Aging steller sea lions by growth layer groups in teeth

ABSTRACT Accurate age determination of individuals is crucial in estimating age structure in populations as well as age‐specific rates of reproduction and survival. We examined growth layer groups (GLGs) in the canine, incisor, and postcanine teeth of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) to find t...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Takeomi Isono, Yumi Kobayashi, Vladimir N. Burkanov, Orio Yamamura
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-06-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.965
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850064644291428352
author Takeomi Isono
Yumi Kobayashi
Vladimir N. Burkanov
Orio Yamamura
author_facet Takeomi Isono
Yumi Kobayashi
Vladimir N. Burkanov
Orio Yamamura
author_sort Takeomi Isono
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Accurate age determination of individuals is crucial in estimating age structure in populations as well as age‐specific rates of reproduction and survival. We examined growth layer groups (GLGs) in the canine, incisor, and postcanine teeth of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) to find the optimal method to determine their age using 18 known‐age animals, from data collected in Hokkaido, Japan, 1995–2011. After checking to determine if the pulp cavity was open, nearly closed, or closed, teeth were sectioned and stained. Occlusion of the canine pulp cavity occurred at older ages than with the incisor and postcanine teeth. Initially, the number of GLGs in both dentin and cementum was compared with actual ages to confirm the age determination method. Dentin GLGs appeared clearly in all of the canines, incisors, and postcanines. The number of GLGs was consistent with the actual age, with the exception of teeth with a closed pulp cavity. With respect to cementum, appearance of GLGs was rather obscure and no GLG was detectable at ages of 0 and 1 year. Thus, the number of GLGs in cementum could be assigned as age when the value 1 year was added. We examined the accuracy and precision of the tested methods using an independent reader, who did not know the actual ages. By conducting readings 3 times, we used coefficient of variation (CV) to determine precision. The most precise CV was obtained in dentin canine (6.7%). Accuracy was calculated as proportion of estimates without error. The greatest accuracy in dentin was observed in canines (0.83, n = 18), whereas that of cementum was in postcanines (0.36, n = 11). We concluded that canine dentin provided the most precise and accurate ages for Steller sea lions. Once closure of the pulp cavity in canines has occurred at the age of 15–16 years in males and 11–12 years in females, we recommend postcanine cementum be used. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.
format Article
id doaj-art-1c43688f98644f8c81f8f351fa70eab1
institution DOAJ
issn 2328-5540
language English
publishDate 2019-06-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Wildlife Society Bulletin
spelling doaj-art-1c43688f98644f8c81f8f351fa70eab12025-08-20T02:49:15ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402019-06-0143223824310.1002/wsb.965Aging steller sea lions by growth layer groups in teethTakeomi Isono0Yumi Kobayashi1Vladimir N. Burkanov2Orio Yamamura3Fisheries Management Department, Hokkaido National Fisheries Research Institute Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency 116 Katsurakoi Kushiro Hokkaido 085‐0802 JapanDivision of Marine Bio‐resource and Environmental Science Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University 3‐1‐1 Minato‐Cho Hakodate Hokkaido 041‐8611 JapanMarine Mammal Laboratory Alaska Fisheries Science Center/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Seattle WA 98115 USAFisheries Management Department, Hokkaido National Fisheries Research Institute Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency 116 Katsurakoi Kushiro Hokkaido 085‐0802 JapanABSTRACT Accurate age determination of individuals is crucial in estimating age structure in populations as well as age‐specific rates of reproduction and survival. We examined growth layer groups (GLGs) in the canine, incisor, and postcanine teeth of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) to find the optimal method to determine their age using 18 known‐age animals, from data collected in Hokkaido, Japan, 1995–2011. After checking to determine if the pulp cavity was open, nearly closed, or closed, teeth were sectioned and stained. Occlusion of the canine pulp cavity occurred at older ages than with the incisor and postcanine teeth. Initially, the number of GLGs in both dentin and cementum was compared with actual ages to confirm the age determination method. Dentin GLGs appeared clearly in all of the canines, incisors, and postcanines. The number of GLGs was consistent with the actual age, with the exception of teeth with a closed pulp cavity. With respect to cementum, appearance of GLGs was rather obscure and no GLG was detectable at ages of 0 and 1 year. Thus, the number of GLGs in cementum could be assigned as age when the value 1 year was added. We examined the accuracy and precision of the tested methods using an independent reader, who did not know the actual ages. By conducting readings 3 times, we used coefficient of variation (CV) to determine precision. The most precise CV was obtained in dentin canine (6.7%). Accuracy was calculated as proportion of estimates without error. The greatest accuracy in dentin was observed in canines (0.83, n = 18), whereas that of cementum was in postcanines (0.36, n = 11). We concluded that canine dentin provided the most precise and accurate ages for Steller sea lions. Once closure of the pulp cavity in canines has occurred at the age of 15–16 years in males and 11–12 years in females, we recommend postcanine cementum be used. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.965age determinationagingcementumdentinEumetopias jubatusgrowth layer groups
spellingShingle Takeomi Isono
Yumi Kobayashi
Vladimir N. Burkanov
Orio Yamamura
Aging steller sea lions by growth layer groups in teeth
Wildlife Society Bulletin
age determination
aging
cementum
dentin
Eumetopias jubatus
growth layer groups
title Aging steller sea lions by growth layer groups in teeth
title_full Aging steller sea lions by growth layer groups in teeth
title_fullStr Aging steller sea lions by growth layer groups in teeth
title_full_unstemmed Aging steller sea lions by growth layer groups in teeth
title_short Aging steller sea lions by growth layer groups in teeth
title_sort aging steller sea lions by growth layer groups in teeth
topic age determination
aging
cementum
dentin
Eumetopias jubatus
growth layer groups
url https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.965
work_keys_str_mv AT takeomiisono agingstellersealionsbygrowthlayergroupsinteeth
AT yumikobayashi agingstellersealionsbygrowthlayergroupsinteeth
AT vladimirnburkanov agingstellersealionsbygrowthlayergroupsinteeth
AT orioyamamura agingstellersealionsbygrowthlayergroupsinteeth