Meeting Abstract

P2-146   -   The impact of sickness on female Coturnix japonica behavior and egg investment Emmi, AJ*; Schuerman, DL; Gormally, BMG; Lopes, PC; Chapman University; Chapman University; Chapman University; Chapman University emmi@chapman.edu

In many species, when an animal is sick, changes occur in behaviors such as increased lethargy, and reduced eating and drinking. These behavioral changes may help the sick animal recover from the disease. However, it is not fully known how sickness affects reproductive investment, specifically through eggs for oviparous animals. We studied how behavior, egg laying, and egg components (corticosterone and lysozyme) of sick female Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) differ from unmanipulated controls. Sickness was induced in females through lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injections. LPS-treated females and untreated (control) females were paired with males. Behaviors such as standing, crouching, mounting, and eating/drinking were observed and recorded for three hours after birds were paired. The eggs were collected for five days after the trial, and the components of albumen, yolk, and embryo were separated. We predicted that LPS-treated females would express more sickness behaviors such as lethargy relative to control females. Additionally, we predicted that sick females would lay fewer eggs, and would have a reduced fertilization rate. As for physiological changes, an increased amount of both corticosterone, a stress-related hormone, and lysozyme, an antibacterial enzyme, would be elevated in eggs of LPS-treated females. We found that females treated with LPS stood immobile significantly more than control females. We also found that LPS-treated females laid fewer eggs than their untreated counterparts. Additionally, we found a slight dip in fertilization rates of LPS-treated females two days post-experiment. The analysis of corticosterone and lysozyme levels within albumen is still in progress and will be discussed during the presentation. These findings suggest female Japanese quail behaviorally respond to LPS in expected ways and that LPS treatment results in altered egg laying patterns.