Sex determination in glosssy Ibis chicks based on morphological characters

[ENG ] Sex determination in glossy ibis chicks based on morphological characters. Aims: We derived two discriminant equations to sex glossy ibis Plegadis falcinellus chicks (2 - 5 we- eks old) based on morphological characters. Location: Doñana, South-West Spain. Methods: Wing length and tarsus leng...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Figuerola, Jordi, García, Luis, Green, Andy J., Ibáñez, Fernando, Máñez, Manuel, Del Valle, José Luis, Garrido, Héctor, Arroyo, José Luis, Rodríguez, Rubén
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2006
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/40881
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/40881
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:discriminant function
Genetic analyses
glossy ibis
leg morphology
Sex determination
sexual size dimorphism
Plegadis falcinellus
Descripción
Sumario:[ENG ] Sex determination in glossy ibis chicks based on morphological characters. Aims: We derived two discriminant equations to sex glossy ibis Plegadis falcinellus chicks (2 - 5 we- eks old) based on morphological characters. Location: Doñana, South-West Spain. Methods: Wing length and tarsus length and width of 198 individuals were measured in the 2002 and 2003 breeding seasons. Results: Tarsus width was the most discriminant character and in combination with wing length allo- wed us to sex 86.9 % of individuals correctly. A formula based on wing and tarsus length also sexed 84.9 % of individuals correctly. The reliability of this second equation was also tested with an independent sam- ple of 209 individuals measured in 2004, with error rates similar to those of the original data. Intervals for discriminant scores reducing errors in sexing to 10 % or 5 % were derived, at the cost of reducing the proportion of individuals that can be sexed. These equations should not be applied in other localities wi- thout validation, but our analyses suggest they can be used on different cohorts. We also describe a vi- sual sexing technique found to have 95 % accuracy for an experienced observer. Conclusions: Sex can be reliably determined for many glossy ibis chicks. Given the considerable se- xual size dimorphism found in many species of the family Threskionidae, tarsus width is likely to be a good variable to include in future analyses of sexual dimorphism in spoonbills and ibises. Key words: discriminant function, genetic analyses, glossy ibis, leg morphology, sex determination, sexual size dimorphism, Plegadis falcinellus