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A Comparison of Computer-Based Methods for Estimating the Age of Animals

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Abstract

The advantages and disadvantages of statistical methods for estimating the age of animals that lack recording structures are discussed in the article. The discussion is supported by examples from studies on the growth of the bivalve mollusk Mizuhopecten yessoensis (Jay, 1857). The age of individuals of this species can easily be determined by morphological marks on the shell surface. This makes it possible to calculate the percentage of erroneous age estimates through various statistical procedures. The following methods have been comprehensively tested: building a histogram, cumulative frequency curve, and dendrogram, as well as K‑means. The algorithms that form the basis of these methods are described in brief. Some practical recommendations on their use are provided.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their useful critical comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690041, Vladivostok, Russia

    V. V. Sukhanov & N. I. Selin

  2. Far Eastern Federal University, 690001, Vladivostok, Russia

    V. V. Sukhanov

Authors
  1. V. V. Sukhanov
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  2. N. I. Selin
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Correspondence to V. V. Sukhanov.

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Conflict of interests. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Statement on the welfare of animals. All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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Translated by E. Shvetsov

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Sukhanov, V.V., Selin, N.I. A Comparison of Computer-Based Methods for Estimating the Age of Animals. Russ J Mar Biol 46, 379–386 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063074020050090

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063074020050090

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