Premium
Polymerase Chain Reaction‐Based Sex Identification in the Greater Roadrunner
Author(s) -
SANTAMARIA CARLOS A.,
KELLEY SAMUEL,
SCHULZ GERRAL G.,
RANSOM DEAN,
HURTADO LUIS A.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the journal of wildlife management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1937-2817
pISSN - 0022-541X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1937-2817.2010.tb01263.x
Subject(s) - biology , polymerase chain reaction , heterogametic sex , identification (biology) , demographics , population , primer (cosmetics) , evolutionary biology , zoology , demography , genetics , ecology , gene , chemistry , organic chemistry , sociology , chromosome
We determined a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based method to identify the sex of greater roadrunners ( Geococcyx californianus ). We found that previously reported primer combinations used in other bird species did not work reliably in roadrunners. However, a novel primer combination (P2‐1237L) allowed for consistent and reliable sex identification of roadrunners. Conducting several PCR replicates per sample helped to identify occasional preferential amplification of the Z band that could occur in females (the heterogametic sex; i.e., WZ). Identifying the sex of individuals will allow for examination of sex‐associated differences in home range size and habitat use, population demographics, and parenting behavior, as well as for a better understanding of the social system of roadrunners.