Accuracy and precision of estimating age of gray wolves by tooth wear
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Abstract
We evaluated the accuracy and precision of tooth wear for aging gray wolves (Canis lupus) from Alaska, Minnesota, and Ontario based on 47 known-age or known-minimum-age skulls. Estimates of age using tooth wear and a commercial cementum annuli-aging service were useful for wolves up to 14 years old. The precision of estimates from cementum annuli was greater than estimates from tooth wear, but tooth wear estimates are more applicable in the field. We tended to overestimate age by 1-2 years and occasionally by 3 or 4 years. The commercial service aged young wolves with cementum annuli to within ±1 year of actual age, but under estimated ages of wolves ≥9 years old by 1-3 years. No differences were detected in tooth wear patterns for wild wolves from Alaska, Minnesota, and Ontario, nor between captive and wild wolves. Tooth wear was not appropriate for aging wolves with an underbite that prevented normal wear or severely broken and missing teeth.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Accuracy and precision of estimating age of gray wolves by tooth wear |
| Series title | Journal of Wildlife Management |
| DOI | 10.2307/3802745 |
| Volume | 64 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Year Published | 2000 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | The Wildlife Society |
| Contributing office(s) | Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center |
| Description | 7 p. |
| First page | 752 |
| Last page | 758 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
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