Publications

local rather than global processing of visual arrays in numerosity discrimination by pigeons (columba livia).	a series of experiments investigated which stimulus properties pigeons use when they discriminate pairs of visual arrays that differ in numerosity. transfer tests with novel stimuli confirmed that the birds' choices were based on relative differences in numerosity. however, pigeons differed from other species in the non-numerical cues that affected their choices. in human and non-human primates, numerical discrimination is often influenced by continuous variables such as surface area or overall ...	2009	19184137
visually guided capture of a moving stimulus by the pigeon (columba livia).	although the pigeon is a popular model for studying visual perception, relatively little is known about its perception of motion. three experiments examined the pigeons' ability to capture a moving stimulus. in experiment 1, the effect of manipulating stimulus speed and the length of the stimulus was examined using a simple rightward linear motion. this revealed a clear effect of length on capture and speed on errors. errors were mostly anticipatory and there appeared to be two processes contrib ...	2009	18719954
female stimuli trigger gene expression in male pigeons.	the immediate early gene zenk encodes transcriptional regulators and is believed to be one of the first steps in the formation of long-term memories associated with a given stimulus. in this study, we investigated the expression of zenk protein product in brain regions that are likely involved in the processing of social stimuli, such as a potential mate. male pigeons (columba livia) were exposed to one of the following: (1) a live female pigeon, (2) a video playback of a female pigeon, (3) a vi ...	2009	18633838
short restraint time does not influence markers of serum oxidative stress in homing pigeons (columba livia).	restraint in a confined space, such as a cage or a box, may be perceived by birds as a stressful condition. some concern has been expressed about restraining homing pigeons (columba livia) in transport crates for sport or for scientific research. therefore, this study sought to test whether short restraint time in a transport crate for 1, 2 or 18 (overnight) h causes oxidative stress in homing pigeons and whether it is more stressful than flying. to isolate the effect of crowding from that of tr ...	2010	19138344
are birds smarter than mathematicians? pigeons (columba livia) perform optimally on a version of the monty hall dilemma.	the "monty hall dilemma" (mhd) is a well known probability puzzle in which a player tries to guess which of three doors conceals a desirable prize. after an initial choice is made, one of the remaining doors is opened, revealing no prize. the player is then given the option of staying with their initial guess or switching to the other unopened door. most people opt to stay with their initial guess, despite the fact that switching doubles the probability of winning. a series of experiments invest ...	2010	20175592
age-correlation of blood values in the rock pigeon (columba livia).	hematological adaptations to age (1-17 years) and about variability per se for free-living rock pigeons columba livia are presented. increasing age is correlated with decreasing values of hematocrit and hemoglobin. a marked reduction of lactate dehydrogenase (ec 1.1.1.27) activity in the first 2-3 years may be caused by a training-based increase of the relative portion of the aerobically working red breast muscles (responsible for endurance) at the expense of the proportion of anaerobically work ...	2010	20184962
sarcocystis species lethal for domestic pigeons.	a large number of sarcocystis spp. infect birds as intermediate hosts, but pigeons are rarely affected. we identified a novel sarcocystis sp. that causes lethal neurologic disease in domestic pigeons in germany. experimental infections indicated transmission by northern goshawks, and sequence analyses indicated transnational distribution. worldwide spread is possible.	2010	20202429
presence of c. albidus, c. laurentii and c. uniguttulatus in crop and droppings of pigeon lofts (columba livia).	columba livia is an important reservoir and carrier of cryptococcus neoformans, cryptococcus uniguttulatus, cryptococcus laurentii and cryptococcus albidus. upper digestive tract of this species is also known as a habitat for cryptococcus neoformans. given the increasing clinical interest of this microorganism, 331 swabs from crop and 174 dropping samples from pigeon lofts in grand canary island have been studied. the obtained results show an extensive presence samples 81 positive (24.47%) of cr ...	2010	20012367
trace element concentrations in raillietina micracantha in comparison to its definitive host, the feral pigeon columba livia in santa cruz de tenerife (canary archipelago, spain).	the use of systems involving bird parasites as bioindicators of environmental pollution has been scarcely studied in comparison to other models involving fish and rodent parasites, which have been demonstrated as particularly adequate due to their bioaccumulation capacities. the present study evaluated the accumulation of nine trace elements in the cestode raillietina micracantha and in its host columba livia collected from the densely populated city of santa cruz de tenerife (canary islands, sp ...	2010	19526264
urban pigeons (columba livia) as a potential source of pathogenic yeasts: a focus on antifungal susceptibility of cryptococcus strains in northeast brazil.	to investigate pigeons as a potential source of pathogenic yeast species, 47 samples of pigeon droppings and 322 samples from pigeon cloacae were evaluated. the samples were also collected from trees located near the pigeon habitats, in the city of fortaleza, ceará, northeast brazil. in addition, we evaluated the in vitro antifungal susceptibility of these environmental cryptococcus strains to amphotericin b, azoles and caspofungin. c. neoformans var. neoformans (n = 10), c. laurentii (n = 3), c ...	2010	19847668
the formation and execution of sequential plans in pigeons (columba livia).	the ability to formulate and execute plans is a hallmark of human behaviour. here we present evidence of planning in pigeons. subjects were trained to respond to three geometric shapes in a prescribed order. probe trials were then introduced in which, following a response to the first item, the on screen positions of the second and third item were exchanged. if subjects were planning a sequence of responses at the outset of a trial, we would expect reaction time to the second item to increase, r ...	2010	19969049
west nile virus transmission in 2008 in north-eastern italy.	after 10 years, west nile virus (wnv) re-emerged in italy in august 2008. as on 31 december 2008, the infection affected eight provinces in three regions (emilia romagna, veneto, lombardy), where a total of 794 cases of wnv infection in 251 equine stables were detected on the basis of the clinical signs and as a result of a serological screening in horses living in the area. only 4.0% (32/794) of the serologically positive animals showed clinical signs, and the 32 clinical cases were reported in ...	2010	20042066
cross-species chromosome painting corroborates microchromosome fusion during karyotype evolution of birds.	the stone curlew, also known as thick-knee (burhinus oedicnemus, boe), represents a phylogenetically young species of the shorebirds (charadriiformes) that exhibits one of the most atypical genome organizations known within the class of aves, due to an extremely low diploid number (2n = 42) and only 6 pairs of microchromosomes in its complement. this distinct deviation from the 'typical' avian karyotype is attributed to repeated fusions of ancestral microchromosomes. in order to compare differen ...	2010	20068299
do spotless starlings place feathers at their nests by ultraviolet color?	a considerable number of bird species carry feathers to their nests. feathers' presence in the nests has traditionally been explained by their insulating properties. recently, however, it has been suggested that feathers carried to the nests by females of the spotted starling (sturnus unicolor l.) could have an ornamental function based on their ultraviolet (300-400 nm) and human-visible longer wavelength (400-700 nm) coloration. in our population, 95.7% of feathers found inside next-boxes occup ...	2010	19941130
low complex i content explains the low hydrogen peroxide production rate of heart mitochondria from the long-lived pigeon, columba livia.	across a range of vertebrate species, it is known that there is a negative association between maximum lifespan and mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide production. in this report, we investigate the underlying biochemical basis of the low hydrogen peroxide production rate of heart mitochondria from a long-lived species (pigeon) compared with a short-lived species with similar body mass (rat). the difference in hydrogen peroxide efflux rate was not explained by differences in either superoxide dismut ...	2010	19968628
screening for several potential pathogens in feral pigeons (columba livia) in madrid.	pathogens with the zoonotic potential to infect humans, such as campylobacter jejuni, campylobacter coli and chlamydophila psittaci, can be found in feral pigeons (columba livia). given the high density of these birds in the public parks and gardens of most cities, they may pose a direct threat to public health.	2010	20569487
sarcocystis calchasi sp. nov. of the domestic pigeon (columba livia f. domestica) and the northern goshawk (accipiter gentilis): light and electron microscopical characteristics.	a novel highly pathogenic sarcocystis species has been shown to cycle between the northern goshawk (accipiter gentilis) as definitive host and the domestic pigeon (columba livia f. domestica) as intermediate host. however, genetically based characteristics are only available from very few bird-infecting sarcocystis species. we therefore further characterised morphological properties of this protozoan in both hosts. using light and electron microscopy, oocysts and sporocysts as well as schizonts ...	2010	20033211
no evidence for selective follicle abortion underlying primary sex ratio adjustment in pigeons.	primary sex ratio adjustment in birds has been extensively studied, yet the underlying physiological mechanisms are far from understood. avian females are the heterogametic sex (zw), and the future sex of the offspring is determined at chromosome segregation during meiosis i, shortly before the oocyte is ovulated. assuming that the mother can detect the sex of the developing oocyte before ovulation, it has been suggested that a follicle of the un-preferred sex could selectively be induced to bec ...	2010	20174439
effects of diet quality on serum oxidative status and body mass in male and female pigeons during reproduction.	the quality of diet can affect the oxidative status of an animal and its susceptibility to oxidative damage. however, such effects can be expected to differ among phases of life cycle (e.g., reproduction, migration, moult), because they face the animals with different nutrient requirements and levels of stress. in this study, i investigated the effects of diet quality (standard vs. decreased quality diet) on the patterns of variation in serum oxidative status (oxidative damage, serum antioxidant ...	2010	20206709
complex trade-offs in the pigeon (columba livia): egg antioxidant capacity and female serum oxidative status in relation to diet quality.	despite the great deal of ecological research interest in modulators of offspring quality and consequences of reproduction on female status, we still know little about the relationships among diet quality, antioxidant capacity of egg components (yolk and albumen) and oxidative status of female birds. in this study, i compared the egg quality (egg size, albumen and yolk antioxidant capacity) and serum oxidative status (oxidative damage, total serum antioxidant capacity, and serum thiols) of femal ...	2010	20213178
plasma and brain cholinesterase in methomyl-intoxicated free-ranging pigeons (columba livia f. domestica).	a mortality event caused by exposure to the carbamate insecticide methomyl was diagnosed in several hundred pigeons fed treated corn kernels in a city park. a cholinesterase inhibitor insecticide was initially suspected based on clinical signs and a significant inhibition (p < 0.05) of brain cholinesterase (che) activity compared with normal values for the species. however, brain che activity was within the normal range in birds subsequently submitted in an advanced stage of autolysis. two group ...	2010	20224101
columba livia as a sentinel species for the assessment of urban air genotoxicity.	this study explored the comet assay as a possible tool to assess genotoxicity in erythrocytes of columba livia to detect genotoxic effects induced by exposure to urban air pollution. fieldwork was conducted between june 2004 and june 2005 in the city of milan, italy, by sampling pigeons in different areas almost twice a week. six air contaminants-co, pm10, no(2), o(3) (ozone), so(2), and c6h6-plus polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (pahs) in fine particles, temperature, and ultraviolet index, were ...	2010	20229058
effects of sleep deprivation on measures of the febrile reaction and the recovery of somatovisceral functions and sleep in endotoxemia.	electroencephalographic methods were used to study the effects of total sleep deprivation on thermoregulatory measures of the fever response in pigeons (columba livia): brain temperature, peripheral vasomotor reactions, thoracic muscle contractile activity, and the recovery of somatic functions and the time characteristics of waking and sleep in lipopolysaccharide (lps)-induced endotoxemia. sleep deprivation during the period in which the quantity of slow-wave sleep increased on administration o ...	2010	20339942
[chewing-lice species (phthiraptera) found on domestic and wild birds in turkey.]	this study was carried out 48 domestic and wild bird samples belonging to 15 different species. birds that were killed by traffic on the roads as well as birds that were ill or injured were brought for investigation to the veterinary faculty or animal keeping house of konya municipal. firstly, all of them were inspected macroscopically for ectoparasites. then, they were treated with an insecticidal drug, propoxur in a cartoon box. one long-eared owl, one eurasian buzzard, four long-legged buzzar ...	2010	20340090
change in body mass can overrule the effects of maternal testosterone on primary offspring sex ratio of first eggs in homing pigeons.	the phenomenon of primary offspring sex ratio adjustment is being extensively studied, yet knowledge of the underlying proximate mechanism is still mainly hypothetical. female birds are the heterogametic sex, thus potentially controlling the sex of the gamete to be fertilized. in several bird species, independent studies showed effects of maternal plasma testosterone, corticosterone, or condition on primary offspring sex ratio. our objective was to investigate the causal relation between these t ...	2010	20345244
sarcocystis calchasi is distinct to sarcocystis columbae sp. nov. from the wood pigeon (columba palumbus) and sarcocystis sp. from the sparrowhawk (accipiter nisus).	sarcocystis calchasi has been identified as causative agent of a newly discovered central nervous disease in domestic pigeons (columba livia f. domestica) observed for the first time in germany in 2006. initial studies have indicated that this parasite is highly pathogenic for domestic pigeons after ingestion of low doses of sporocysts shed by the northern goshawk (accipiter gentilis). here we tested whether phylogenetically related birds might regularly harbor sarcocystis species. five wood pig ...	2010	20381254
effects of chlorpyrifos and aldicarb on flight activity and related cholinesterase inhibition in homing pigeons, columba livia: potential for migration effects.	homing pigeons (columba livia) were used as a model to assess the effects of chlorpyrifos and aldicarb on flight times at sub-lethal, environmentally relevant concentrations. a significant increase in flight times of birds dosed with aldicarb and with chlorpyrifos was observed. plasma cholinesterase activity was measured over time following exposure to either compound. the results suggest that the time of peak inhibition would correlate with migratory flight activity after exposure. in total, th ...	2010	20449724
evaluation of gastrointestinal tract transit times using barium-impregnated polyethylene spheres and barium sulfate suspension in a domestic pigeon (columba livia) model.	barium impregnated polyethylene spheres (bips) are used in small animal medicine as an alternative to barium sulfate for radiographic studies of the gastrointestinal tract. to determine the usefulness of bips as an alternative to barium suspension in measuring gastrointestinal (gi) transit time for avian species, ventrodorsal radiographs were used to follow the passage of bips and 30% barium sulfate suspension through the gi tracts of domestic pigeons (columba livia). gastrointestinal transit ti ...	2010	20496601
determination of an oral aflatoxin dose that acutely impairs hepatic function in domestic pigeons (columba livia).	aflatoxin b1 is a common hepatotoxin in birds. the goal of this study was to establish an acute model for hepatotoxicosis and decreased hepatic function in the white carneaux pigeon (columba livia) via oral administration of this mycotoxin. aflatoxin b1 was orally administered at a dose of 3 mg/kg dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide to 3 groups of pigeons every 24 hours for 2, 4, and 6 consecutive days, respectively. diagnostic modalities used to evaluate hepatic damage and impaired hepatic function ...	2010	21046941
chlamydophila psittaci and toxoplasma gondii infection in pigeons (columba livia) from são paulo state, brazil.	pigeons (columba livia) cohabit with humans in urban and rural areas, representing a public health problem since microorganisms are transmitted through the inhalation of dust from their dry feces (chlamydiosis) and through ingestion of their undercooked or poorly refrigerated meat (toxoplasmosis). this study aimed to evaluate the presence of chlamydophila psittaci and toxoplasma gondii in pigeons from four cities in são paulo state, brazil. c. psittaci was evaluated through hemi-nested polymeras ...	2010	21055877
navigation-induced zenk expression in the olfactory system of pigeons (columba livia).	a large body of evidence indicates that pigeons use olfactory cues to navigate over unfamiliar areas with a differential contribution of the left and right hemispheres. in particular, the right nostril/olfactory bulb (ob) and left piriform cortex (cpi) have been demonstrated to be crucially involved in navigation. in this study we analysed behaviour-induced activation of the olfactory system, indicated by the expression of the immediate early gene zenk, under different homing conditions. one exp ...	2010	20529114
asymmetry of different brain structures in homing pigeons with and without navigational experience.	homing pigeons (columba livia f.d.) are well-known for their homing abilities, and their brains seem to be functionally adapted to homing as exemplified, e.g. by their larger hippocampi and olfactory bulbs. their hippocampus size is influenced by navigational experience, and, as in other birds, functional specialisation of the left and right hemispheres ('lateralisation') occurs in homing pigeons. to show in what way lateralisation is reflected in brain structure volume, and whether some lateral ...	2010	20543120
use of feathers of feral pigeons (columba livia) as a technique for metal quantification and environmental monitoring.	this study quantifies metal concentrations in washed and unwashed feathers of feral pigeons (columba livia). the material was collected in two different sites: goiânia (capital of goiás state), with high anthropic activities, and jataí (a city in goiás), with low anthropic activities. results revealed that metals such as pb, cr, and cd were deposited in the feathers originating from air and soil (exogenous process). other metals such as cu, fe, mn, and zn, which are part of the tissue constituti ...	2010	20981568
wing and body kinematics of takeoff and landing flight in the pigeon (columba livia).	takeoff and landing are critical phases in a flight. to better understand the functional importance of the kinematic adjustments birds use to execute these flight modes, we studied the wing and body movements of pigeons (columba livia) during short-distance free-flights between two perches. the greatest accelerations were observed during the second wingbeat of takeoff. the wings were responsible for the majority of acceleration during takeoff and landing, with the legs contributing only one-quar ...	2010	20435815
virological and molecular epidemiological investigations into the role of wild birds in the epidemiology of influenza a/h5n1 in central thailand.	a serological and virological surveillance program to investigate the hpai h5n1 virus in wild bird populations was undertaken from february 2007 to october 2008. the purpose of the survey was to investigate the infection status in free ranging wild birds in banglane district, nakhon pathom province, central thailand. samples from wild birds were collected every two months. choanal and cloacal swabs, serum and tissue samples were collected from 421 birds comprising 44 species. sero-prevalence of ...	2010	21041042
epidemiology of west nile in europe and in the mediterranean basin.	in the last 30 years several cases of west nile (wn) virus infection were reported in horses and humans in europe and in the mediterranean basin. most of them were determined by strains of the lineage 1 included in the european mediterranean/kenyan cluster. strains of this cluster are characterised by a moderate pathogenicity for horses and humans and limited or no pathogenicity for birds. in recent years, however, wn cases determined by strains grouped in the israeli/american cluster of lineage ...	2010	20517490
[study of the protective effects of exogenous heat shock protein 70 kda in the model of sleep deprivation in pigeons columba livia].	electroencephalographic methods were used to study effects of the preparation of the exogenous heat shock protein with molecular mass 70 kda (hsp70i/hsc70) on the time characteristics of sleep and waking, brain temperature, peripheral vasomotor reactions and thoracic muscle contractile activity after the 5-hour sleep deprivation in pigeons (columba livia). the microinjections of hsp70i/hsc70 were performed into the third brain ventricle after the end of sleep deprivation. it was shown that hsp70 ...	2010	21061648
characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of the rock pigeon, columba livia (columbiformes: columbidae).	the rock pigeon (columba livia), or rock dove, is a member of the bird family columbidae. we mapped the complete mitochondrial genome of the rock pigeon. the mitochondrial genome of this species is a circular molecule of 17,229 bp in length, encoding a standard set of 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal rna genes, and 22 transfer rna genes, plus a putative control region, demonstrating a structure very similar to that of other birds. as found in other vertebrates, most of these genes are code ...	2010	20603809
genetic diversity of newcastle disease viruses isolated from domestic poultry species in eastern china during 2005-2008.	seventy-nine newcastle disease viruses (ndv) isolated from clinical specimens of different poultry species including chickens, pigeons (columba livia), geese and ostriches in eastern china during 2005-2008 were characterized biologically and phylogenetically. the results showed genetic diversity of these viruses: three class i viruses and one genotype i and 12 genotype ii viruses of class ii circulating in chickens were avirulent; four genotype vib viruses isolated from pigeons were moderately v ...	2010	21061026
metastatic melanoma appearing to originate from the beak of a racing pigeon (columba livia).	a 12-year-old male pigeon (columba livia) was reported to have a small lesion on the lower beak, which was diagnosed as malignant melanoma. after surgery to remove it, the general condition of the bird worsened and the bird died. post mortem examination revealed gross, black-colored lesions in the liver, kidney, spleen, and femur bone marrow. lesions were not found in the adrenals. histopathologically, the neoplastic cells had a large amount of melanin pigment and showed severe anisokaryosis and ...	2010	20608548
high prevalence of sarcocystis calchasi sporocysts in european accipiter hawks.	the emerging sarcocystis calchasi induces a severe and lethal central nervous disease in its intermediate host, the domestic pigeon (columba livia f. domestica). experimental studies have identified the northern goshawk (accipiter g. gentilis) as final host. phylogenetically closely related european sparrowhawks (accipiter n. nisus) and wood pigeons (columba palumbus) have been found to harbor genetically closely related sarcocystis spp. however, data on the prevalence and potential interspecies ...	2010	21074324
an adaptive annual rhythm in the sex of first pigeon eggs.	when the reproductive value of male and female offspring varies differentially, parents are predicted to adjust the sex ratio of their offspring to maximize their fitness (trivers and willard, science 179:90-92, 1973). two factors have been repeatedly linked to skews in avian offspring sex ratio. first, laying date can affect offspring sex ratio when the sexes differ in age of first reproduction, such that the more slowly maturing sex is overproduced early in the season. second, position of the ...	2010	20730075
mutagenesis of tgcn5 core region reveals two critical surface residues f90 and r140.	tetrahymena general control non-derepressor 5 (tgcn5) is a critical regulator of gene transcription via acetylation of histones. since the acetylation ability has been attributed to the "core region", we perform mutagenesis of residues within the tgcn5 "core region" in order to identify those critical for function and stability. residues that do not participate in catalysis are identified, mutated and characterized for activity, structure and thermodynamic stability. variants i107v, q114l, a121t ...	2010	20732305
antibiotic resistance in faecal bacteria (escherichia coli, enterococcus spp.) in feral pigeons.	to determine the presence of antibiotic-resistant faecal escherichia coli and enterococcus spp. in feral pigeons (columba livia forma domestica) in the czech republic.	2010	20602656
pineal-adrenal interactions in domestic male pigeon exposed to variable circadian light regimes and exogenous melatonin.	this study was aimed to see the histophysiological changes of the pineal and adrenal glands under altered photoperiodic conditions due to the administration of melatonin in the male domestic pigeon, columba livia gmelin.	2010	20799855
route selection by pigeons (columba livia) in "traveling salesperson" navigation tasks presented on an lcd screen.	navigation tasks using the "traveling salesperson problem (tsp)" were presented to pigeons (columba livia) to determine their strategy on spatial tasks with 2 to 3 goals. in experiment 1, a simple tsp task with 2 goals was presented. in experiment 2, 3 goals were presented so that each of the goals and the starting location of the target held each corner of a square. in experiment 3, 3 goals were aligned along a straight line. in experiment 4, 3 goals were placed so that the 2 of them were in cl ...	2010	20836595
topographic arrangement of the rotundo-entopallial projection in the pigeon (columba livia).	the tectofugal pathway (retina--optic tectum--nucleus rotundus--entopallium) is a prominent route mediating visual discrimination in diurnal birds. several lines of evidence have shown that at the tecto-rotundal stage this pathway is composed of multiple parallel channels. anatomical studies show that the nucleus rotundus is composed of at least four subdivisions, according to differences in cytoarchitectonic, histochemical, and hodological properties. each of these subdivisions is in receipt of ...	2010	20853511
effects of immune supplementation and immune challenge on oxidative status and physiology in a model bird: implications for ecologists.	one route to gain insight into the causes and consequences of ecological differentiation is to understand the underlying physiological mechanisms. we explored the relationships between immunological and oxidative status and investigated how birds cope physiologically with the effects of immune-derived oxidative damage. we successively implemented two experimental manipulations to alter physiological status in a model bird species: the homing pigeon (columba livia). the first manipulation, an imm ...	2010	20889833
a slowing effect on visual search by advance information in pigeons (columba livia): a comparison with humans (homo sapiens).	a comparative study was conducted to investigate whether the search for a target letter was facilitated when the target and prime (preceding stimulus) letters were identical. pigeons (section 2) and human participants (section 3) were first trained to search for "a" among "y"s and "e" among "d"s in a condition in which a square shape appeared as the prime (neutral condition). in subsequent testing, a prime was identical either to the corresponding target (target-priming condition) or to the dist ...	2010	20920555
unusual biphasic disease in domestic pigeons (columba livia f. domestica) following experimental infection with sarcocystis calchasi.	a novel sarcocystis species has recently been reported in the domestic pigeon (columba livia f. domestica) as intermediate host, causing severe central nervous signs similar to paramyxovirus-1 or salmonella typhimurium var. cop. infection. transmission of the parasite via the northern goshawk (accipiter gentilis) as definitive host has been established. experimental infection of domestic pigeons with sporocysts excreted by experimentally infected northern goshawks reproduced the natural infectio ...	2010	20945785
representation of serial order in pigeons (columba livia).	in experiment 1, 2 groups of pigeons were trained to respond to either a 4-item (a→b→c→d) or 5-item (a→b→c→d→e) list. after learning their respective list, half of the subjects were trained on a positive pair with reinforcement provided when pairs were responded to in the order true to that of the original sequence (4-item: b→c; 5-item: b→d). the remaining subjects were trained on a negative pair with reinforcement provided for responding to the pairs in the order opposite to that learned in the ...	2010	20973610
[cloning and characterization of caveolin-1 gene in pigeon, columba livia domestica].	caveolins, a class of principal proteins forming the structure of caveolae in plasmalemma, were encoded by caveolins gene family. caveolin-1 gene is a member of caveolins gene family. in the present study, a full-length of 2605 bp caveolin-1 cdna sequence in columba livia domestica, which included a 537 bp complete orf encoding a 178 amino acids long putative peptide, were obtained by using rt-pcr and race technique. the columba livia domestica caveolin-1 cds shared 80.1% - 93.4% homology with b ...	2010	20979249
molecular characterization of avian paramyxovirus type 1 (newcastle disease) viruses isolated from pigeons between 2000 and 2008 in slovenia.	fourteen avian paramyxovirus type 1 (apmv-1; newcastle disease) viruses isolated from dead free-living and domestic pigeons in slovenia between 2000 and 2008 were analyzed by a molecular characterization of a part of the fusion protein gene, which included the region encoding the fusion protein cleavage site. phylogenetic analysis indicated that the slovene pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 (ppmv-1) viruses do not cluster together but instead are divided into two groups--4bi and 4bii--of sublineage 4b ...	2010	20945791
evaluation of the polymorphic d-loop of columba livia in forensic applications.	we report on the polymorphisms exhibited by three hypervariable regions within the d-loop of columba livia (pigeon) mitochondrial dna. a total of 131 samples were taken from 131 randomly selected birds and used in the analyses of snps, a variable number of tandem repeats (vntr) and an str locus using ce. the number of repeats for the vntr ranged from 2 to 8 producing 21 haplotypes, with 54 individuals exhibiting heteroplasmy. the str locus exhibited multiple and continuous repeats within each in ...	2010	21080373
effect of a commercial paratyphus vaccine on the development of pigeon circovirus infection in young pigeons (columba livia domestica).	infection with pigeon circovirus (picv) has been associated with young pigeon disease syndrome (ypds), which is considered to be a multifactorial disease. the factors that determine whether birds succumb to clinical disease are not known. to evaluate the potential effect of vaccination with a commercial paratyphus vaccine on the progression of picv infection in young pigeons, forty 6-week-old pigeons naturally infected with picv were randomly assigned to two equal groups. the pigeons of one grou ...	2010	20806655
toxoplasma gondii: diagnosis of experimental and natural infection in pigeons (columba livia) by serological, biological and molecular techniques.	this study aimed to diagnose experimental and natural toxoplasma gondii infection in pigeons (columba livia) by serological, biological and molecular techniques. twelve pigeons, free of infection, were inoculated with 50 sporulated oocysts of t. gondii (veg sample) and four remained uninfected controls. four birds (three infected and one control) were euthanized at 15, 30, 45 and 60 days post-infection (dpi), and their tissues were used to perform a bioassay in mice and nested-pcr using b1 gene ...	2010	21184701
seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii infection in domestic pigeons (columba livia) in guangdong province of southern china.	little information on epidemiology of toxoplasma gondii infection in pigeons was available in people's republic of china. in the present study, sera from 275 pigeons raised in different commercial flocks in guangdong province of southern china were evaluated using modified agglutination test (mat). specific antibodies were found in sera of 8.7% of 275 pigeons (mat titer ≥ 1:5), and the seropositivity of eight herds we surveyed varied ranging from 0 to 18.2%. the results demonstrated the circulat ...	2010	21208745
[components of the pigeon tectothalamic visual pathway, revealed with aid of study of cytochrome oxidase and immunoreactivity to calcium-binding proteins].	distribution of activity of cytochrome oxidase (co) and immunoreactivity to parvalbumin (pv) and calbindin (cb) was studied in the optic tectum of the pigeon (columba livia). in the first link of the tectofugal pathway in the central gray layer (sgc = layer 13), small amounts of the co-active and pv-immunoreactive (pv-ir) cellular bodies were revealed in its internal part (sublayer 13b). some of these neurons located along the sgc lower boundary had long dendritic processes ascending into the su ...	2010	21268883
genetic diversity of avian infectious bronchitis virus isolated from domestic chicken flocks and coronaviruses from feral pigeons in brazil between 2003 and 2009.	to detect the presence of infectious bronchitis virus or avian coronavirus, a nested reverse transcriptase pcr (rt-pcr) method was developed with the aim of amplifying a fragment of 530 bases, comprising the gene coding s1 protein. in the first step, all samples were submitted to rna extraction, rt-pcr, and nested pcr. next, only the positive nested-pcr samples were propagated in specific-pathogen-free (spf) embryonated chicken eggs for virus isolation. positive samples were then sequenced and a ...	2010	21313839
prevalence of salmonella spp. antibodies to toxoplasma gondii, and newcastle disease virus in feral pigeons (columba livia) in the city of jaboticabal, brazil.	the rock pigeon (columba livia) may serve as a reservoir for several pathogenic agents that can be transmitted to poultry, wildlife, domesticated pets, and/or humans via excreta, secretions, or dust from feathers. in addition, ingestion of infected pigeons by wild and domestic animals can also transmit these pathogenic agents. the health status of 126 free-living pigeons in an urban area was evaluated by microbiologic culture for salmonella and serologic testing for the presence of antibodies fo ...	2010	21370639
a low false negative filter for detecting rare bird species from short video segments using a probable observation data set-based ekf method.	we report a new filter to assist the search for rare bird species. since a rare bird only appears in front of a camera with very low occurrence (e.g., less than ten times per year) for very short duration (e.g., less than a fraction of a second), our algorithm must have a very low false negative rate. we verify the bird body axis information with the known bird flying dynamics from the short video segment. since a regular extended kalman filter (ekf) cannot converge due to high measurement error ...	2010	20388596
ctx-m-15-type extended-spectrum beta-lactamases-producing escherichia coli from wild birds in germany.	the isolation of escherichia coli from wild birds in germany revealed the occurrence of four ctx-m-15-producing strains from four different birds (2.3% of 172 isolates). ctx-m producers were recovered from two eurasian blackbirds, one rock pigeon and a greater white-fronted goose. all ctx-m-producing e. coli revealed a clonal relationship as determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (pfge) and were assigned to multilocus sequence type (st) 648. our findings suggest the emergence of a new cl ...	2010	23766249
outbreak of avian mycobacteriosis in flocks of domestic pigeons: an epidemiological approach.	pigeons are extensively kept for homing and racing purposes in iran. the main objective of this study was to investigate dissemination of m. avium subsp. avium (maa) in pigeon aviaries in tabriz, north-western iran.	2010	22347571
physiological trade-offs in self-maintenance: plumage molt and stress physiology in birds.	trade-offs between self-maintenance processes can affect life-history evolution. integument replacement and the stress response both promote self-maintenance and affect survival in vertebrates. relationships between the two processes have been studied most extensively in birds, where hormonal stress suppression is down regulated during molt in seasonal species, suggesting a resource-based trade-off between the two processes. the only species found to differ are the rock dove and eurasian tree sp ...	2011	21795575
some causes of the variable shape of flocks of birds.	flocks of birds are highly variable in shape in all contexts (while travelling, avoiding predation, wheeling above the roost). particularly amazing in this respect are the aerial displays of huge flocks of starlings (sturnus vulgaris) above the sleeping site at dawn. the causes of this variability are hardly known, however. here we hypothesise that variability of shape increases when there are larger local differences in movement behaviour in the flock. we investigate this hypothesis with the he ...	2011	21829627
eighteen polymorphic microsatellites for domestic pigeon columba livia var. domestica developed by cross species amplification of chicken markers.		2011	22232198
clinicopathologic, gross necropsy, and histologic findings after intramuscular injection of carprofen in a pigeon (columba livia) model.	to evaluate the pathologic effects of carprofen in a pigeon model (columba livia), 52 young adult pigeons were used in a randomized control study design. sixteen pigeons were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups and received carprofen by intramuscular injection at dosages of either 2, 5, or 10 mg/kg once daily for 7 days. four pigeons served as saline-injected controls. four pigeons from each group and 1 control pigeon were randomly selected on days 2, 4, 6, and 8 to obtain blood samples ...	2011	22216717
parasitic ventriculitis caused by hadjelia truncata in california rock pigeons (columba livia).	severe ventriculitis and emaciation caused by the infestation of the nematode hadjelia truncata occurred in meat-type breeder rock pigeons (columba livia) in southern and central california. hadjelia truncata can infest several species of birds, although it has only been reported as pathogenic in pigeons. the factors that contribute to h. truncata pathogenicity are not known. the gross and microscopic pathology caused by the infestation of h. truncata in the ventriculus of pigeons and its morpho ...	2011	22362812
distribution pattern of apicomplexan parasites (sporozoa: haemosporida) in columba livia, gmelin.	during 39 months of sampling, the prevalence of apicomplexan parasites (haemoproteus and plasmodium) was studied in columba livia gmelin of rohilkhand region, up, india, according to the sex of the host, different seasons and host localities. out of 266 pigeons sampled, 148 pigeons were positive for haemoproteus at a prevalence of 55.63%. only 18 pigeons (2.67%) had a dual haemoproteus and plasmodium infection and 130 pigeons (48.87%) had haemoproteus infection. no pigeons were positive for plas ...	2011	22654310
pharmacokinetics of clindamycin administered orally to pigeons.	to determine the plasma concentration of clindamycin in pigeons after oral administration, 12 rock pigeons (columba livia) were used in a 2-phase study. in the first phase, 8 pigeons received clindamycin by gavage at 100 mg/kg as a single dose. blood samples were collected at 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 hours, and the plasma was separated, frozen, and subsequently analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for clindamycin and its active metabolites, n-demethylclindamycin (ncld) and ...	2011	22458181
heterotopic implantation of autologous bone marrow in rock pigeons (columba livia): possible applications in avian bone grafting.	autologous bone marrow, alone or as a composite marrow graft, has received much attention in various species. to assess the potential osteogenicity of autologous, extramedullary bone marrow implants in an avian model, 24 adult pigeons (columba livia) were given intramuscular implantations of autologous marrow aspirated from the medial tibiotarsus. birds were euthanatized at 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks after surgery to evaluate whether ectopic bone had formed at the implant sites. primary evalua ...	2011	22458179
characterization of velogenic newcastle disease viruses isolated from dead wild birds in serbia during 2007.	avian paramyxoviruses type 1 or newcastle disease viruses (ndv) are frequently recovered from wild birds and such isolates are most frequently of low virulence. velogenic ndv are usually recovered from poultry and only occasionally from wild birds. five ndv isolates were obtained from carcasses of four wild bird species during 2007 in serbia: mallard (anas platyrhynchos), eurasian sparrowhawk (accipiter nisus), feral rock pigeon (columba livia), and eurasian collared dove (streptopelia decaocto) ...	2011	21441197
[dynamics of balanced polymorphism morphs in blue rock pigeon (columba livia) from moscow].	analysis of the 30-year dynamics (from 1978 to 2008) of phenotype frequencies in the moscow blue rock pigeon population revealed changes in the frequency distribution of several plumage color phenotypes. the frequency of the melanistic phenotype decreased as a result of the decrease in the total population size and, consequently, population density in colonies. this decrease in the pressure of the melanistic phenotype led to increased proportions of wild-type and aberrantly colored birds through ...	2011	21446187
Indirect evidence for microbiota reduction through dietary mannanoligosaccharides in the pigeon, an avian species without functional caeca.	A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) on nutrient digestibility, intestinal pH, gut morphology and faecal bacteriology of pigeons, as model for birds without functional caeca. Sixteen adult pigeons (Columba livia domestica) were randomly allotted to either an extruded pellet diet with or without 0.4% MOS. After an adaptation period of 24 days, excreta were collected during 4 days. Apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients were determined using t ...	2011	22074297
flexible route selection by pigeons (columba livia) on a computerized multi-goal navigation task with and without an "obstacle".	the ability to select efficient routes while reaching several locations, in situations addressed as the "traveling salesperson problem (tsp)", seems to play an important role in the lives of nonhuman species as well as humans. one of our previous studies with pigeons (columba livia) used different variations of computerized navigation tasks to move a target to one or more goals, and showed that the birds consistently exhibited tendencies to visit the nearest goal first (miyata & fujita, 2010). i ...	2011	21707140
biased sex ratio and niche restriction in baruscapillaria obsignata (madsen 1945) (nematoda, capillariidae) from columba livia (aves, columbidae).	in the present study populations of the avian nematode species baruscapillaria obsignata are described from columba livia. male and female individuals were obtained from 27 birds, fixed in alcohol/formalin/acetic acid (afa) and preserved in 70% ethanol. nematodes were identified and then counted under a stereoscopic microscope. baruscapillaria obsignata were much more frequent in the anterior third of the small intestine, and females were more abundant than males in all infra populations. the pr ...	2011	22004684
adapting the buccal micronucleus cytome assay for use in wild birds: age and sex affect background frequency in pigeons.	micronucleus (mn) formation has been used extensively as a biomarker of damage from genotoxic exposures. the buccal mn cytome (bmcyt) assay provides a noninvasive means of quantifying mn frequency in humans, but it has not been developed for use in wildlife. we adapted the bmcyt assay for use in wild birds, with a focus on feral pigeons (columba livia) as a potential indicator species. five of six urban bird species sampled using oral cavity swabs produced sufficient buccal cells for the bmcyt a ...	2011	22121057
outbreak of mycobacterium avium subsp. avium infection in one flock of domestic pigeons.	an outbreak of mycobacterium avium subsp. avium infection was diagnosed in one breed of domestic pigeons (columba livia f. domestica) in the czech republic. nodular granulomatous lesions were found in 42 (9.7%) pigeons of the 435 examined; histopathologic examination of livers with gross lesions of mycobacteriosis from 15 randomly selected pigeons revealed granulomatous inflammation typical for avian mycobacteriosis in all samples. direct ziehl-neelsen (zn) microscopy and conventional culture we ...	2011	22017056
finding the best angle: pigeons (columba livia) weight angular information more heavily than relative wall length in an open-field geometry task.	pigeons were trained to locate food in two geometrically equivalent corners of a parallelogram-shaped enclosure. both the angular amplitude of the corners and the length of the walls alone were sufficient for successfully completing the task. following training, birds were tested in three separate conditions that manipulated the geometric information available. during tests in both a rectangular-shaped enclosure that preserved the wall length information but not the angular amplitude, and a rhom ...	2011	21918871
Impact of urban environment and host phenotype on the epidemiology of Chlamydiaceae in feral pigeons (Columba livia).	Chlamydiaceae are obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria found all over the world and known to cause various forms of disease in animals and humans. Urban pigeons are known to be an important reservoir of Chlamydia psittaci, the agent of human psittacosis. In this study, we examined the influence of pigeon houses used to regulate pigeon populations and of melanin-based coloration on several epidemiological parameters of Chlamydiaceae in 708 urban pigeons in Paris. We also identified speci ...	2011	21933318
prevalence of chlamydia psittaci in the feral pigeon population of basel, switzerland.	feral pigeons (columba livia) are commonly infected with chlamydia psittaci, the agent of psittacosis in humans. to assess the zoonotic risk posed by feral pigeons in the urban environment, we examined the presence of the chlamydia psittaci outer membrane protein a (ompa) gene in pharyngeal and cloacal samples of 202 feral pigeons present in a loft in basel, switzerland. additionally, we examined 620 fresh faecal droppings of feral pigeons at 6 public sites in basel. the ompa gene of c. psittaci ...	2011	21921110
helminth community composition, structure, and pattern in six dove species (columbiformes: columbidae) of south texas.	abstract abstract: the helminth community composition and structure of 6 species of columbids residing in south texas are reported and compared herein. sixty rock pigeons, columba livia (rp), mourning doves, zenaida macroura (md), eurasian collared-doves, streptopelia decaocto (ecd), white-winged doves, zenaida asiatica (wwd), common ground doves, columbina passerina (cgd), and 48 inca doves, columbina inca (id), were collected during the summer of 2006 and examined for helminths. twelve he ...	2011	21955248
afferent and efferent projections of the mesopallium in the pigeon (columba livia).	the mesopallium is a thick cell plate occupying a substantial portion of the avian dorsal pallium, but its hodology is incompletely known. in pigeons we examined fiber connections of the frontodorsal (mfd) and frontoventral mesopallium (mfv), the ventrolateral mesopallium (mvl), the lateral (mivl) and medial (mivm) parts of the intermediate ventral mesopallium, and the caudal mesopallium (mc). mfv, mivl, and mc connect reciprocally with secondary centers of the trigeminal, tectofugal, and audito ...	2011	21935938
telencephalic organization of the olfactory system in homing pigeons (columba livia).	pigeons use olfactory cues to navigate over unfamiliar areas, and any impairment of the olfactory system generates remarkable reduction of homing performance. lesion and deprivation studies suggest a critical involvement of the right nostril and thus, the right olfactory bulb (ob) and the left piriform cortex (cpi) for initial orientation. this functional pattern suggests that ob and cpi are asymmetrically connected with a stronger projection from the right ob to the left cpi. however, the struc ...	2011	21846495
possible cues driving context-specific adaptation of optocollic reflex in pigeons (columba livia).	context-specific adaptation (shelhamer m, clendaniel r. neurosci lett 332: 200-204, 2002) explains that reflexive responses can be maintained with different "calibrations" for different situations (contexts). which context cues are crucial and how they combine to evoke context-specific adaptation is not fully understood. gaze stabilization in birds is a nice model with which to tackle that question. previous data showed that when pigeons (columba livia) were hung in a harness and subjected to a ...	2011	22049337
The distribution of zebrin immunoreactive purkinje cell terminals in the cerebellar and vestibular nuclei of birds.	Zebrin II (aldolase C) is expressed in a subset Purkinje cells in the mammalian and avian cerebella such that there is a characteristic parasagittal organization of zebrin immunopositive stripes alternating with zebrin immunonegative stripes. Zebrin is not only expressed in the soma and dendrites of Purkinje cells, but also in their axonal terminals. Here, we describe the distribution of zebrin immunoreactivity in both the vestibular and cerebellar nuclei of pigeons (Columbia livia) and hummingb ...	2011	22105608
characterization of new medium-chain alcohol dehydrogenases adds resolution to duplications of the class i/iii and the sub-class i genes.	four additional variants of alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases have been purified and functionally characterized, and their primary structures have been determined. the results allow conclusions about the structural and evolutionary relationships within the large family of mdr alcohol dehydrogenases from characterizations of the pigeon (columba livia) and dogfish (scyliorhinus canicula) major liver alcohol dehydrogenases. the pigeon enzyme turns out to be of class i type and the dogfish enzyme ...	2011	21329683
sarcocystis calchasi-associated neurologic disease in a domestic pigeon in north america.	tissue cysts of a protozoan parasite were present in the skeletal muscle of a domestic pigeon (columba livia f. domestica) with neurologic disease in minnesota, usa. the animal had a severe granulomatous meningoencephalitis. the cysts were slender, up to 1 mm long and up to 0.03 mm in diameter. the cysts had a smooth wall without projections. size and wall morphology were compatible with sarcocystis calchasi. polymerase chain reaction using s. calchasi-specific primers resulted in a specific amp ...	2011	21848932
[Peculiarities of secondary structure of serum albumin of some representatives of the animal kingdom].	Methods of infrared (IR) spectroscopy and circular dichroism (CD) are suitable techniques for detection of proteins structural changes. These methods were used for determinating peculiarities of the secondary structure of serum albumins in some representatives of two classes of reptiles: Horsfield's tortoise (Testudo horsfieldi), water snake (Natrix tessellata) and grass snake (Natrix natrix) and birds: domestic goose (Anser anser), domestic chicken (Gallus domesticus), domestic duck (Anas platy ...	2011	21888056
plasma and whole brain cholinesterase activities in three wild bird species in mosul, iraq: in vitro inhibition by insecticides.	plasma and brain cholinesterase activities were determined in three wild bird species to assess their exposure to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides which are used in agriculture and public health. in the present study, we used an electrometric method for measurement of cholinesterase activities in the plasma and whole brain of three indigenous wild birds commonly found in northern iraq. the birds used were apparently healthy adults of both sexes (8 birds/species, comprising 3-5 from eac ...	2011	22058655
[avian diversity and bird strike risk at fuyang airport].	from june 2008 to january 2010, a survey of avian communities was conducted in five habitats (grassland, farmland, town, wetland, and woodland) at fuyang airport and its surrounding areas, with the diversity indices in different seasons and different habitats analyzed. a total of 122 avian species belonging to 15 orders and 40 families were recorded. at fuyang airport, the avian species number was significantly higher in summer and autumn than in winter and spring, the avian density was the high ...	2011	22007473
newcastle disease in the european union 2000 to 2009.	newcastle disease (nd) is a devastating disease of poultry that has to some extent been neglected by those working in the field in the past 10 to 15 years while attention has been focused on the emergence and spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza caused by a h5n1 subtype virus. during 2000 to 2009 in the european union (eu) member states, nd viruses virulent for chickens have been detected in wild birds, domesticated pigeons and poultry. based on these isolations it appears that the epizoo ...	2011	22107088
pigeons steer like helicopters and generate down- and upstroke lift during low speed turns.	turning is crucial for animals, particularly during predator-prey interactions and to avoid obstacles. for flying animals, turning consists of changes in (i) flight trajectory, or path of travel, and (ii) body orientation, or 3d angular position. changes in flight trajectory can only be achieved by modulating aerodynamic forces relative to gravity. how birds coordinate aerodynamic force production relative to changes in body orientation during turns is key to understanding the control strategies ...	2011	22123982
West nile virus infection of birds, Mexico.	West Nile virus (WNV) has caused disease in humans, equids, and birds at lower frequency in Mexico than in the United States. We hypothesized that the seemingly reduced virulence in Mexico was caused by attenuation of the Tabasco strain from southeastern Mexico, resulting in lower viremia than that caused by the Tecate strain from the more northern location of Baja California. During 2006-2008, we tested this hypothesis in candidate avian amplifying hosts: domestic chickens, rock pigeons, house ...	2011	22172633
prevalence and pathological lesion of trichomonas gallinae in pigeons of iran.	this research was conducted to determine the prevalence and pathological lesion of trichomonas gallinae in pigeons in the northeast part of iran. wet mount preparations from the oral cavity/crop of 418 pigeons (columba livia) captured from various locations in khorasan province analyzed for t. gallinae by giemsa's staining between april 2008 and june 2009. a total of 418 pigeons, 37.32% (n = 156) were infected with t. gallinae. macroscopically, the oropharynx of infected pigeons has white, caseo ...	2011	23024501
new records of haemoproteus and plasmodium (sporozoa: haemosporida) of rock pigeon (columba livia) in india.	the prevalence, intensity and morpho-variants of new species of haemosporida (haemoproteus and plasmodium) from the rock pigeon, columba livia are described and illustrated for the first time from uttar pradesh state of india. thin blood smears from 266 c. livia indicated 55.63% (haemoproteus) and 6.76% (plasmodium) prevalence and 1-6 pars/100 rbc's (haemoproteus) and 1-2 pars/100 rbc's (plasmodium) intensity of infection. the fully grown intracellular gametocytes of haemoproteus were differenti ...	2011	23024498
Influenza A virus monitoring in urban and free-ranging pigeon populations in Germany, 2006-2008.	Tracheal and cloacal swabs as well as blood samples from 408 feral urban (Columba livia forma domestica) and 170 free-ranging wood pigeons (Columba palumbus) in Germany were tested for infection with avian influenza viruses (AIVs). Neither influenza A virus was isolated in the swab samples nor influenza A virus RNA detected using real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-qPCR). In three urban feral pigeons, avian paramyxovirus (APMV) serotype 1 was isolated. Two of 123 serum samples from hunted fr ...	2011	22017045
behavioral profile and fos activation of serotonergic and non-serotonergic raphe neurons after central injections of serotonin in the pigeon (columba livia).	central injections of serotonin (5-ht) in food-deprived/refed pigeons evoke a sequence of hypophagic, hyperdipsic and sleep-like responses that resemble the postprandial behavioral sequence. fasting-refeeding procedures affect sleep and drinking behaviors "per se". here, we describe the behavioral profile and long-term food/water intake following intracerebroventricular (icv) injections of 5-ht (50, 150, 300 nmol/2 µl) in free-feeding/drinking pigeons. the patterns of fos activity (fos+) in sero ...	2011	21310184
interpreting the effects of image manipulation on picture perception in pigeons (columba livia) and humans (homo sapiens).	the effects of picture manipulations on humans' and pigeons' performance were examined in a go/no-go discrimination of two perceptually similar categories, cat and dog faces. four types of manipulation were used to modify the images. mosaicization and scrambling were used to produce degraded versions of the training stimuli, while morphing and cell exchange were used to manipulate the relative contribution of positive and negative training stimuli to test stimuli. mosaicization mainly removes in ...	2011	21244138
immunohistochemical localization of vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (vglut2) in the central nervous system of the pigeon (columba livia).	glutamatergic neurons are distributed widely in the telencephalic pallium of birds, but their targets are unknown. in the present study, a polyclonal antibody was produced against pigeon vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (vglut2) and was used for western blot and immunohistochemistry to detect projection targets of glutamatergic neurons in the pigeon central nervous system. the molecular weight of vglut2 was measured at 65 kda. vglut2 immunoreactivity was observed in neuropil, but not in neurona ...	2011	21618220