FEMALE-SPECIFIC RESTRICTION FRAGMENTS REVEALED BY DNA-FINGERPRINTING AND IMPLICATIONS FOR EXTRA-PAIR FERTILISATIONS IN THE SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER (PUFFINUS-TENUIROSTRIS, PROCELLARIIFORMES, PROCELLARIIDAE)

We report a female-specific restriction fragment in the DNA fingerprin ts of short-tailed shearwaters (Puffinus tenuirostris) that hybridises to a derivative of the human multilocus minisatellite probe 33.6. Thi s genetic method of assigning sex has relevance to studies of populati on biology, reproductive success and mating systems in this species. T he presence or absence of the female-specific restriction fragment has allowed us to reinterpret results from a previous DNA fingerprinting study of mating systems in the short-tailed shearwater.