Effects of Sevin on the reproductive biology of the Coturnix

Adult Coturnix quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were subjected to three levels of carbaryl pesticide treatment (Sevin-20 p.p.m., 40 p.p.m., and 400 p.p.m) and monitored to observe any modifications in either their reproductive biology or behavior. There was an increase in the amount of pesticide excreted with increasing treatment levels during the first 48 hours following intubation, after which pesticide levels in the fecal material for all groups approached zero. Addditionally, significant amounts of the pesticide were detected in the egg yolks after pesticide ingestion (treatment levels, 20, 40, and 400 p.p.m. resulted in pesticide residues of 1.58, 2.03, and 3.15 p.p.m., respectively). Egg production was significantly reduced (p less than or equal to 0.05), although egg viability was not affected by the pesticide stress. Agonistic behavior decreased in males while it increased in the females following pesticide ingestion.