| The chukar is a Eurasian partridge introduced to North America and now established throughout the western United States. Within their range, chukar inhabit rugged terrain, making radio telemetry an important tool used in their study in the wild. However, transmitters can affect survivability, physiology, reproduction, and behavior. I tested a new technique for attaching radio transmitters that places the transmitter subcutaneously into the furcular cavity. I anticipate that subcutaneously implanting radio transmitters into the furculum can be readily adapted for use on many species of galliform birds to minimize the effects of external radios. Although this is a popular upland game species in North America, little is known about chukar breeding biology in North America. Reproductive behavior and physiology are important components to understanding any species. I investigated the behavioral and morphological asymmetry in chukar reproduction, and how asymmetry might promote fertilization. Finally, I investigated the extent to which chukar embryos can accelerate development to achieve hatching synchrony, and how synchrony may influence reproductive rate and population growth of chukar in North America. |
