Major: Biology
Presidential Scholars Advisor: Dr. Jan Trybula
Research Advisor: Dr. Sarah K Sirsat
Topic: Differential Success in Chinese Painted Quail with the Lavender Plumage Color
Chinese Painted quail (Coturnix chinensis) are a small avian species often used in research due to their high rate of reproduction and fast maturation. These birds, which at full size fit in your hand, can be used as a good model organism for physiological studies. What I am looking at is the lavender plumage color in these birds, and how the animals exhibiting this color morph differ physiologically and genetically from the wild type. This project will involve the creation of two true breeding lines, one of the wildtype and one of the lavender color morph. From there, animals will be tested for physiological difference such as mitochondrial respiration, average body temperature, and growth rate. During the process of physiological testing, genetic samples will be collected in order to be used in a later phase of the project. Differential success based on plumage color and fur color is seen in many other species but has been little investigated in birds. My hope is to expand the knowledge base in this area by adding data from a new species.