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A Method for Determining the Age of Wolverines (Gulo gulo)

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Abstract

The age structure of a group of wolverines (77 carcasses) for the years 2006–2016 are studied using three methods: on the basis of the number of annual layers of tooth cement, the overgrowth index of the cranial seams, and the canine canal index, all applied to this species for the first time. In juveniles, the overgrowth index was 60% or more, versus 44% or less in animals older than a year. Only an approximate estimate of the age of individuals within these groups appears to be possible. Age-related changes in the cranial seams are described, which makes it possible to separate young specimens from all other group types. The results obtained are of interest for practice in zoological research and hunting.

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Funding

The research was carried out within the framework of a state assignment in the framework of project no. 0376–2014–0001, topic 51.1.4. Direction 51, “Ecology of Organisms and Communities” of the Program of Fundamental Scientific Research of State Academies of Sciences for 2013–2020 and with the financial support of the Scientific and Educational Foundation for the Support of Young Scientists within the framework of project no. 17-2-009477 “Scientific and Educational Foundation As a Tool for Young Scientists to Improve Professional Competence and Popularization of Science,” 20171201014.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biological Problems of the Cryolithozone, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 677980, Yakutsk, Russia

    E. S. Zakharov & V. M. Safronov

  2. Ammosov Institute of Natural Sciences of North Eastern Federal University, 67700, Yakutsk, Russia

    E. S. Zakharov & A. A. Stepanova

  3. Yakut State Agricultural Academy, 677007, Yakutsk, Russia

    E. S. Zakharov, A. I. Pavlova, N. N. Grigorieva & N. N. Zakharova

Authors
  1. E. S. Zakharov
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  2. V. M. Safronov
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  3. A. A. Stepanova
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  4. A. I. Pavlova
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  5. N. N. Grigorieva
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  6. N. N. Zakharova
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to E. S. Zakharov.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest. This article does not contain any studies involving animals or human participants performed by any of the authors.

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Zakharov, E.S., Safronov, V.M., Stepanova, A.A. et al. A Method for Determining the Age of Wolverines (Gulo gulo). Biol Bull Russ Acad Sci 48 (Suppl 1), S216–S218 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359021140211

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359021140211

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