My research focuses on the common quail (Coturnix coturnix), a migratory game bird species.

I am currently studying whether ecological speciation is happening among the Atlantic metapopulation of the common quail and its relation with genomic differences, phenotypes and migratory patterns. For this purpose, I use genomic tools and morphological and stable isotope's data.

The common quail populations are and have been restocked extensively with farm-reared quails of hybrid origin (crosses with domestic Japanese quails, C. japonica). Since admixture of these individuals with the common quail in the wild has been claimed as one of the main threads for the conservation of the native species, I have studied several aspects of their hybridization: their mating system, sperm competition, behavior and fitness of the admixed individuals in the wild, among others.

I collaborate with the Coturnix Research Group from the University of Barcelona, leaded by José Domingo Rodríguez Teijeiro and Manel Puigcerver.

                    Common quail male

PhD thesis: "Impact of game restocking on common quail populations"

Abstract: The goal of this thesis is to understand the effects that game restocking has over common quail populations, and to gain knowledge applicable to improve common quail conservation and management. By the use of genetic methods, results from this thesis show that the vast majority of quails reared in Spanish farms for restocking are not common quail but domestic Japanese quails and hybrids. In the wild, restocked individuals show higher mortality and nest predation than common quails, but they successfully reproduce with the same or even higher probability than native quails. Results show that genetic introgression has already occurred in common quail populations in Catalonia, and genetic data is compatible with a slow rate of ongoing introgression of domestic Japanese quail alleles into the common quail gene pool. Simulations predict this could result in extensive admixture in the near future if release practices are maintained. Intensive control and genetic monitoring of individuals for restocking is needed as the massive release of farm-reared hybrids represents a severe threat for the long term survival of the common quail.

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Evolutionary history of an island endemic, the Azorean common quail
Ravagni S, Sanchez-Donoso I, Jiménez-Blasco I, Andrade P, Puigcerver M, Chorão Guedes A, Godinho R, Gonçalves D, Leitão M, Leonard JA, Rodríguez-Teijeiro JD, Vilà C (2023)
Molecular Ecology 00, 1– 15

Link

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Challenging ecogeographical rules: Phenotypic variation in the Mountain Treeshrew (Tupaia montana) along tropical elevational gradients
Hinckley A, Sanchez-Donoso I, Comas M, Camacho-Sanchez M, Hawkins MTR, Hasan NH, Leonard JA (2022)
PLoSONE 17(6):e0268213

Link

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Supp. Info. S1 Supp. Data S1

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Biased assessment of ongoing admixture using STRUCTURE in the absence of reference samples
Ravagni S, Sanchez-Donoso I, Vilà C (2021)
Molecular Ecology Resources 21, 677– 689

Supp.Info.

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Lack of introgression of Japanese quail in a captive population of common quail
Smith S, Fusani L, Boglarka B, Sanchez-Donoso I, Marasco V (2018)
European Journal of Wildlife Research 64, 51

Link

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Mate guarding and male body condition shape male fertilization success and female mating system in the common quail
Sanchez-Donoso I, Vilà C, Puigcerver M, Rodríguez-Teijeiro JD (2018)
Animal Behaviour 136, 107-117

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Bone loss from carcasses in Mediterranean ecosystems
Bernáldez-Sánchez E, García-Viñas E, Sanchez-Donoso I, Leonard JA (2017)
Palaios 32, 288–294

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Postcopulatory sexual selection favors fertilization success of restocking hybrid quails over native Common quails (Coturnix coturnix)
Sanchez-Donoso I, Morales-Rodriguez PA, Puigcerver M, Caballero de la Calle JR, Vilà C, Rodríguez-Teijeiro JD (2016)
Journal of Ornithology 157, 33-42

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Influence of game restocking on the migratory behavior of the common quail, Coturnix coturnix
Sanchez-Donoso I, Rodríguez-Teijeiro JD, Quintanilla I, Jiménez-Blasco I, Sardà-Palomera F, Nadal J, Puigcerver M, Vilà C (2014)
Evolutionary Ecology Research 16, 493-504

Genotypes

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Detecting slow introgression of invasive alleles in an extensively restocked game bird
Sanchez-Donoso I, Huisman J, Echegaray J, Puigcerver M, Rodríguez-Teijeiro JD, Hailer F, Vilà C (2014)
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 2, 00015

Link
Scriptsfor genotype simulation
Genotypes

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Decreased fitness of restocked hybrid quails prevents fast admixture with wild European quails
Puigcerver M, Sanchez-Donoso I, Vilà C, Sardà-Palomera F, García-Galea E, Rodríguez-Teijeiro JD (2014)
Biological Conservation 171, 74-81

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Hibridación entre la codorniz común (Coturnix coturnix) y la codorniz de granja: estado de un problema de conservación
Puigcerver M, Sanchez-Donoso I, Vilà C, Sardà-Palomera F, Morales-Rodríguez PA, Caballero de la Calle JR, Rodríguez-Teijeiro JD (2013)
Ecosistemas 22(2), 48-53 [In Spanish]

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Are farm-reared quails for game restocking really Common quails (Coturnix coturnix)?: A genetic approach
Sanchez-Donoso I, Vilà C, Puigcerver M, Butkauskas D, Caballero de la Calle JR, Morales-Rodríguez PA, Rodríguez-Teijeiro JD (2012)
PLoS ONE 7 (6): e39031

Link

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La sorprendente estructura poblacional de la codorniz
Sanchez-Donoso I, Ravagni S, Jiménez I, Puigcerver M, Rodríguez-Teijeiro JD, Vilà C (2022)
Quercus 439, 12-17