A modified primer-pair designed for the molecular sex identification of black-legged Kittiwake (Laridae: Rissa tridactyla).

Abstract

In studies of avian populations accurate sex identification facilitates the study of sex-linked behaviour, ecology, social structure, decision-making, and life histories. To improve molecular sex identification protocols for the black-legged kittiwake (Laridae: Rissa tridactyla, hereafter 'kittiwake'), primers previously developed for other bird species were realigned against the kittiwake CHD1 Z and W chromosomes to generate a species-specific primer-pair. Amplicons of 602 bp and 375 bp were produced using typical PCR and gel electrophoresis procedures. The modified primer-pair was validated on a test sample of 138 kittiwakes from four Atlantic breeding colonies sexed a priori using head-bill length.