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Sex ratio of White Stork Ciconia ciconia in different environments of Poland

Environmental Science and Pollution Research volume 22, pages 13194–13203 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the variation in sex ratio of White Stork Ciconia ciconia chicks from differentiated Poland environments. We took under a consideration the impact of Cd and Pb for establish differences among sex ratio in chicks. We also study multiplex PCR employment for establish gender considerations. We collected blood samples via venipuncture of brachial vein of chicks during 2006–2008 breeding seasons at the Odra meadows (SW-Poland; control), which were compared with those from suburbs (SW-Poland), and from copper smelter (S-Poland; polluted) and from swamps near Baltic Sea. We found differences among sex ratio in White Stork chicks from types of environment. Male participation in sex structure is importantly higher in each type of environment excluded suburban areas. Differences in White Stork sex ratio according to the degree of environmental degradation expressed by Cd and Pb and sex-environment-metal interactions testify about the impact of these metals upon sex ratios in storks. Simultaneously, as a result of multiplex PCR, 18S ribosome gene, which served as internal control of PCR, was amplified in male and female storks. It means that it is possible to use primers designed for chicken in order to replicate this fragment of genome in White Stork. Moreover, the use of Oriental White Stork Ciconia boyciana W- chromosome specific primers makes it possible to determine the sex of C. ciconia chicks. Many factors make sex ratio of White Stork changes in subsequent breeding seasons, which depend significantly on specific environmental parameters that shape individual detailed defense mechanisms.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are deeply thankful to Professor Joerg Boehner (Berlin Univ.) for the improved English text of the MS.

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Affiliations

  1. Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Skłodowska-Curie St. 9, 85-094, Bydgoszcz, Poland

    Piotr Kamiński & Beata Koim-Puchowska

  2. Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Biotechnology, University of Zielona Góra, Prof. Szafran St. 1, 65-516, Zielona Góra, Poland

    Piotr Kamiński

  3. Department of Genetics and General Animal Breeding, University of Technology and Life Sciences, Mazowiecka St. 28, 85-084, Bydgoszcz, Poland

    Ewa Grochowska & Sławomir Mroczkowski

  4. Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Nature Protection, University of Zielona Góra, Prof. Szafran St. 1, 65-516, Zielona Góra, Poland

    Leszek Jerzak, Olaf Ciebiera & Damian Markulak

  5. Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Zoology, University of Zielona Góra, Prof. Szafran St. 1, 65-516, Zielona Góra, Poland

    Mariusz Kasprzak

  6. Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Department of Medical Biology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Karłowicz St. 24, 85-092, Bydgoszcz, Poland

    Alina Woźniak

Authors
  1. Piotr Kamiński
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  2. Ewa Grochowska
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  3. Sławomir Mroczkowski
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  4. Leszek Jerzak
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  5. Mariusz Kasprzak
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  6. Beata Koim-Puchowska
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  7. Alina Woźniak
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  8. Olaf Ciebiera
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  9. Damian Markulak
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Correspondence to Piotr Kamiński.

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Kamiński, P., Grochowska, E., Mroczkowski, S. et al. Sex ratio of White Stork Ciconia ciconia in different environments of Poland. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 13194–13203 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4250-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4250-z

Keywords

  • White Stork
  • Ciconia ciconia
  • Sex ratio
  • Sex determination
  • Environmental stress
  • Pb and Cd impact
  • Poland