Abstract
Life history parameters for narwhals (Monodon monoceros) were estimated based on age estimates from aspartic acid racemization of eye lens nuclei. Eyes, reproductive organs, and measures of body lengths were collected from 282 narwhals in East and West Greenland in the years 1993, 2004, and 2007–2010. Age estimates were based on the racemization of L-aspartic acid to D-aspartic acid in the nucleus of the eye lens. The ratio of D- and L-enantiomers was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. The age equation used, 420.32X — 24.02·year where X is the D/L ratio, was determined from data from Garde et al. (2012). Asymptotic body length was estimated to be 405 ± 5.8cm for females and 462 ± 16.2cm for males from East Greenland, and 399 ± 5.9 cm for females and 456 ± 6.9 cm for males from West Greenland. Due to several indeterminant age class estimates, age at sexual maturity was subjectively assessed based on data from reproductive organs and was estimated to be 8–9 years for females and 12–20 ye...
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
