Exploring the effects of methodological choices on the estimation and biological interpretation of life history parameters for harbour porpoises in Norway and beyond.

ABSTRACT: This study investigates effects of subtle methodological choices on the estimation and biological interpretation of age, growth and reproductive parameters for harbour porpoises. The core analyses are based on a focal Norwegian data set built on samples from 134 harbour porpoises caught incidentally in gillnet fisheries along the Norwegian coast during autumn 2016 and spring 2017. Two contrasting practices for interpretation of seasonal and ontogenetic characteristics of tooth growth layer formation resulted in significant age differences among spring samples of young porpoises and for older animals across seasons. In turn, these differences affected estimates of age at maturity and asymptotic lengths, respectively. We also found significant differences in male age at maturity between two

SUBMITTER: Frie AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11226007 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature