Molecular sexing of Japanese cormorants used for traditional fishing on the Nagara River in Gifu City |
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Authors: | Miho INOUE-MURAYAMA Yuko UEDA Tetsuji YAMASHITA Chizuko NISHIDA-UMEHARA Yoichi MATSUDA Toshiaki MASEGI Shin'ichi ITO |
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Affiliation: | Faculty of Agriculture, Gifu University, Gifu-shi,; Board of the Ceremonies, Imperial Household Agency, Gifu-shi,; Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo-shi and; Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo-shi, Japan |
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Abstract: | The Japanese cormorants used in traditional fishing in Japan are wild derived and their sex cannot be determined from their appearance. Applicability of molecular sex determination based on the size difference between CHD1Z and CHD1W introns was confirmed in male and female Japanese cormorants whose sexes had been ascertained by pathological autopsy. All of 21 birds of unknown sex reared by a cormorant fishing master were identified as males. The molecular sexing method will provide valuable information on sex differences of wild Japanese cormorants, including tameness, trainability, behavior and fishing capability, as well as for future trials involving artificial reproduction. |
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Keywords: | CHD1 cormorant fishing Japanese cormorant molecular sexing sex chromosome |
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