Journal article
Eye lens radiocarbon reveals centuries of longevity in Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus)
- Abstract:
- Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), a species iconic to the Arctic Seas, grows slowly and reach >500 cm total length suggesting a lifespan well beyond those of other vertebrates. Radiocarbon dating of eye lens nuclei from 28 female Greenland shark (81-502 cm in total length) revealed a lifespan of at least 272 years. Only the smallest sharks (≤ 220 cm) showed sign of the radiocarbon bomb pulse, a time marker of the early 1960s. Age ranges of prebomb sharks (reported as mid-point ± 1/2 range at 95.4 % probability) revealed the age at sexual maturity to be at least 156 ± 22 years, and the largest animal (502 cm) to be 392 ± 120 years old. Our results show that Greenland shark is the longest-lived vertebrates known and raise concerns for species conservation.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
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- Files:
-
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(Preview, Accepted manuscript, pdf, 213.0KB, Terms of use)
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- Publisher copy:
- 10.1126/science.aaf1703
Authors
- Publisher:
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Journal:
- Science More from this journal
- Volume:
- 353
- Issue:
- 6300
- Pages:
- 702-704
- Publication date:
- 2016-06-01
- Acceptance date:
- 2016-06-10
- DOI:
- EISSN:
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1095-9203
- ISSN:
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0263-6271
- Pubs id:
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pubs:633506
- UUID:
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uuid:6c040460-9519-4720-9669-9911bdd03b09
- Local pid:
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pubs:633506
- Source identifiers:
-
633506
- Deposit date:
-
2016-07-12
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Nielsen et al
- Copyright date:
- 2016
- Notes:
- This is the accepted manuscript version of the article. The final version is available online from American Association for the Advancement of Science at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aaf1703
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