Methods for gender determination of Crested Caracaras

作者：Morrison JL^*; Maltbie M

来源：Journal of Raptor Research, 1999, 33(2): 128-133.

• Crested Caracara
• Caracara plancus
• DNA
• blood sampling
• gender determination

We report details of a method that is reliable for Render determination of Crested Caracaras (Caracara plancus). Using the microsatellite probe Poly(dA-dG).(dC-dT), we detected sex-specific (female only) high-molecular weight restriction fragments in DNA from blood samples collected in the field. This method correctly identified the gender of 14 known-sex captive caracaras and was subsequently used to identify gender for 28 wild adults. We also evaluated morphometric measurements for these 42 individuals to determine whether any single characteristic or combination could be used in the field to make reliable gender determinations. No morphometric measurements were found that were reliable for gender determination in adult caracaras. Bill depth and wing length tended to be larger for females, but there was considerable overlap among the sexes for all measurements. Bill depth and wing length were retained in a model developed using multiple logistic regression analysis, but the model's overall predictive capability for indicating gender was poor Because young caracaras are only 80% of adult size at hedging, their morphometric measurements are not usable for gender determination. Genetic methods are likely the only reliable methods suitable for determining gender in Crested Caracaras.

• 出版日期1999-6