The accuracy and precision of age determination by dental cementum annuli in four northern cervids
Individual age is an important element in models of population demographics, but the limitations of the methods used for age determination are not always clear. We used known-age data from moose (Alces alces), red deer (Cervus elaphus), semi-domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) and Svalbar...
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ftninstnf:oai:brage.nina.no:11250/2685226 2023-05-15T13:13:41+02:00 The accuracy and precision of age determination by dental cementum annuli in four northern cervids Veiberg, Vebjørn Nilsen, Erlend Birkeland Rolandsen, Christer Moe Heim, Morten Andersen, Roy Holmstrøm, Frode Meisingset, Erling L. Solberg, Erling Johan Svalbard 2020 application/pdf https://hdl.handle.net/11250/2685226 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-020-01431-9 eng eng Andre: Norwegian Environment Agency Egen institusjon: Norwegian institute for nature research (NINA) urn:issn:1612-4642 https://hdl.handle.net/11250/2685226 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-020-01431-9 cristin:1842165 Navngivelse 4.0 Internasjonal http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.no ©The Author(s) 2020 CC-BY 66 European Journal of Wildlife Research 91 VDP::Zoologiske og botaniske fag: 480 VDP::Zoology and botany: 480 Peer reviewed Journal article 2020 ftninstnf https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-020-01431-9 2021-12-23T07:17:13Z Individual age is an important element in models of population demographics, but the limitations of the methods used for age determination are not always clear. We used known-age data from moose (Alces alces), red deer (Cervus elaphus), semi-domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) and Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) to evaluate the accuracy and repeatability of age estimated by cementum annuli analysis of longitudinally sectioned permanent incisors. Four observers with varying experience performed blind duplicate age estimation of 37 specimens from each cervid. The relationship between known age and estimated age was linear, except for Svalbard reindeer where a quadratic model gave a slightly better fit. After correcting for observer ID and animal ID, there was a slightly declining probability to assess the correct age with increasing age for moose, red deer and Svalbard reindeer. Across cervids and observers, estimated age equalled known age in 69% of all readings, while 95% age ± 1 year. Predicted probability of correct age assessment for experienced observers was 93% for red deer, 89% for Svalbard reindeer, 84% for moose and 73% for semi-domestic reindeer. Regardless of observer experience and cervid, there was a high agreement between repeated assessments of a given animal’s tooth sections. The accuracy varied between cervids but was generally higher for observers with former ageing experience with a given cervid. We conclude that the accuracy of estimated age using longitudinally sectioned incisors is generally high, and even more so if performed by observers with former ageing experience of a given species. To ensure consistency over time, a reference material from known-age individuals for each species analysed should be available for calibration and training of observers. Age determination . Cementumannuli analysis (CAA) . Moose . Red deer . Reindeer . Incremental layer publishedVersion Article in Journal/Newspaper Alces alces Rangifer tarandus Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus Svalbard svalbard reindeer Norwegian Institute for Nature Research: Brage NINA Svalbard European Journal of Wildlife Research 66 6 |
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collection |
Norwegian Institute for Nature Research: Brage NINA |
op_collection_id |
ftninstnf |
language |
English |
topic |
VDP::Zoologiske og botaniske fag: 480 VDP::Zoology and botany: 480 |
spellingShingle |
VDP::Zoologiske og botaniske fag: 480 VDP::Zoology and botany: 480 Veiberg, Vebjørn Nilsen, Erlend Birkeland Rolandsen, Christer Moe Heim, Morten Andersen, Roy Holmstrøm, Frode Meisingset, Erling L. Solberg, Erling Johan The accuracy and precision of age determination by dental cementum annuli in four northern cervids |
topic_facet |
VDP::Zoologiske og botaniske fag: 480 VDP::Zoology and botany: 480 |
description |
Individual age is an important element in models of population demographics, but the limitations of the methods used for age determination are not always clear. We used known-age data from moose (Alces alces), red deer (Cervus elaphus), semi-domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) and Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) to evaluate the accuracy and repeatability of age estimated by cementum annuli analysis of longitudinally sectioned permanent incisors. Four observers with varying experience performed blind duplicate age estimation of 37 specimens from each cervid. The relationship between known age and estimated age was linear, except for Svalbard reindeer where a quadratic model gave a slightly better fit. After correcting for observer ID and animal ID, there was a slightly declining probability to assess the correct age with increasing age for moose, red deer and Svalbard reindeer. Across cervids and observers, estimated age equalled known age in 69% of all readings, while 95% age ± 1 year. Predicted probability of correct age assessment for experienced observers was 93% for red deer, 89% for Svalbard reindeer, 84% for moose and 73% for semi-domestic reindeer. Regardless of observer experience and cervid, there was a high agreement between repeated assessments of a given animal’s tooth sections. The accuracy varied between cervids but was generally higher for observers with former ageing experience with a given cervid. We conclude that the accuracy of estimated age using longitudinally sectioned incisors is generally high, and even more so if performed by observers with former ageing experience of a given species. To ensure consistency over time, a reference material from known-age individuals for each species analysed should be available for calibration and training of observers. Age determination . Cementumannuli analysis (CAA) . Moose . Red deer . Reindeer . Incremental layer publishedVersion |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Veiberg, Vebjørn Nilsen, Erlend Birkeland Rolandsen, Christer Moe Heim, Morten Andersen, Roy Holmstrøm, Frode Meisingset, Erling L. Solberg, Erling Johan |
author_facet |
Veiberg, Vebjørn Nilsen, Erlend Birkeland Rolandsen, Christer Moe Heim, Morten Andersen, Roy Holmstrøm, Frode Meisingset, Erling L. Solberg, Erling Johan |
author_sort |
Veiberg, Vebjørn |
title |
The accuracy and precision of age determination by dental cementum annuli in four northern cervids |
title_short |
The accuracy and precision of age determination by dental cementum annuli in four northern cervids |
title_full |
The accuracy and precision of age determination by dental cementum annuli in four northern cervids |
title_fullStr |
The accuracy and precision of age determination by dental cementum annuli in four northern cervids |
title_full_unstemmed |
The accuracy and precision of age determination by dental cementum annuli in four northern cervids |
title_sort |
accuracy and precision of age determination by dental cementum annuli in four northern cervids |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/2685226 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-020-01431-9 |
op_coverage |
Svalbard |
geographic |
Svalbard |
geographic_facet |
Svalbard |
genre |
Alces alces Rangifer tarandus Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus Svalbard svalbard reindeer |
genre_facet |
Alces alces Rangifer tarandus Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus Svalbard svalbard reindeer |
op_source |
66 European Journal of Wildlife Research 91 |
op_relation |
Andre: Norwegian Environment Agency Egen institusjon: Norwegian institute for nature research (NINA) urn:issn:1612-4642 https://hdl.handle.net/11250/2685226 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-020-01431-9 cristin:1842165 |
op_rights |
Navngivelse 4.0 Internasjonal http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.no ©The Author(s) 2020 |
op_rightsnorm |
CC-BY |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-020-01431-9 |
container_title |
European Journal of Wildlife Research |
container_volume |
66 |
container_issue |
6 |
_version_ |
1766259909826969600 |