Exceptional longevity in Okinawa: Demographic trends since 1975.

Demographers have studied the Japanese mortality pattern since Japan became the most longevous population worldwide, half a century ago. Nutrition and lifestyle were considered by epidemiologists, gerontologists and other scientists as the most important reasons explaining the Japanese superiority. In Okinawa, the mortality pattern is even more exceptional, but few demographers have pointed out this exception. Other scientists proposed different explanations - for example some genetic characteristics, less salt and more animal protein in the food, a mild climate, a higher level of activity, a better consideration of the oldest in the population and, globally speaking, a more traditional lifestyle. At the end of the 1980s, lower improvements of mortality among young adults were identified in Okinawa. In 2002, Okinawa fell from the 4th to the 26th place in the ranking of the 47 Japanese prefectures by male life expectancy. This has been considered by the population of Okinawa as a 'shock'. Our in-depth analysis of available life tables and associated mortality rates proves that the population of Okinawa is divided into two groups of generations: those born before World War II and those born after. The older generations clearly experience a highly favourable mortality pattern, whereas the younger generations show mortality levels that are definitively higher compared to mainland Japan. This contribution considers which factors may explain such a situation, including the plausible invalidation of the age of some oldest in the population. We plea for in-depth demographic age validation that will enhance all scientific findings so far and boost the exceptional longevity in Okinawa.

Insights into vertebral band pair deposition rate in the juvenile common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus) in the northeastern Pacific Ocean.

Validation of band pair deposition rates in elasmobranch vertebrae is essential for accurate age estimation using band pair counting techniques. We present a validation study of the vertebral band pair deposition rate for juvenile common thresher sharks Alopias vulpinus in the northeastern Pacific Ocean (NEPO) using tag and recapture with oxytetracycline (OTC) injection. A total of 14 juvenile A. vulpinus marked with OTC from 1998 through 2013 were recaptured with times at liberty ranging from 1.08 to 3.81 years with an average of 2.14 years (±0.97 years standard deviation, SD). Shark size ranged from 80 to 128 cm fork length (LF) at the time of OTC injection and from 112 to 168 cm LF for those measured at recapture. The slopes of the relationships between band pairs post OTC and years at liberty for each reader ranged from 0.84 to 0.95, slightly lower than the 1.0 slope expected from annual band pair formation. These findings preliminarily support previous age and growth assumptions based on a one band pair per year deposition rate. However, high variation in band pair deposition rates between samples, coupled with regression slopes falling just under one band pair per year, indicates that further investigation is needed to refine band pair deposition rate estimates.

Validating blueline tilefish Caulolatilus microps ages in the U.S. South Atlantic using bomb radiocarbon (F14 C).

Age validation is a critical component of an age-based stock assessment and subsequent species management. Our study used bomb radiocarbon analysis to validate age estimates of Blueline Tilefish Caulolatilus microps, a species for which regional stock assessment scientists have identified age validation as a high priority. We compared a C. microps F14 C chronology to F14 C chronologies for finfish of the U.S. South Atlantic Bight (SAB) and the north-west Atlantic. The high degree of correspondence in the chronologies exhibited for C. microps and other species of the SAB suggests a differential 14 C uptake pattern in the SAB slope waters that is likely the result of local hydrological processes that delay 14 C reaching the environments inhabited by these species. Our study was able to validate C. microps ages up to 25 years in the SAB, with strong evidence suggesting they are living to at least 50 years old.

The Real Facts Supporting Jeanne Calment as the Oldest Ever Human.

BACKGROUND: The 122 years and 164 days age claim of Jeanne Calment, the world oldest person who died in 1997, is the most thoroughly validated age claim. Recently the claim that families Calment and Billot organized a conspiracy concerning tax fraud based on identity fraud between mother and daughter gained international media attention. METHODS: Here, we reference the original components of the validation as well as additional documentation to address various claims of the conspiracy theory and provide evidence for why these claims are based on inaccurate facts or unrelated to the death of Yvonne Billot-Calment, the daughter of Jeanne Calment, in 1934. RESULTS: Also, countering the contention that the occurrence of a 122 year old person is statistically impossible, mathematical models are presented which also supports the hypothesis that though extremely rare, as would be expected for the oldest person ever, Jeanne Calment's age claim is plausible. CONCLUSIONS: In total, the quality of the investigation supporting the claim of conspiracy as well as the mathematical analysis aiming to back it do not reach the level expected for a scientific publication.

Unravelling growth trajectories from complicated otoliths - the case of Brazilian codling Urophycis brasiliensis.

Uncertainty regarding the age determination of the Brazilian codling Urophycis brasiliensis has hampered its stock assessment. Transverse sections of otoliths displayed up to seven (in males) and 12 (in females) alternate opaque and translucent bands that could not be conclusively validated as annuli, resulting in unrealistically high ages of first maturity (A50 ) (A50male = 4·5 years and A50female = 6 years). Therefore, growth was described by the von Bertalanffy (VB) model using an alternative approach that combined microstructure data (daily growth increments) and a fixed asymptotic total length (L∞ ). This approach was supported by applying it to two other co-occurring species, the whitemouth croaker Micropogonias furnieri and the king weakfish Macrodon atricauda, for which daily and annual ring formation has previously been validated. The sensitivity to realistic errors associated with the choice of the L∞ and the daily increment readings was shown to be low. The results show that U. brasiliensis has a fast growth rate (Kmale = 1·19 year-1 , Kfemale = 0·71 year-1 ) and early maturation (A50male = 1·1-1·5 years, A50female  = 1·6-1·8 years); typical life-history traits for a sub-tropical coastal gadiform. This novel study offers an alternative approach for age and growth reconstruction for species with complex patterns of opaque and translucent bands provided that daily growth increments in the yearlings can be counted and L∞ reliably estimated.

Elements and elasmobranchs: hypotheses, assumptions and limitations of elemental analysis.

Quantifying the elemental composition of elasmobranch calcified cartilage (hard parts) has the potential to answer a range of ecological and biological questions, at both the individual and population level. Few studies, however, have employed elemental analyses of elasmobranch hard parts. This paper provides an overview of the range of applications of elemental analysis in elasmobranchs, discussing the assumptions and potential limitations in cartilaginous fishes. It also reviews the available information on biotic and abiotic factors influencing patterns of elemental incorporation into hard parts of elasmobranchs and provides some comparative elemental assays and mapping in an attempt to fill knowledge gaps. Directions for future experimental research are highlighted to better understand fundamental elemental dynamics in elasmobranch hard parts.

Biological characteristics of three co-occurring species of armorhead from different genera vary markedly from previous results for the Pentacerotidae.

Biological characteristics of Pentaceropsis recurvirostris, Paristiopterus gallipavo and Parazanclistius hutchinsi were determined from commercial gillnet samples from temperate south-western Australian coastal waters. Growth zones in otoliths, with more than a few such zones, were readily detectable only after the otoliths had been sectioned. Visual analyses and modelling of the trends in marginal increments on sectioned otoliths demonstrate that these opaque zones are formed annually. Maximum ages of 55, 36 and 49 years, derived for P. recurvirostris, P. gallipavo and P. hutchinsi, respectively, reflect relatively low mortalities. These longevities greatly exceed those estimated, using otoliths, for Pentaceros wheeleri and Pentaceros richardsoni, which belong to the other pentacerotid subfamily. These differences may be due to the counts of 'daily' growth zones in sectioned otoliths of P. wheeleri not representing the complete age range of that species and the zones detected in whole otoliths of P. richardsoni not constituting the complete range of annually-formed zones. Pentaceropsis recurvirostris, P. gallipavo and P. hutchinsi recruited into the fishery in the sampling area as 2-3 year-old fishes. Pentaceropsis recurvirostris and P. hutchinsi exhibited little or no subsequent growth throughout the remainder of their protracted life, whereas, P. gallipavo continued to grow for c. 5 years and then underwent little further growth. Spawning of P. recurvirostris and P. hutchinsi peaked in the austral winter and autumn, respectively, but in the austral spring and summer with P. gallipavo, which is more typical of temperate species. Although the females of P. gallipavo and P. hutchinsi were mature, this did not apply to a few P. recurvirostris, some of which were >20 years old, implying that any given female of this species does not always spawn every year. Ovarian mass greatly exceeded testis mass, indicative of pair spawning, which is consistent with field observations. In contrast to P. recurvirostris and P. hutchinsi, the sex ratio was heavily biased towards males and the spawning period longer in P. gallipavo, suggesting that selection pressures for spawning success were greater for this latter species.

Validation of daily increments and a marine-entry check in the otoliths of sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka post-smolts.

Juvenile sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka that were reared and smolted in laboratory conditions were found to produce otolith daily increments, as well as a consistently visible marine-entry check formed during their transition to salt water. Field-collected O. nerka post-smolts of an equivalent age also displayed visible checks; however, microchemistry estimates of marine-entry date using Sr:Ca ratios differed from visual estimates by c. 9 days suggesting that microstructural and microchemical processes occur on different time scales.

Efficacy of calcein and Coomassie Blue dyeing of shell growing-edges and micro growth-bands: Ageing juvenile of Pinctada mazatlanica (Pterioida: Pteriidae) / Eficiencia de la tinción de bandas de crecimiento con calceina y azul de coomassie, para estimar la edad de jóvenes de Pinctada mazatlanica (Pterioida: Pteriidae)

Age validation is the first step to determine shellfish species age determination. This information is vital for different inferential models used in marine ecosystem management activities. In spite that various validation techniques are used for marking carbon calcium structures, the calcein marking technique for oysters had never been used for age validation in Pinctada mazatlanica. Thus the objectives of this study included: the evaluation of calcein to mark a shell growing-edge, and the efficacy of Coomassie Blue staining on posterior shell growth, to produce visible micro growth-bands that would enable age validation of juvenile mother-of- pearl oysters. Oysters were collected and cultivated at The Perlas del Cortez S. de R. L. MI. pearl-farming opera tion, in Pichilingue, La Paz Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico; a total of 36 oysters (shell height 11.5-36.4mm) were injected with calcein (0.125g/L), and another 50 oysters (shell height 14.8-42.7mm) were submersed in calcein (0.4 and 0.7g/L). Shell slices of calcein-marked oysters were posteriourly stained with Coomassie Blue R-25 for micro growth-band recognition. Our results showed that Calcein marking only worked by submersion and produced a concise bright lime-green florescent band along the growing-edge with clear boundaries for both concentrations. However, marks resulted better at the lower calcein concentration (0.4g/L) with more “perfect” and “good” marks on the growing-edge (p=0.0012). Commassie Blue staining technique was successful, and allowed to conclude that one micro growth-band was laid down per day, similar to other oyster species. Mean 15-d increment of shell growth height was slightly greater at the lower calcein concentration ( =0.735mm) than at the higher one ( =0.577mm) (not significant difference, p=0.198). Calcein marking of shell growing- edges and Commassie Blue staining of posterior shell growth, as a method for age validation is recommended for shellfish shell growth-band counts. This will allow back-dating for estimation of very precise colonization dates, both spatially and temporally in future work.

La validación de la edad es el primer paso para determinar las edades de las especies de moluscos, esta información es de vital importancia para los diferentes modelos de inferencia utilizados en actividades de gestión de los ecosistemas marinos. Diversas técnicas de valida- ción se utilizan para marcar estructuras de carbonato de calcio, aunque la técnica de marcado de calceína en ostras nunca se había utilizado para la validación de la edad de P. mazatlanica. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron: evaluar la calceína como marcador interno de la concha y la eficiencia del azul de Coomassie en la tinción de la matriz proteica de la concha, para facilitar la observación y conteo de micro bandas de crecimiento que permiten validar la edad de las ostras juveniles de madre perla. Las ostras fue- ron recolectadas en la costa de la empresa Perlas del Cortez S. de RL MI., en Pichilingue en Bahía de La Paz, Baja California Sur, México. Se inyectaron 36 ostras (altura de concha 11.5-36.4mm) (0.125g/L de calceína) y otras 50 ostras (altura de la concha 14.8-42.7mm) se sumergieron (0.4 y 0.7g/L de calceína). Secciones de la concha marcadas con calceína fueron teñidos con azul de Coomassie R-25 para el reconocimiento de las micro bandas de crecimiento. El marcado con calceína fue exitoso por inmersión y produjo una banda fluorescente de color verde lima brillante con- cisa a lo largo del crecimiento interno de la concha. Sin embargo, las marcas fueron mejores a una concentración de calceína inferior (0.4g/L), con mayor cantidad de marcas “buenas” y “perfectas” (p=0.0012). La técnica de tinción con azul de Commassie también fue exitosa. Se detectó un crecimiento diario por micro banda, similar a lo encontrado en otras especies de ostras. La diferencia del crecimiento medio en relación a la altura de la concha en un lapso de 15 días, fue ligeramente mayor con una concentración de calceína inferior ( =0.735mm) que con la de mayor concentración ( =0.577mm), pero no significativamente (p=0.198). El marcado de conchas con calceína y tinción de matrices proteicas con azul de Coomassie posterior a su crecimiento, es recomendando como un método para la validación de la edad facilitando el conteo de micro bandas de crecimiento internas de la concha. Además, permitirá estimar edades con el fin de predecir fechas de colonización y ubicación de bancos naturales.

Validation of otolith daily increments in early juveniles of shanny Lipophrys pholis.

To assess the periodicity of micro-increment formation in otoliths of Lipophrys pholis, 90 early juveniles were immersed in alizarin red S or tetracycline hydrochloride for 24 h and sacrificed after 10, 20 and 30 days. The number of micro-increments viewed under light microscopy was significantly related to the duration of the experimental period, and the slopes of the linear regressions were not significantly different from 1. This study indicates that micro-increments in sagittae were deposited daily and can be used as reliable sources of age information for L. pholis.

Age validation in the long life family study through a linkage to early-life census records.

OBJECTIVES: Studies of health and longevity require accurate age reporting. Age misreporting among older adults in the United States is common. METHODS: Participants in the Long Life Family Study (LLFS) were matched to early-life census records. Age recorded in the census was used to evaluate age reporting in the LLFS. The study population was 99% non-Hispanic white. RESULTS: About 88% of the participants were matched to 1910, 1920, or 1930 U.S. censuses. Match success depended on the participant's education, place of birth, and the number of censuses available to be searched. Age at the time of the interview based on the reported date of birth and early-life census age were consistent for about 89% of the participants, and age consistency within 1 year was found for about 99% of the participants. DISCUSSION: It is possible to match a high fraction of older study participants to their early-life census records when detailed information is available on participants' family of origin. Such record linkage can provide an important source of information for evaluating age reporting among the oldest old participants. Our results are consistent with recent studies suggesting that age reporting among older whites in the United States appears to be quite good.

Biology of growth of Hoplias aff. malabaricus (Bloch, 1794) in a shallow pampean lake (Argentina)

The trahira Hoplias aff. malabaricus is a top predator in pampean shallow lakes and is highly appreciated by recreational anglers and artisanal fishermen. Trahira growth from Yalca shallow lake was determined by lepidological analysis and age validated by marginal increment. When growth was fitted to the von Bertalanffy model, annual classes exhibited a bimodal pattern as a result of the presence of spring and summer annual cohorts associated with a three month spawning season, each period in turn showing different growth patterns. The trahira population-age structure at Yalca shallow lake showed a truncated profile with very low numbers of large adults and few individuals older than three to four years, thus producing an unbalanced length-structure population. Growth parameters and growth performance were similar to the corresponding parameters estimated for other shallow pampean lakes of the region, but strongly diverged from the data for those populations inhabiting subtropical and tropical environments. Such differences could be accounted for by dissimilarity in metabolic rates associated with thermal differences accompanying seasonal variability among latitudes as well as by the development of adaptive physiologic and demographic responses to cope with the high thermal amplitude and hydrologic instability observed in pampean lakes.

A traíra Hoplias aff. malabaricus é um predador de topo encontrado em lagoas rasas nos Pampas, muito apreciada nas pescas comerciais e esportivas. O crescimento da traíra no lago Yalca foi determinado através de análises lepidológicas, validadas a partir do incremento marginal. O crescimento foi ajustado ao modelo de von Bertalanffy, sendo que as classes de tamanho anuais apresentaram padrão bimodal devido à presença de coortes de primavera e verão, associadas à uma longa estação reprodutiva com diferentes padrões de crescimento. A estrutura etária da traíra do lago Yalca apresentou um perfil truncado, com um número pequeno de adultos de maior porte e poucos indivíduos com mais de três ou quatro anos, produzindo uma estrutura em tamanho desbalanceada. Os parâmetros e a performance de crescimento foram similares aos estimados para outros lagos rasos da região, mas fortemente divergentes de populações encontradas em ambientes tropicais e subtropicais. Tais diferenças podem estar relacionadas à diferentes taxas metabólicas associadas à variação térmica sazonal entre latitudes e ao desenvolvimento de respostas adaptativas fisiológicas e demográficas em resposta aos padrões termais altamente variáveis e instabilidade hidrológica observados nos lagos da região dos Pampas.