Limb, joint and pelvic kinematic control in the quail coping with step perturbations

Small cursorial birds display remarkable walking skills and can negotiate complex and unstructured terrains with ease. The neuromechanical control strategies necessary to adapt to these challenging terrains are still not well understood. Here, we analyzed the 2D- and 3D pelvic and leg kinematic strategies employed by the common quail to negotiate visible step-up and step-down perturbations of 1 cm, 2.5 cm, and 5 cm. We used biplanar fluoroscopy to accurately describe joint positions in three dimensions and performed semi-automatic landmark localization using deep learning. Quails negotiated vertical perturbations without major problems and rapidly regained steady-state locomotion. When coping with step-up perturbations, the quail mostly adapted the trailing limb to permit the leading leg to step on the elevated substrate in a similar way as it did during level locomotion. When the quail negotiated step-down perturbations, both legs showed significant adaptations. For small and moderate perturbations (not inducing aerial running) the quail kept the function of the distal joints (i.e., their kinematic pattern) largely unchanged during uneven locomotion, and most changes occurred in proximal joints. The hip regulated leg length, while the distal joints maintained the spring-damped limb patterns. However, to negotiate the largest visible step perturbations, more dramatic kinematic alterations were observed. For these large perturbations, all joints contributed to leg lengthening/ shortening in the trailing leg and both the trailing and leading legs stepped more vertically and less abducted. This indicates a shift from a dynamic walking program to strategies that are focused on maximizing safety.

Metabarcoding insights into the diet and trophic diversity of six declining farmland birds

Knowledge of feeding ecology of declining species, such as farmland birds, is essential to address their conservation requirements, especially when their habitats are suffering important reductions of trophic resources. In this study, we apply a metabarcoding approach to describe the diet composition of six of the most significant farmland birds inhabiting European cereal pseudo-steppes: little bustard, great bustard, pin-tailed sandgrouse, black-bellied sandgrouse, red-legged partridge, and common quail. We further studied seasonal diet variations (autumn to spring) in all species but the common quail, whose diet was studied during spring and summer. We show that study species´ diets mostly consisted of plants, although in the case of little bustard and great bustard arthropods are also highly relevant. Among arthropods, we found high proportions of thrips, arachnids, and springtails, which were previously unreported in their diet, and some taxa that could be used as antiparasitic food. Moreover, we report that little bustard’s diet is the least rich of that of all studied species, and that diet of all these species is less diverse in winter than in autumn and spring. Diet composition of these declining species supports the importance of natural and semi-natural vegetation and landscape mosaics that can provide a wide variety of arthropods, plants, and seeds all year-round.

On the Hunting of the Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix Linnaeus, 1758) Along the Mediterranean Coast of the Gaza Strip – Palestine

Palestine is a major route for migratory birds coming from Europe to Africa and vice versa. Both migratory and resident birds are commonly hunted for different purposes using different means in the Gaza Strip. The current descriptive study, which is the first of its kind, aims at introducing information on the hunting of the Common Quail (Coturnix Coturnix Linnaeus, 1758) in the Gaza Strip, which is a 365 km2 arid to semi-arid coastal zone lying in the southern part of the Palestinian coast along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Since 2015, frequent field visits and discussions with bird hunters and other stakeholders have been carried out to get more information on quail hunting. Annually, hundreds of trammel or mist nets with camouflaging colors, having a height of about 2.5 meters and a distance of 100-200 meters off the coastline, are cleverly placed along the beach to hunt Common Quails and other non-target birds. Guns are used in hunting of quails scattering among inland low-growing vegetation types. The Common Quail is a source of livelihood for dozens of Gazan families, though it does not generate large sums throughout its hunting season. For several reasons, quail hunters claimed that the current quantities of Common Quails reaching the Gaza Strip do not exceed 20% of the amount that arrived 30-40 years ago. Along with the Common Quail, 50 migratory and resident bird species, with passerines making their half, were found to be incidentally caught in quail nets. Because of its feeding and healthy values, the demand of Gazans on Quail and its eggs is increasing day by day, and as a result, quail breeding was found to be a successful task in the Gaza Strip. The goodness of wild quail is many times greater than its farmed counterpart. The price of wild quail is USD 6-7 per pair, while the farmed counterpart is about USD 2 per pair. Finally, bird hunting should be regulated in the Gaza Strip in order to conserve wildlife in a sustainable fashion.

3D anatomy of the quail lumbosacral spinal canal—implications for putative mechanosensory function

Birds are diverse and agile vertebrates capable of aerial, terrestrial, aquatic, and arboreal locomotion. Evidence suggests that birds possess a novel balance sensing organ in the lumbosacral spinal canal, a structure referred to as the ‘lumbosacral organ’ (LSO), which may contribute to their locomotor agility and evolutionary success. The mechanosensing mechanism of this organ remains unclear. Here we quantify the 3D anatomy of the lumbosacral region of the common quail, with a focus on establishing the geometric and biomechanical properties relevant to potential mechanosensing functions. We combine digital and classic dissection to create a 3D anatomical model of the quail LSO and use this to estimate the capacity for displacement and deformation of the soft tissues. We observe a hammock-like network of denticulate ligaments supporting the lumbosacral spinal cord, with a close association between the accessory lobes and ligamentous intersections. The relatively dense glycogen body has potential to apply loads sufficient to pre-stress denticulate ligaments, enabling external accelerations to excite tuned oscillations in the LSO soft tissue, leading to strain based mechanosensing in the accessory lobe neurons. Considering these anatomical features together, the structure of the LSO is reminiscent of a mass-spring based accelerometer.

Comparative efficacy of Amprolium, Garlic oil (Allium sativum) and Ginger oil (Zingiber officinale) against Coccidiosis in common quail (Coturnix coturnix)

In birds, Eimeria species are commonly reported coccidian parasites that cause anorexia, debilitation, bloody diarrhea, mortalities and economical losses. This study was conducted on 30 clinical cases of common quails presented at Pet Centre, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, suffering from coccidiosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo comparative anti-coccidial efficacy of amprolium, garlic oil and ginger oil. Drinking water of affected birds was supplemented with amprolium (130 mg/1000 mL), garlic oil (150μL/100 mL) and ginger oil (150μL/100 mL) for 15 days and fecal sample screening for coccidia oocyst count was performed on days 0, 3, 5, 7, 11 and 15 using direct microscopy with fecal floatation method and McMaster chamber counting technique. Data was statistically analyzed which revealed that amprolium showed highest and rapid efficacy against coccidiosis with complete disappearance of oocysts and improved activity level with better health, increased feed intake and normal feces on day 11, followed by garlic oil that showed recovery from oocysts on day 15, whereas in ginger oil treated birds oocysts were present till the end of study. It was concluded that amprolium is highly effective against coccidiosis followed by garlic oil; on the other hand, ginger oil was not clinically effective for the treatment of coccidiosis in quails.