Bomb radiocarbon dating calibrates beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) age estimates

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (12) ◽  
pp. 1840-1852 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.E.A. Stewart ◽  
S.E. Campana ◽  
C.M. Jones ◽  
B.E. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Atomic Bomb ◽  
Growth Increment ◽  
Delphinapterus Leucas ◽  
Age Validation ◽  
Bomb Radiocarbon ◽  
Beluga Whale Delphinapterus Leucas ◽  
Layer Groups ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Accurate Indicator ◽  
Age Estimates

The ages of many mammals are estimated by counting growth layers in tooth sections, yet validation of age estimation techniques using free-ranging mammals has been problematic. Contrary to age estimates for most other animals in which it is assumed that one bipartite growth increment forms annually, beluga whale ( Delphinapterus leucas (Pallas, 1776)) age estimates have been calculated assuming that two growth layer groups (GLGs) form each year. Here we report the age validation for belugas based on date-specific incorporation of atomic bomb radiocarbon into tooth GLGs. Radiocarbon assays of dentinal layers formed in belugas harvested between 1895 and 2001 indicated that radiocarbon from atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons was incorporated into growing teeth and retained for the remaining life of the animal. Comparison of age determined by bomb radiocarbon with age determined by GLG counts indicated that GLGs form annually, not semiannually, and provide an accurate indicator of age for belugas up to at least 60 years old. Radiocarbon signatures of belugas were temporally and metabolically stable and were apparently derived more from the radiocarbon content of their prey than from water. Our understanding of many facets of beluga population dynamics is altered by the finding that this species lives twice as long as previously thought.

scholarly journals The biology behind the counts: tooth development related to age estimation in beluga (Delphinapterus leucas)

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara E Stewart ◽  
Robert EA Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Tooth Development ◽  
Delphinapterus Leucas ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Growth Layer ◽  
Diagnostic Features ◽  
Developmental Factors ◽  
Occlusal Wear ◽  
Layer Groups ◽  
Pulp Stones ◽  
Age Estimates

The widely accepted method of determining ages of beluga is to count dentine growth layer groups (GLGs) in median, longitudinal sections of a tooth. It is essential to understand how these growth layers form and to consider developmental factors that can confound their enumeration to be able to provide meaningful age estimates. Here we provide information on, and illustrate, the developmental biology of beluga teeth as it relates to interpreting GLGs. Key factors are: evaluating the presence and occlusal wear of fetal dentine; interpreting early-formed diagnostic features such as the neonatal line; assessing the last-formed growth layer adjacent to the pulp cavity; identifying the presence of nodes at the dentine-cementum interface to assist in counting GLGs; and recognizing  pulp stones and accessory lines in the dentine which may hinder the age estimate process.

Age validation of yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) and bigeye (Thunnus obesus) tuna of the northwestern Atlantic Ocean

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 637-643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen H. Andrews ◽  
Ashley Pacicco ◽  
Robert Allman ◽  
Brett J. Falterman ◽  
Erik T. Lang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Zone ◽  
Yellowfin Tuna ◽  
Age And Growth ◽  
Thunnus Albacares ◽  
Bigeye Tuna ◽  
Age Validation ◽  
Thunnus Obesus ◽  
Bomb Radiocarbon ◽  
Age Estimates ◽  
Age Reading

Estimates of age and growth of yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) and bigeye (Thunnus obesus) tuna remain problematic because validation of growth zone deposition (opaque and translucent) has not been properly evaluated. Otolith growth structure (zone clarity) can be poorly defined for tropical tunas, but the use of bomb radiocarbon dating has validated age estimates to 16–18 years for yellowfin and bigeye tuna. Use of the radiocarbon decline period — defined by regional coral and otoliths — provided valid ages through ontogeny. Yellowfin tuna aged 2–18 years (n = 34, 1029–1810 mm FL) and bigeye tuna aged 3–17 years (n = 12, 1280–1750 mm FL) led to birth years that were coincident with the bomb radiocarbon decline. The results indicate there was no age reading bias for yellowfin tuna and that age estimates of previous studies were likely underestimated for both species.

scholarly journals Eye lens Δ14C validates otolith-derived age estimates of Gulf of Mexico reef fishes

2021 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-17
Author(s):  
William F. Patterson ◽  
Beverly K. Barnett ◽  
Thomas C. TinHan ◽  
Susan K. Lowerre-Barbieri
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Eye Lens ◽  
Lens Protein ◽  
Lutjanus Campechanus ◽  
Age Validation ◽  
Bomb Radiocarbon ◽  
Reef Fish Species ◽  
Eye Lens Protein ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Age Estimates

We tested whether Δ14C values of eye lens protein (crystallin) formed in early life could be utilized to validate marine bony fish age estimates via the bomb radiocarbon chronometer. The slope of the relationship between red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus; n = 8; 0 to 27 years old), otolith and eye lens core Δ14C values was not significantly different than 1, which was also true for seven additional reef fish species (n = 21; 0 to 24 years old). Results demonstrate eye lens core Δ14C can be utilized to validate age estimates of marine fishes, which will be useful in numerous age validation applications.

scholarly journals Age validation of canary rockfish (Sebastes pinniger) using two independent otolith techniques: lead-radium and bomb radiocarbon dating

2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen H. Andrews ◽  
Lisa A. Kerr ◽  
Gregor M. Cailliet ◽  
Thomas A. Brown ◽  
Craig C. Lundstrom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Age Estimation ◽  
Age Validation ◽  
14C Dating ◽  
Age Composition ◽  
Bomb Radiocarbon ◽  
Estimation Procedures ◽  
Limited Application ◽  
Growth Zones ◽  
Minimum Estimate ◽  
Age Estimates

Canary rockfish (Sebastes pinniger) have long been an important part of recreational and commercial rockfish fishing from south-east Alaska to southern California, but localised stock abundances have declined considerably. Based on age estimates from otoliths and other structures, lifespan estimates vary from ~20 years to over 80 years. For the purpose of monitoring stocks, age composition is routinely estimated by counting growth zones in otoliths; however, age estimation procedures and lifespan estimates remain largely unvalidated. Typical age validation techniques have limited application for canary rockfish because they are deep-dwelling and may be long-lived. In this study, the unaged otolith of the pair from fish aged at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada was used in one of two age validation techniques: (1) lead-radium dating and (2) bomb radiocarbon (14C) dating. Age estimate accuracy and the validity of age estimation procedures were validated based on the results from each technique. Lead-radium dating proved successful in determining that a minimum estimate of lifespan was 53 years and provided support for age estimation procedures up to ~50–60 years. These findings were further supported by Δ14C data, which indicated that a minimum estimate of lifespan was 44 ± 3 years. Both techniques validate, to differing degrees, age estimation procedures and provide support for inferring that canary rockfish can live more than 80 years.

scholarly journals Linear decline in red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) otolith Δ14C extends the utility of the bomb radiocarbon chronometer for fish age validation in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (5) ◽  
pp. 1664-1671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beverly K Barnett ◽  
Laura Thornton ◽  
Robert Allman ◽  
Jeffrey P Chanton ◽  
William F Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Red Snapper ◽  
Lutjanus Campechanus ◽  
Age Validation ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Northern Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Bomb Radiocarbon ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
Age Estimates

Abstract Radiocarbon (Δ14C) was analyzed in northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM) red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) otolith cores (n = 23), otolith edge samples (n = 12), and whole age-0 otoliths (n = 9), with edge samples and whole age-0 otoliths constituting known-age samples. There was no significant difference in the linear relationship of Δ14C versus year of formation between regional corals and known-age otolith samples, and a linear regression fit to the combined data from 1980 to 2015 extends the utility of the bomb radiocarbon chronometer for age validation. The entire regional coral and known-age otolith data set (1940 to 2015) was then utilized as a reference series to validate otolith-derived red snapper age estimates for cored otolith samples. A loess regression was fit to the reference data and then the sum of squared residuals (SSR) was computed from predicted versus observed birth years for cored adult otolith samples. This process was then repeated for ages biased ±1–4 years. Ages with no bias applied had the lowest SSR, thus validating red snapper age estimates and demonstrating the utility of the combined regional coral and known-age red snapper otolith Δ14C time series for age validation of nGOM marine fishes.

Beluga whale,Delphinapterus leucas, vocalizations from the Churchill River, Manitoba, Canada

2012 ◽  
Vol 131 (6) ◽  
pp. 4821-4835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elly G. Chmelnitsky ◽  
Steven H. Ferguson
Keyword(s):  
Beluga Whale ◽  
Delphinapterus Leucas ◽  
Beluga Whale Delphinapterus Leucas

scholarly journals Amphritea ceti sp. nov., isolated from faeces of Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas)

2014 ◽  
Vol 64 (Pt_12) ◽  
pp. 4068-4072 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young-Ok Kim ◽  
Sooyeon Park ◽  
Doo Nam Kim ◽  
Bo-Hye Nam ◽  
Sung-Min Won ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Trees ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Beluga Whale ◽  
Delphinapterus Leucas ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Phenotypic Properties ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Beluga Whale Delphinapterus Leucas ◽  
Type Strains

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming, non-flagellated and rod-shaped or ovoid bacterial strain, designated RA1T, was isolated from faeces collected from Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) in Yeosu aquarium, South Korea. Strain RA1T grew optimally at 25 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Neighbour-joining, maximum-likelihood and maximum-parsimony phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain RA1T joins the cluster comprising the type strains of three species of the genus Amphritea , with which it exhibited 95.8–96.0 % sequence similarity. Sequence similarities to the type strains of other recognized species were less than 94.3 %. Strain RA1T contained Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C18 : 1ω7c and C16 : 0 as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids of strain RA1T were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified lipids and one unidentified aminolipid. The DNA G+C content of strain RA1T was 47.4 mol%. The differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain RA1T is separated from other species of the genus Amphritea . On the basis of the data presented, strain RA1T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Amphritea , for which the name Amphritea ceti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RA1T ( = KCTC 42154T = NBRC 110551T).

GROWTH LAYER GROUPS (GLGs) IN THE TEETH OF AN ADULT BELUKHA WHALE (DELPHINAPTERUS LEUCAS) OF KNOWN AGE: EVIDENCE FOR TWO ANNUAL LAYERS

1987 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur D. Goren ◽  
Paul F. Brodie ◽  
Stephen Spotte ◽  
G. Carleton Ray ◽  
H. W. Kaufman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Delphinapterus Leucas ◽  
Growth Layer ◽  
Layer Groups

scholarly journals Bomb dating, age validation and quality control of age determinations of monodontids and other marine mammals

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven E Campana ◽  
Robert EA Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Age Determination ◽  
Age Validation ◽  
Age Bias ◽  
Bomb Radiocarbon ◽  
Control Protocols ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
Age Determinations

Methods for confirming the accuracy of age determination methods are reasonably well established in fishes, but the millions of routine age determinations which take place every year require their own quality control protocols. In contrast, methods for ensuring accuracy in age determination of monodontids and other marine mammals are still being developed. Here we review the basis and application of bomb radiocarbon to marine mammal age validation, highlighting its value for providing unambiguous estimates of age for belugas and other long-lived animals which form growth bands. Bomb radiocarbon is particularly useful for marine mammals, given that the age of an individual animal can be determined to within ±1-3 years, as long as it was alive during the 1960s. However, ongoing age determinations require careful monitoring to ensure that age interpretations remain consistent across ages and through time. Quality control protocols using reference collections of ageing material, in conjunction with age bias plots and measures of precision, are capable of detecting virtually all of the systematic ageing errors that often occur once age determinations of an animal become routine.

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