Evol Ecol Res 10: 907-912 (2008)     Full PDF if your library subscribes.

Unbiased sex ratio among nestling echo parakeets Psittacula eques

Tiawanna D. Taylor and David T. Parkin

Institute of Genetics, University of Nottingham, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK

Correspondence: T.D. Taylor, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa.
e-mail: tiawannataylor@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Question: Is the male-biased sex ratio observed in wild adult populations of the critically endangered echo parakeet potentially a consequence of inbreeding?

Study subjects: DNA samples were analysed from chicks over a 3-year period.

Method of analysis: Molecular screening enabled the primary sex ratio to be determined in a sample of sexually monomorphic nestlings.

Conclusion: No bias in sex ratio was observed in chicks, suggesting that the departure from equality observed among adults is due to differential mortality. Sex ratio bias can occur due to a number of environmental and physiological factors. The implications to the current conservation management of this species in relation to sex ratio bias are discussed.

Keywords: conservation management, echo parakeet, Psittacula eques, sex ratio.

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