BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATION OF JAPANESE-QUAIL TO THE REPEATED SHORT-TERM MICROGRAVITY INDUCED BY PARABOLIC FLIGHTS

Behavioural adaptation of adult Japanese quail to the repeated short t erm microgravity induced by parabolic flights was studied. Two lines o f quail - the line genetically selected for resistance to hypodynamy a nd the randombred control line - were compared. Birds were subjected t o the series of five flights repeated in 24-hour intervals. During eac h flight the state of microgravity lasting 15 to 20 seconds was induce d 11 times. Differences in behaviour between lines as well as between sexes were analysed. Adult Japanese quail adapted relatively quickly t o the short-term microgravity. The adaptation process seemed to be str ongly influenced by the genetic background and sex.