Habituation to humans affects yolk steroid levels and offspring phenotype in quail
In the field as well as in the laboratory, human-generated stress responses are reduced in adult animals previously habituated to humans in comparison to non-habituated individuals. In birds, yolk steroid levels vary with maternal environment and condition. We tested the hypothesis that the experience of female birds with humans could affect yolk steroids levels and […]
Human Handling and Presentation of a Novel Object Evoke Independent Dimensions of Fear in Japanese Quail
Fear is a concept comprising several dimensions, but the nature of these dimensions and the relationships between them remain elusive. To investigate these dimensions in birds, we have used two genetic lines of quail divergently selected on tonic immobility duration, a behavioural index of fear. These two lines differ in their behavioural response to some, […]
Winning and losing in public: Audiences direct future success in Japanese quail
Abstract Among vertebrates, winning a fight enhances the probability of future victories and vice versa and the role of post-conflict testosterone in mediating this ‘winner effect’ is widely accepted. In a series of staged fights of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) we tested both opponents’ pre-fight and post-conflict testosterone, behavior and dominance status after returning to […]