Nuclear bomb tests during the Cold War in the 1950s and 1960s have helped scientists accurately estimate the age of whale sharks, the biggest fish in the seas, according to a Rutgers-led study.
Nuclear bomb tests during the Cold War in the 1950s and 1960s have helped scientists accurately estimate the age of whale sharks, the biggest fish in the seas, according to a Rutgers-led study.
It’s the first time the age of this majestic species has been verified. One whale shark was an estimated 50 years old when it died, making it the oldest known of its kind. Another shark was an estimated 35 years old.
The study in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science used a measure of lingering radioactivity (radiocarbon dating) from nuclear explosions to estimate shark ages, and it could help ensure the survival of this endangered species.
“Accurate estimates of longevity, growth and mortality will better inform management and conservation efforts for whale sharks,” said lead author Joyce Ong, a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers University–New Brunswick. “The extended longevity, slow growth rates, late maturity and global connectivity of this species indicate high susceptibility to death caused by human impacts, such as ship strikes. Hence, this knowledge can help conservation managers adjust their strategies to be more effective.”
Read more at Rutgers University
Image: Whale sharks can exceed 40 feet and weigh up to 40 tons, according to some estimates. Photo: NOAA
