Table 3 African penguin sperm kinetic parameters 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

Sperm kinetic parameter

Full data set

(n = 34)

Males

Breeding season

Young (n = 18)

Mature (n = 16)

During (n = 19)

Outside (n = 15)

mean ± SD

mean ± SD

mean ± SD

mean ± SD

mean ± SD

Total motility (%)

43.67 ± 31.41

52.34 ± 27.77 a

33.91 ± 33.22 b

42.93 ± 32.62

44.61 ± 30.90

Progressive motility (%)

16.92 ± 15.95

19.93 ± 14.35 a

13.53 ± 17.42 b

15.48 ± 16.23

18.74 ± 15.96

Slow (%)

22.01 ± 15.61

26.63 ± 15.36 a

16.82 ± 14.82 b

23.51 ± 18.17

20.11 ± 11.95

Static (%)

56.33 ± 31.41

47.66 ± 27.77 a

66.09 ± 33.22 b

57.07 ± 32.62

55.39 ± 30.90

VCL (µm/s)

motile

86.12 ± 25.37

86.19 ± 25.75

86.05 ± 25.77

83.83 ± 30.43

89.03 ± 17.60

progressive

102.18 ± 33.25

110.78 ± 31.67

92.51 ± 33.27

100.75 ± 42.80

104.00 ± 15.65

VSL (µm/s)

motile

39.44 ± 11.73

42.17 ± 9.03

36.37 ± 13.83

37.04 ± 13.49

42.49 ± 8.52

progressive

71.41 ± 19.96

72.74 ± 12.74

69.91 ± 26.24

71.33 ± 25.70

71.51 ± 9.48

VAP (µm/s)

motile

51.70 ± 13.74

53.63 ± 11.45

49.53 ± 16.03

49.17 ± 15.57

54.91 ± 10.64

progressive

75.38 ± 20.32

78.18 ± 12.58

72.23 ± 26.63

75.59 ± 26.29

75.12 ± 9.21

LIN (%)

motile

50.72 ± 8.73

52.98 ± 8.46

48.18 ± 8.59

50.55 ± 10.68

50.95 ± 5.74

progressive

71.53 ± 16.32

69.71 ± 6.02

73.56 ± 23.17

71.74 ± 21.33

71.26 ± 6.58

STR (%)

motile

75.87 ± 8.38

78.41 ± 6.88 a

73.01 ± 9.18 b

75.37 ± 9.95

76.50 ± 6.12

progressive

91.64 ± 16.75

92.94 ± 2.92

90.17 ± 24.56

89.31 ± 21.91

94.58 ± 5.22

WOB (%)

motile

63.54 ± 6.75

65.11 ± 6.49

61.77 ± 6.79

63.25 ± 8.16

63.91 ± 4.62

progressive

75.70 ± 16.18

74.92 ± 6.08

76.56 ± 23.09

75.80 ± 21.35

75.57 ± 5.59

ALH (µm)

motile

6.25 ± 2.26

5.99 ± 2.10

6.53 ± 2.46

5.82 ± 2.20

6.79 ± 2.30

progressive

6.91 ± 2.85

7.00 ± 2.89

6.81 ± 2.90

6.69 ± 3.31

7.19 ± 2.21

BCF (Hz)

motile

36.16 ± 22.65

29.40 ± 10.51

43.76 ± 29.79

37.66 ± 28.15

34.25 ± 13.56

progressive

36.66 ± 45.44

25.05 ± 8.60

49.71 ± 64.15

43.50 ± 59.79

27.99 ± 11.27

  1. n = sample size, SD = standard deviation, VCL = curvilinear velocity, VSL = straight-line velocity, VAP = average path velocity, LIN = linearity, STR = straightness, WOB = wobble, ALH = amplitude of lateral head displacement, BCF = beat cross frequency.
  2. a, b Values with a different superscript within the same row are significantly different (p < 0.05).
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