Constitution-Environment Interactions Modelled By Artificially Selected Colour Preferences and Imprinting in Quail

Publisher： Brill

ISSN： 1568-542X

Source： Netherlands Journal of Zoology, Vol.43, Iss.1-2, 1992-01, pp. : 46-67

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Abstract

The sources of variability and neural mediation of early approach preferences between coloured stimuli were studied in artificially selected and imprinted Japanese quail chicks (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Selection for unconditional preferences enhanced imprintabilites and selection for imprintabilities enhanced unconditional preferences, both in correlation with large selective increases in the V_e components of unconditional colour choice variances. These results are attributed to developmental instability emerging with directional selections, and a related enhanced expression of genetic, environmental, and stochastic influences in preference deviations. Neural uptake of 2-DG indicated differential activation of tectofugal and thalamofugal projection systems by preferred or unpreferred stimuli, regardless of whether the preferences originated in artificial selection or environmental imprinting. Bilateral hemispherectomy on the first post-hatch day before imprinting eliminated imprintability but spared the genetically variable initial colour preferences. Similar operation on the third post-hatch day after imprinting eliminated both the genetically variable unconditional and the environmentally variable imprinted preference information.