期刊
PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
卷 130, 期 1, 页码 239-248出版社
BIOL SOC WASHINGTON
DOI: 10.2988/17-00018
关键词
Cathartidae; sexual dimorphism; wing area; wing aspect ratio; wing loading; wing span
类别
资金
- Wetmore Fund (Smithsonian Institution)
- Smoketree Trust
Sexual dimorphism patterns in wing area, wing loading, and wing aspect ratio of Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) and Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) are unknown but are of particular interest given the prevalence of these species in scavenging communities in the Western Hemisphere. I assessed these variables in sexed specimens from wintering populations in Nashville, Tennessee. Black Vultures exhibited higher wing loading and a lower wing aspect ratio than Turkey Vultures. Neither species exhibited significant age-related or sexual dimorphism in body weight, wing span, wing area, wing loading, or wing aspect ratio. The relatively low variance observed in the pooled sample of immatures (similar to 9-21 mo old) and adults suggests that definitive wing size and shape are acquired several years before individuals develop the bare rugose skin and head caruncles characteristic of adults. In a broader context, this study tentatively suggests that variance estimates for wing morphology obtained from unsexed vulture populations may not be unduly inflated by undetected sexual or age-related dimorphism.
作者
我是这篇论文的作者
点击您的名字以认领此论文并将其添加到您的个人资料中。
推荐
暂无数据