Eye lens radiocarbon reveals centuries of longevity in the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus)

Julius Nielsen*, Rasmus B. Hedeholm, Jan Heinemeier, Peter G. Bushnell, Jorgen S. Christiansen, Jesper Olsen, Christopher Bronk Ramsey, Richard W. Brill, Malene Simon, Kirstine F. Steffensen, John F. Steffensen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaperJournal articleResearchpeer-review

231 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), an iconic species of the Arctic Seas, grows slowly and reaches >500 centimeters (cm) in total length, suggesting a life span well beyond those of other vertebrates. Radiocarbon dating of eye lens nuclei from 28 female Greenland sharks (81 to 502 cm in total length) revealed a life span of at least 272 years. Only the smallest sharks (220 cm or less) showed signs of the radiocarbon bomb pulse, a time marker of the early 1960s. The age ranges of prebomb sharks (reported as midpoint and extent of the 95.4% probability range) 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 the Greenland shark is the longest-lived vertebrate known, and they raise concerns about species conservation.

Original languageEnglish
JournalScience
Volume353
Issue6300
Pages (from-to)702-704
Number of pages3
ISSN0036-8075
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Aug 2016

Keywords

  • POST-BOMB RADIOCARBON
  • FEEDING ECOLOGY
  • NORTHWEST ATLANTIC
  • AGE VALIDATION
  • LAMNA-NASUS
  • PRE-BOMB
  • FOOD-WEB
  • CALIBRATION
  • OTOLITHS
  • DELTA-N-15

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