Substandard Water Intake and Inhibition of Bobwhite Reproduction during Drought

Abstract

We field-tested the hypothesis that substandard water intake contributes to reproductive failure of northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) during drought because laboratory studies cause. Specifically, we examined 2 predictions: that availability of preformed water in forbs would be demonstrably insufficient during drought, and that water supplementation would reverse reproductive failure during drought. Our laboratory results indicated that bobwhites could lay successfully with preformed water in greens as the sole source of exogenous water, although rate of laying was lower (P<O.O5) for hens receiving preformed water than for those receiving ad libitum free water (0.5 vs. 0.3 eggs/day)