Stimulus control of copulatory behavior in male Japanese quail.

L. L. Crawford, C. K. Akins

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

The copulatory behavior of sexually experienced male Japanese quail was tested using taxidermic models with varying proportions of natural and artificial features. Completely artificial models exerted little control over copulatory behavior, and whole natural body models reliably elicited copulatory behavior. In single model presentation tests, a model containing a natural head and neck with an artificial body was as effective in eliciting copulatory behavior as a whole body model, but a model containing a natural body with an artificial head and neck was largely ineffective. In choice tests, however, males clearly preferred a whole model over a natural head and neck model, and a natural body model over a completely artificial model. These data indicate male Japanese quail do attend to features of body plumage. Furthermore, test procedures can influence conclusions about effective controlling stimuli.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)722-727
Number of pages6
JournalPoultry Science
Volume72
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1993

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was supported by Na tional Research Service Award MH09988 to Lawrence Crawford and National Insti tute of Mental Health Grant MH39940 to Michael Domjan. Portions of these data were presented at the 1992 meeting of the Animal Behavior Society in Kingston, ON, Canada. The authors thank Michael Domjan (Psychology Department, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712) for assistance with the manuscript.

Funding

This research was supported by Na tional Research Service Award MH09988 to Lawrence Crawford and National Insti tute of Mental Health Grant MH39940 to Michael Domjan. Portions of these data were presented at the 1992 meeting of the Animal Behavior Society in Kingston, ON, Canada. The authors thank Michael Domjan (Psychology Department, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712) for assistance with the manuscript.

FundersFunder number
Na tional Research ServiceMH39940, MH09988
National Institute of Mental HealthF32MH009988

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Animal Science and Zoology

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