title: Eye lens radiocarbon reveals centuries of longevity in the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus).
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.
authors: Marine Biological Section, University of Copenhagen, Strandpromenaden 5, 3000 Helsingør, Denmark. Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Post Office Box 570, Kivioq 2, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland. Den Blå Planet, National Aquarium Denmark, Jacob Fortlingsvej 1, 2770 Kastrup, Denmark. Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway. julius.nielsen@bio.ku.dk.
authors: Julius
authors: J
authors: Nielsen
authors: Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Post Office Box 570, Kivioq 2, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland.
authors: Rasmus B
authors: RB
authors: Hedeholm
authors: Aarhus AMS Centre, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 120, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Heinemeier
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Indiana University South Bend, 1700 Mishawaka Avenue, South Bend, IN, USA.
authors: Peter G
authors: PG
authors: Bushnell
authors: Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway.
authors: Jørgen S
authors: JS
authors: Christiansen
authors: Aarhus AMS Centre, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 120, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
authors: Jesper
authors: J
authors: Olsen
authors: Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit, University of Oxford, Dyson Perrins Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK.
authors: Christopher Bronk
authors: CB
authors: Ramsey
authors: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory, 74 Magruder Road, Highlands, NJ 07732, USA. Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Post Office Box 1346, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, USA.
authors: Richard W
authors: RW
authors: Brill
authors: Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Post Office Box 570, Kivioq 2, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland.
authors: Malene
authors: M
authors: Simon
authors: Marine Biological Section, University of Copenhagen, Strandpromenaden 5, 3000 Helsingør, Denmark.
authors: Kirstine F
authors: KF
authors: Steffensen
authors: Marine Biological Section, University of Copenhagen, Strandpromenaden 5, 3000 Helsingør, Denmark.
authors: John F
authors: JF
authors: Steffensen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001110:Arctic Regions; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D005260:Female; D006116:Greenland; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000737:chemistry*; D008136:Longevity; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D055110:Radiometric Dating; D012754:Sharks / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes