Seasonal changes in food intake and body mass in captive houbara bustards (Chlamydotis undulata) and effect of ambient temperature

Synchronous seasonal cycles in food intake (FI) and body mass (BM) were observed in houbara bustards (Chlamydotis undulata) kept under natural conditions. Stepwise regression revealed a significant negative relationship of both parameters with ambient temperature. This effect was confirmed in artificial conditions, where FI was reduced by 30% at 30°C compared with 20°C, and BM was increased at 20°C but not at 30°C. Temporal relationships suggest a link with the reproductive cycle, migration (inC. u. macqueennii), and moult. It is hypothesized that temperature may act as a proximate factor for the control of FI and BM in the houbara