Behavioral changes in Japanese quails exposed to predicted environmentally relevant abamectin concentrations

Area of Science:

• Environmental Toxicology
• Avian Behavior
• Pesticide Impact Assessment

Background:

• Abamectin (ABA) toxicity is established in fish, amphibians, and mammals.
• The effects of ABA on avian species, particularly birds, remain largely uninvestigated.
• Understanding ABA's impact on bird behavior is crucial for ecological risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the behavioral effects of chronic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of Abamectin (ABA) in female Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica).
• To determine if ABA influences locomotor activity, anxiety, social behavior, object recognition, and predator-prey interactions in quails.

Main Methods:

• Japanese quails were exposed to ABA in drinking water at two concentrations (0.31 mg a.i./L and 310.0 a.i./L) for 40 days.
• Behavioral assessments included open field tests, aggressiveness tests, object recognition tests, and predator recognition tests (using a cat model and hawk vocalization).
• Control groups received ABA-free drinking water.

Main Results:

• ABA exposure induced an anxiolytic-like response in quails.
• No significant changes in locomotor activity or aggressive behavior were observed.
• Birds exposed to ABA showed deficits in object recognition and failed to recognize a cat or hawk vocalization as predatory threats, indicating impaired perception and anti-predatory behavior.

Conclusions:

• Abamectin exposure at tested concentrations significantly influences the behavior of Japanese quails.
• ABA causes perception deficits and impairs anti-predatory responses in birds.
• This study provides the first evidence of ABA's behavioral impacts on Japanese quails, highlighting potential risks to avian populations.