UNSPECIFIED (2003) A comparison of age estimation methods for the saiga antelope Saiga tatarica. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY, 9 (3). pp. 219-227. ISSN 0909-6396

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Abstract

Age estimation is particularly crucial for the conservation of the saiga antelope Saiga tatarica, but modem laboratory methods for aging have not previously been applied to this species. There is an urgent need for evaluation of the techniques that could be used for age estimation in order that long-term ecological data sets can be correctly interpreted and conservation advice given. We evaluated the repeatability, practical feasibility and comparability of three techniques for age estimation of saiga antelopes; the tooth sectioning technique (TS), the tooth eruption and wear technique (TEW), and a visual aging technique routinely used in field studies. We found that TS and TEW gave repeatable results, and agreed well. The visual method underestimated the age of males compared to laboratory methods. It assigned animals consistently to the age class of at least one year old, but less consistently to the age class less than one year old. Although studies of known-age animals are needed to evaluate precision and accuracy of these methods, we suggest that either TS or TEW would be suitable for aging saiga antelopes, with the choice being determined by practicalities such as the availability of the necessary expertise and equipment.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QL Zoology
Journal or Publication Title:	WILDLIFE BIOLOGY
Publisher:	WILDLIFE BIOLOGY
ISSN:	0909-6396
Date:	September 2003
Volume:	9
Number:	3
Number of Pages:	9
Page Range:	pp. 219-227
Publication Status:	Published
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/9217

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