Table 2 African penguin basic semen characteristics and sperm morphology in groups of young and mature males and in samples collected during and outside the reproductive season.

From: Factors determining semen sample collection and semen quality parameters in African penguins Spheniscus demersus

Parameter

Full data set

Males

Breeding season

 

Mature

During

Outside

Semen characteristic

mean ± SD (n)

(range)

mean ± SD (n)

(range)

mean ± SD (n)

(range)

mean ± SD (n)

(range)

mean ± SD (n)

(range)

Total ejaculate volume (µl)

11.33 ± 13.53 (58)

(1–50)

8.57 ± 11.79 (30) a

(1–50)

14.29 ± 14.81 (28) b

(2–50)

10.61 ± 12.57 (46)

(1–50)

14.08 ± 17.06 (12)

(2–50)

Sperm concentration (×106/ml)

748.18 ± 1306.58 (34)

(3.44–6163.14)

739.16 ± 988.71 (18)

(22.91–3944.41)

758.33 ± 1627.15 (16)

(3.44–6163.14)

1045.19 ± 1644.92 (19)

(7.82–6163.14)

371.98 ± 523.24 (15)

(3.44–1829.03)

Sperm in ejaculate (x106)

5.49 ± 8.74 (34)

(0.03–30.82)

4.84 ± 6.26 (18)

(0.09–19.72)

6.21 ± 11.07 (16)

(0.03–30.82)

7.17 ± 10.51 (19)

(0.06–30.82)

3.35 ± 5.40 (15)

(0.03–18.29)

Sperm characteristic

n = 64

n = 34

n = 30

n = 49

n = 15

Viability (%)

69.00 ± 19.42

(3–100)

66.78 ± 19.48

(21–100)

71.51 ± 19.37

(3–95)

68.82 ± 19.87

(3–100)

69.57 ± 18.52

(32–92)

Morphologically normal (%)

39.82 ± 17.93

(0–86)

38.44 ± 17.39

(11.3–75)

41.38 ± 18.71

(0–86)

39.98 ± 17.61

(0–86)

39.31 ± 19.59

(13.5–72.2)

Abnormal head (%)

40.57 ± 16.92

(4–79.6)

44.19 ± 15.75 a

(15–76.2)

36.47 ± 17.52 b

(4–79.6)

39.89 ± 15.98

(4–79.6)

42.79 ± 20.17

(9.8–76.2)

Macrocephalic head (%)

6.67 ± 5.16

(0–25.8)

6.14 ± 4.58

(0–22.8)

7.27 ± 5.76

(0–25.8)

6.14 ± 5.02

(0–25.8)

8.40 ± 5.41

1.9–22.8)

Bent head (%)

2.26 ± 4.35

(0–33.3)

1.71 ± 1.67

(0–5.5)

2.88 ± 6.10

(0–33.3)

2.47 ± 4.90

(0–33.3)

1.59 ± 1.54

(0–4)

Bent midpiece (%)

2.11 ± 2.77

(0–14.6)

1.79 ± 2.42

(1–9)

2.47 ± 3.13

(0–14.6)

2.52 ± 3.01 a

(0–14.6)

0.76 ± 1.00 b

(0–3)

Bent flagellum (%)

0.46 ± 1.20

(0–7.7)

0.71 ± 1.54 a

(0–7.7)

0.17 ± 0.53 b

(0–2.6)

0.52 ± 1.32

(0–7.7)

0.26 ± 0.65

(0–2.4)

Coiled flagellum (%)

0.76 ± 1.48

(0–8.5)

0.80 ± 1.33

(0–4.1)

0.72 ± 1.66

(0–8.5)

0.76 ± 1.24

(0–4.1)

0.79 ± 2.15

(0–8.5)

Acrosom defect (%)

7.15 ± 5.97

(0–23.6)

5.98 ± 4.86

(0–19.4)

8.48 ± 6.87

(0–23.6)

7.50 ± 6.20

(0–23.6)

6.00 ± 5.20

(1–23.2)

Immature cells (%)

0.07 ± 0.26

(0–1.4)

0.09 ± 0.26

(0–1)

0.05 ± 0.26

(0–1.4)

0.06 ± 0.25

(0–1.4)

0.10 ± 0.28

(0–1)

Other (%)

0.12 ± 0.41

(0–2)

0.14 ± 0.40

(0–1.8)

0.11 ± 0.43

(0–2)

0.16 ± 0.46

(0–2)

0 ± 0

0

  1. n = sample size, SD = standard deviation.
  2. a, b Values with a different superscript within the same row are significantly different (p < 0.05).
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