954
Phenetic Classification of Six Bird Species based on the Proximate and Mineral Composition of their Eggs
Classification is a systematic grouping of organisms into categories on the basis of evolutionary or structural relationships between them, based on their biological similarities and differences. Phenetic classification is the quantification and statistical assessment of characters based on overall or observable similarities rather than on phylogenetic or evolutionary relationships, with an orderly arrangement of organisms in hierarchical series. A total of 240 eggs comprising 40 eggs from each of six species species (Chicken, Duck, Guinea Fowl, Pigeon, Quail and Turkey) were sampled. Proximate composition (moisture content, dry matter, total ash, crude protein, crude fat and carbohydrate) of the eggs along with mineral analyses (calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron, zinc and cobalt) were conducted using standard laboratory procedures for proximate and mineral assay. All statistical analyses which included descriptive, analysis of variance and multivariate cluster analyses were done with Minitab Statistical software. Specie was a highly significant (P<0.001) source of variation in all variables measured except for Crude fat, Magnesium and Zinc which were not affected (P>0.05) by specie. The complete linkage method, with squared Euclidean distance and three clusters specified as final partition was used on the standardized variables. Three main clusters were identified with Duck, Turkey and Quail forming a cluster and joining with Chicken and Guinea Fowl as a second cluster, while Pigeon was in the third cluster. This clustering is close to the phylogenetic classification in traditional taxonomy of the three classes (Anseriforms, Galliforms and Columbiforms), and provides a good basis for comparative classification of the six different species of birds.
Table 1: Clustering of the Six Species based on Proximate and Mineral Composition Analyses
Step |
Number of Clusters |
Similarity Level |
Distance Level |
Clusters Joined |
New Cluster |
Number of Observation in New Cluster |
1 |
5 |
97.5304 |
1.5258 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
96.1613 |
2.3717 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
82.2077 |
10.9930 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
63.7853 |
22.3753 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
1 |
0.0000 |
61.7852 |
6 |
1 |
6 |
Keywords: Taxonomy, Phenetic Classification, Cluster Analysis