Testing effectiveness of discriminant functions to sex different populations of Mediterranean yellow-legged gulls "Larus michahellis michahellis"

• Autores: José Ignacio Aguirre, María del Pilar Arana Montes, María Teresa Antonio García
• Localización: Ardeola, ISSN 0570-7358, Vol. 56, Nº. 2, 2009, págs. 281-286
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • In this study a series of morphological measurements were taken and individuals of Larus michahellis from the Chafarinas Islands were sexed genetically. New discriminants have been developed which, in spite of correctly sexing 86 % of the individuals, may be applicable at any time of year as only purely skeletal measurements were used, such as the tarsus and the nalospi and also the maximum chord of the folded wing. This study shows that it is necessary to develop specific sexual discriminants for different populations of the same species and to include, where possible, skeletal variables which are easily taken in the field.