Bomb radiocarbon dating calibrates beluga ( Delphinapterus leucas) 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,...
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z06-182 2024-09-30T14:33:01+00:00 Bomb radiocarbon dating calibrates beluga ( Delphinapterus leucas) age estimates Stewart, R.E.A. Campana, S.E. Jones, C.M. Stewart, B.E. 2006 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z06-182 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/z06-182 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z06-182 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 84, issue 12, page 1840-1852 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 journal-article 2006 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z06-182 2024-09-05T04:11:14Z 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. Article in Journal/Newspaper Beluga Beluga whale Beluga* Delphinapterus leucas Canadian Science Publishing Canadian Journal of Zoology 84 12 1840 1852 |
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Open Polar |
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Canadian Science Publishing |
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crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
description |
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. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Stewart, R.E.A. Campana, S.E. Jones, C.M. Stewart, B.E. |
spellingShingle |
Stewart, R.E.A. Campana, S.E. Jones, C.M. Stewart, B.E. Bomb radiocarbon dating calibrates beluga ( Delphinapterus leucas) age estimates |
author_facet |
Stewart, R.E.A. Campana, S.E. Jones, C.M. Stewart, B.E. |
author_sort |
Stewart, R.E.A. |
title |
Bomb radiocarbon dating calibrates beluga ( Delphinapterus leucas) age estimates |
title_short |
Bomb radiocarbon dating calibrates beluga ( Delphinapterus leucas) age estimates |
title_full |
Bomb radiocarbon dating calibrates beluga ( Delphinapterus leucas) age estimates |
title_fullStr |
Bomb radiocarbon dating calibrates beluga ( Delphinapterus leucas) age estimates |
title_full_unstemmed |
Bomb radiocarbon dating calibrates beluga ( Delphinapterus leucas) age estimates |
title_sort |
bomb radiocarbon dating calibrates beluga ( delphinapterus leucas) age estimates |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
2006 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z06-182 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/z06-182 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z06-182 |
genre |
Beluga Beluga whale Beluga* Delphinapterus leucas |
genre_facet |
Beluga Beluga whale Beluga* Delphinapterus leucas |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 84, issue 12, page 1840-1852 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z06-182 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
84 |
container_issue |
12 |
container_start_page |
1840 |
op_container_end_page |
1852 |
_version_ |
1811637049733677056 |