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A simplified method of determining the sex of Pygoscelis penguins using bill measurements

A simplified method of determining the sex of Pygoscelis penguins using bill measurements
A simplified method of determining the sex of Pygoscelis penguins using bill measurements
We examined sexual dimorphism in bill size in adult Adelie Penguins Pygoscelis adeliae, adult Chinstrap Penguins P. antarctica and adult and juvenile Gentoo Penguins P. papua at King George Island, Antarctica, using a DNA-based molecular sexing technique. Bill length and depth were the most consistent dimorphic character examined, with measurements 5.4%–11.5% larger in males than in females, on average. Within breeding pairs sampled, male Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins had consistently longer and deeper bills than their mates, although bill measurement overlapped between sexes at the population level. We used bill measurements to calculate species- and age-specific

discriminant functions that correctly classified 83.2%–96.7% of the individuals in our study following cross-validation. The discriminant functions derived from this analysis provide a practical method of sex determination for all three Pygoscelis penguin species in the South Shetland Islands where they breed sympatrically. Posterior probability analysis can also be used to identify individuals that are likely to be incorrectly classified using discriminant function analysis, allowing DNA-based tests for gender to be reserved for targeted use. Furthermore, we report raw morphometric data to facilitate future analysis and discriminant function improvement
Discriminant function analysis, sexing, Adélie Penguin, Chinstrap Penguin, Gentoo Penguin, Pygoscelis
1018-3337
89-94
Polito, M.J.
df6f529e-ffd4-4b53-899f-14c7dd198d12
Clucas, G.V.
01c99eb2-5dbb-4f55-847c-1283065b40e1
Hart, T.
2a2637a7-f7c7-4a7b-97b6-56c2196a543c
Trivelpiece, W.Z.
1421bff4-aa25-4de7-a826-aa9825cfe843
Polito, M.J.
df6f529e-ffd4-4b53-899f-14c7dd198d12
Clucas, G.V.
01c99eb2-5dbb-4f55-847c-1283065b40e1
Hart, T.
2a2637a7-f7c7-4a7b-97b6-56c2196a543c
Trivelpiece, W.Z.
1421bff4-aa25-4de7-a826-aa9825cfe843

Polito, M.J., Clucas, G.V., Hart, T. and Trivelpiece, W.Z. (2012) A simplified method of determining the sex of Pygoscelis penguins using bill measurements. Marine Ornithology, 40 (2), 89-94.

Record type: Article

Abstract

We examined sexual dimorphism in bill size in adult Adelie Penguins Pygoscelis adeliae, adult Chinstrap Penguins P. antarctica and adult and juvenile Gentoo Penguins P. papua at King George Island, Antarctica, using a DNA-based molecular sexing technique. Bill length and depth were the most consistent dimorphic character examined, with measurements 5.4%–11.5% larger in males than in females, on average. Within breeding pairs sampled, male Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins had consistently longer and deeper bills than their mates, although bill measurement overlapped between sexes at the population level. We used bill measurements to calculate species- and age-specific

discriminant functions that correctly classified 83.2%–96.7% of the individuals in our study following cross-validation. The discriminant functions derived from this analysis provide a practical method of sex determination for all three Pygoscelis penguin species in the South Shetland Islands where they breed sympatrically. Posterior probability analysis can also be used to identify individuals that are likely to be incorrectly classified using discriminant function analysis, allowing DNA-based tests for gender to be reserved for targeted use. Furthermore, we report raw morphometric data to facilitate future analysis and discriminant function improvement

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More information

Published date: 2012
Keywords: Discriminant function analysis, sexing, Adélie Penguin, Chinstrap Penguin, Gentoo Penguin, Pygoscelis
Organisations: Ocean Biochemistry & Ecosystems

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 350569
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/350569
ISSN: 1018-3337
PURE UUID: 1327a470-1d3f-47c6-8646-5263dfa1d4fb
ORCID for G.V. Clucas: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4305-1719

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 26 Mar 2013 17:16
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 13:27

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Contributors

Author: M.J. Polito
Author: G.V. Clucas ORCID iD
Author: T. Hart
Author: W.Z. Trivelpiece

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