Table 4 African penguin sperm characteristics assessed with flow cytometry in groups of young and mature males and in samples collected during and outside the reproductive season.

Viability (%)

n = 18

n = 11

n = 7

n = 10

n = 8

Live

79.92 ± 15.43

74.63 ± 17.52 ^a

88.24 ± 5.59 ^b

82.11 ± 11.97

77.19 ± 19.46

Dying

11.56 ± 10.53

14.83 ± 12.25 ^a

6.41 ± 3.67 ^b

10.22 ± 6.91

13.22 ± 14.23

Dead

8.52 ± 6.52

10.54 ± 7.55 ^a

5.35 ± 2.49 ^b

7.66 ± 6.09

9.59 ± 7.28

Acrosome integrity (%)

n = 17

n = 10

n = 7

n = 9

n = 8

Live with intact acrosome

83.01 ± 8.89

78.67 ± 9.27 ^A

89.21 ± 2.43 ^B

86.71 ± 5.25 ^a

78.84 ± 10.58 ^b

Live with damaged acrosome

4.88 ± 2.92

5.27 ± 3.50

4.33 ± 1.93

4.19 ± 2.42

5.66 ± 3.39

Dead with intact acrosome

10.16 ± 8.32

13.19 ± 9.72 ^a

5.83 ± 2.40 ^b

8.54 ± 4.00

11.98 ± 11.53

Dead with damaged acrosome

1.95 ± 3.41

2.87 ± 4.25 ^a

0.63 ± 0.68 ^b

0.56 ± 0.31 ^a

3.52 ± 4.60 ^b

Mitochondrial potential (%)

n = 16

n = 9

n = 7

n = 8

n = 8

High

47.19 ± 21.76

44.54 ± 21.99

50.58 ± 22.70

53.48 ± 14.40

40.90 ± 26.78

Low

50.60 ± 22.53

54.66 ± 22.05

45.37 ± 23.75

43.14 ± 15.10

58.06 ± 27.07

Apoptosis (%)

n = 13

n = 8

n = 5

n = 8

n = 5

Apoptotic

7.76 ± 6.62

9.26 ± 7.93

5.35 ± 3.09

8.70 ± 8.19

6.24 ± 3.07

Live non apoptotic

77.84 ± 12.64

73.63 ± 14.34

84.59 ± 5.16

79.37 ± 11.86

75.41 ± 14.86

Apoptotic and dead

1.85 ± 2.10

2.11 ± 2.52

1.43 ± 1.36

0.98 ± 0.37

3.24 ± 3.02

Dead

12.55 ± 11.10

15.00 ± 13.59

8.63 ± 3.89

10.95 ± 6.28

15.10 ± 16.95

DNA defragmentation (%)

n = 12

n = 7

n = 5

n = 7

n = 5

DFI

1.83 ± 1.60

2.17 ± 1.97

1.34 ± 0.85

1.65 ± 0.91

2.07 ± 2.38

HDS

13.24 ± 5.94

13.48 ± 7.59

12.91 ± 3.23

13.23 ± 4.90

13.26 ± 7.82