A non-invasive method based on head morphology to sex mature three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.) in rearing conditions

• Published in: Mathematical biosciences 2013-08, Vol.244 (2), p.148-153
• Main Authors: de Kermoysan, Goulwen, Péry, Alexandre R.R., Porcher, Jean-Marc, Beaudouin, Rémy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Ecotoxicology; Environmental Sciences; Female; Fish; Gasterosteus aculeatus; Head - anatomy & histology; Head - physiology; Head morphology; Life Sciences; Linear discriminant analysis; Male; Models, Biological; Sex Characteristics; Sexual dimorphism; Smegmamorpha - anatomy & histology; Smegmamorpha - physiology; Toxicology
• ISSN: 0025-5564; 1879-3134
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2013.05.001

•We proposed a model to sex mature three-spined sticklebacks in rearing conditions.•Method is applicable outside of the breeding season.•Model is based on five distances of the fish’s head.•We can adjust the percentage of type-I errors according to the needs of users. A mathematical model to distinguish mature female and male three-spined sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus L. 1758 is proposed. This method is based on sexual dimorphism in the head morphology. The discrimination was established on five distances of interest on the head, adjusted by the standard length of fish. The parameters were estimated based on a training set composed of 102 fish with an equilibrium sex ratio and validated on a test set composed of 69 fish. The model estimates the relationship between the percentage of fish that can be sexed with our model and the percentage of fish correctly sexed. For instance, to reach 1% of error in the sex determination, only 53% of the fish should be considered, whereas to reach 5% of error, 90% of the fish can be used. Compared to other available methods to sex G. aculeatus, the model is non invasive, not expensive, rapid, replicable, and can be calibrated outside of the breeding period.