Variation in Brood Sex Ratios of Texas Rio Grande Wild Turkeys

摘要: Abstract We evaluated brood sex ratio (BSR) variation in Rio Grande wild turkeys (RGWT; Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) the Edwards Plateau and South Texas Plains of Texas, USA, during 2005–2006. Offspring was determined from DNA extracted tissue biopsies embryos unhatched eggs or vascular eggshells hatched depredated eggs. Sex across all 56.3% male (135/240; χ21 = 3.75, P 0.053). found that mean population growth rate based on a simulation with BSR at unity averaged 1.02 (range 0.924–1.058), whereas it declined to 0.978 0.816–1.037) using estimates our study. Although statistical analyses did not detect BSRs different BSR, modeling demonstrated caused biologically significant differences rates. Even though biological mechanism controlling primary remains unknown, should allow managers more reliably pre...