Two techniques of age estimation in cetaceans: GLGs in teeth and earplugs, and measuring the AAR rate in eye lens nucleus

Authors

  • Nynne H Nielsen Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Box 570, DK-3900 Nuuk
  • Gísli A. Víkingsson Marine Research Institute, Skúlagata 4, IS-101 Reykjavík
  • Steen H. Hansen Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen
  • Susanne Ditlevsen Laboratory of Applied Statistics, Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, DK-2100, Copenhagen
  • Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Box 570, DK-3900 Nuuk

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7557/3.4184

Keywords:

Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus, minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata, harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena, aspartic acid racemization, AAR, age estimation, growth layer groups, GLGs

Abstract

The ages of three species of cetaceans were estimated by counting the growth layer groups (GLG) and measuring the aspartic acid racemization rate (kAsp) by what is referred to as the Aspartic Acid Racemization (AAR) technique. Data on kAsp and the D/L ratio of aspartic acid at birth [(D/L)0] in North Atlantic common minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) are presented along with data on fin whales (B. physalus) and harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) already published by Nielsen et al. (2012). The kAsp specific for minke whales was 1.40 x 10-3 yr-1 (SE ± 0.00005) and the (D/L)0 was 0.0194 (SE ± 0.0012). The correlation of GLG age and D/L ratio for all three species was highly significant; however, the correlation coefficient varied greatly (fin whales: R2 = 0.59, p <0.0001; minke whales: ­R2=0.96, P <0.0001; harbour porpoises: ­R2=0.36, P <0.0001). Asymptotic body length for all three species was estimated by a von Bertalanffy growth model on both the GLG and AAR techniques, and showed no difference.

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Published

2017-08-07

How to Cite

Nielsen, N. H., Víkingsson, G. A., Hansen, S. H., Ditlevsen, S., & Heide-Jørgensen, M. P. (2017). Two techniques of age estimation in cetaceans: GLGs in teeth and earplugs, and measuring the AAR rate in eye lens nucleus. NAMMCO Scientific Publications, 10. https://doi.org/10.7557/3.4184

Issue

Vol. 10: Age estimation of marine mammals with a focus on monodontids

Section

Articles

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