the synthesis of secreted quail ovalbumin up to a yield of 5.45 g l. The recombinant ovalbumin was further purified into homogeneity through ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography and SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that, compared to natural ovalbumin, the recombinant ovalbumin could have been glycosylated to the similar extent by P. pastoris. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The common quail (Coturnix coturnix ) is one of the few species in which mate-switching (when different pair bonds are established within a single breeding attempt), has been recorded. In this study, we report the characteristics of pair bonds (description, number of males per female and duration) by monitoring a wild population of common quail (28 females and 49 males) by radiotracking. 57% of the females studied (n = 14) showed mate-switching, whereas 22% of the males were serially polygynous, successively forming pairs with a series of females. The fitness of females with mate-switching, measured in terms of clutch size and hatching success, did not differ from that of females bonded with one male. The analysis of paternity in three families by multilocus DNA fingerprinting revealed genetic polygamy in two of the nests studied. A male sired offspring with two females, and we obtained genetic evidence for intraspecific brood parasitism. We discuss how these behavioural and ecological observations may relate to the particular mating system of the common quail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates whether predation rates on artificial nests predicted those on real nests containing eggs of the quail Coturnix coturnix in territories of the northern wheater Oenanthe oenanthe. Risk for artificial and natural nests; Criteria for artificial nest predation; Nest-type-specific differences in nest preying species.

AbstractThis study investigated the potential overlap between breeding and hunting seasons for a population of common quail Coturnix coturnix in the Alexandria District. Seasonal abundance (assessed as the number of birds flushed per unit effort), sex ratios and reproductive condition (based on gonad sizes) of the quail were measured over a period of 16 months, including two hunting seasons. Hunting impacts were assessed in terms of the number of birds killed per unit of hunting effort. Quail exhibited a spring peak in abundance and reproduction, which coincided with the legal hunting season, and bird numbers varied markedly between years. Sex ratio varied, with males dominating early in spring. Hunters killed nearly 60% of the birds flushed, and hunter efficiency was positively correlated with the abundance of quail. These results confirm the dilemma for managers, as quail are currently hunted during the main breeding season and offtakes are high. The development of management strategies is hampered by a lack of understanding of the population biology and ecology, and impacts of hunting. A number of possible hunting strategies are discussed. Since current harvests may not be sustainable, further research is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the issue information and table of contents for the May 2019 issue of the magazine. It lists the editors including assistant editor Gregory Wray, Editor-in-chief R. Craig Albertson, and editorial board member Michael Akam. It presents journal information including disclaimer, copyright, and information for subscribers. It lists the magazine contents on topics including research on sea snakes, quail Coturnix coturnix, and Drosophila eye.

There have been, over the years, conflicting statements by various authors regarding the altitude at which Quail Coturnix coturnix migrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorpyriphos (13 mg/kg) was administered to quail (Coturnix coturnix), and the responses of brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and plasmacholinesterase (ChE) were studied. Both enzymes responded rapidly, and the maximal inhibition (76.6 and 80.1%, respectively) occurred 8 hpostadministration. Plasma ChE recovered rapidly, and even on day 4,ChE values of quail that had received chlorpyriphos were higher thanthose of controls. The recovery of brain AChE activity was slower than that of plasma; it reached 59% of controls 2 d after chlorpyriphosadministration, then it recovered slowly, and only at day 11 was itslevel not depressed with respect to controls. This recovery followedthe logarithmic pattern Y= a + b(log X), where Y is the AChE activity expressed as the percentage with respect to controls and X is the day after closing, giving a significant correlation (r = 0.9746, p< 0.001 when using group means and r = 0.9219, p < 0.001 when using individual values). No clinical signs or mortality were observed, and histopathological observations in the central nervous system (encephalytic reaction, necrotic Purkinje cells), liver (congestion, vacuolation), and kidney (congestion, nephrosis) were not severe and did not endanger the life of the quail. Sixteen hours after chlorpyriphos administration, some quail were treated with pralidoxime, which significantly reactivated brain AChE but not plasma ChE. However, this effect didnot last for the rest of the experiment; because no signs of toxicosis appeared, the experiment was not repeated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]