Utility of telomere length measurements for age determination of humpback whales

Morten Tange Olsen; Jooke Robbins; Martine Bérubé; Mary Beth Rew

doi:10.7557/3.3194

Utility of telomere length measurements for age determination of humpback whales

Morten Tange Olsen, Jooke Robbins, Martine Bérubé, Mary Beth Rew

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Abstract

This study examines the applicability of telomere length measurements by quantitative PCR as a tool for minimally invasive age determination of free-ranging cetaceans. We analysed telomere length in skin samples from 28 North Atlantic humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), ranging from 0 to 26 years of age. The results suggested a significant correlation between telomere length and age in humpback whales. However, telomere length was highly variable among individuals of similar age, suggesting that telomere length measured by quantitative PCR is an imprecise determinant of age in humpback whales. The observed variation in individual telomere length was found to be a function of both experimental and biological variability, with the latter perhaps reflecting patterns of inheritance, resource allocation trade-offs, and stochasticity of the marine environment.

Original language	English
Book series	N A M M C O. Scientific Publications
Volume	10
Number of pages	17
ISSN	1560-2206
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.7557/3.3194
Publication status	Published - 2014
Externally published	Yes

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title = "Utility of telomere length measurements for age determination of humpback whales",

abstract = "This study examines the applicability of telomere length measurements by quantitative PCR as a tool for minimally invasive age determination of free-ranging cetaceans. We analysed telomere length in skin samples from 28 North Atlantic humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), ranging from 0 to 26 years of age. The results suggested a significant correlation between telomere length and age in humpback whales. However, telomere length was highly variable among individuals of similar age, suggesting that telomere length measured by quantitative PCR is an imprecise determinant of age in humpback whales. The observed variation in individual telomere length was found to be a function of both experimental and biological variability, with the latter perhaps reflecting patterns of inheritance, resource allocation trade-offs, and stochasticity of the marine environment.",

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year = "2014",

doi = "10.7557/3.3194",

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journal = "N A M M C O. Scientific Publications",

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T1 - Utility of telomere length measurements for age determination of humpback whales

AU - Olsen, Morten Tange

AU - Robbins, Jooke

AU - Bérubé, Martine

AU - Rew, Mary Beth

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - This study examines the applicability of telomere length measurements by quantitative PCR as a tool for minimally invasive age determination of free-ranging cetaceans. We analysed telomere length in skin samples from 28 North Atlantic humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), ranging from 0 to 26 years of age. The results suggested a significant correlation between telomere length and age in humpback whales. However, telomere length was highly variable among individuals of similar age, suggesting that telomere length measured by quantitative PCR is an imprecise determinant of age in humpback whales. The observed variation in individual telomere length was found to be a function of both experimental and biological variability, with the latter perhaps reflecting patterns of inheritance, resource allocation trade-offs, and stochasticity of the marine environment.

AB - This study examines the applicability of telomere length measurements by quantitative PCR as a tool for minimally invasive age determination of free-ranging cetaceans. We analysed telomere length in skin samples from 28 North Atlantic humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), ranging from 0 to 26 years of age. The results suggested a significant correlation between telomere length and age in humpback whales. However, telomere length was highly variable among individuals of similar age, suggesting that telomere length measured by quantitative PCR is an imprecise determinant of age in humpback whales. The observed variation in individual telomere length was found to be a function of both experimental and biological variability, with the latter perhaps reflecting patterns of inheritance, resource allocation trade-offs, and stochasticity of the marine environment.

U2 - 10.7557/3.3194

DO - 10.7557/3.3194

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1560-2206

VL - 10

JO - N A M M C O. Scientific Publications

JF - N A M M C O. Scientific Publications

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