Sex determination in pre-fledgling chicks of the Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) based on morphometric measurements

• Published in: The Korean Journal of Ornithology Vol. 28; no. 2; pp. 117 - 121
• Main Authors: Kwon, In-Ki, Lee, Ji-Yeon, Park, Jong-Hyun, Choi, Eun-Joo, Lee, Ki-Sup, Yoo, Jeong-Chil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 한국조류학회 31.12.2021; 한국조류학회II
• Subjects: 생물학; 성적 크기 이형; SEXUAL SIZE DIMORPHISM; MORPHOMETRICS; Platalea minor; 저어새; 외부 형태 측정; SEX DETERMINATION; 성 판별
• ISSN: 1225-9179; 2586-6893
• DOI: 10.30980/kjo.2021.12.28.2.117

Black-faced spoonbills (Platalea minor) are monomorphic in plumage; however, they present sexual dimorphism in terms of size, with males being slightly larger than females. Here, we examined sexual size dimorphism in the pre-fledgling chicks of Black-faced spoonbills to develop a useful sexing technique based on morphometric measurements. Forward stepwise discriminant function analysis of sex determination using a molecular technique was performed and tested through jackknife validation. Body mass culmen, wing, and tarsus length of 143 fledglings were measured between 2011 and 2015. Body mass (15.8%) was the most dimorphic variable, followed by tarsus (10.9%), culmen (5.1%), and wing (3.3%) length. The best discriminant function included tarsus length and body mass, which correctly classified 90.9% fledglings of this endangered species. KCI Citation Count: 0