| Affiliation: | (1) Molecular Fisheries Laboratory, Agri-Science Queensland, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, The University of Queensland, Level 3 Ritchie Building (64A C-Wing), Research Road, Brisbane, 4067, Australia;(2) Sustainable Fisheries Programme, Agri-Science Queensland, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Southern Fisheries Centre, 13 Beach Rd, PO Box 76, Deception Bay, QLD, 4508, Australia;(3) Industry and Investment NSW, Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre of Excellence, PO Box 21, Cronulla, NSW, 2230, Australia;(4) Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 49, Hobart, 7001, Australia;(5) School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia |
| Abstract: | Telomere length has been purported as a biomarker for age and could offer a non-lethal method for determining the age of wild-caught individuals. Molluscs, including oysters and abalone, are the basis of important fisheries globally and have been problematic to accurately age. To determine whether telomere length could provide an alternative means of ageing molluscs, we evaluated the relationship between telomere length and age using the commercially important Sydney rock oyster (Saccostrea glomerata). Telomere lengths were estimated from tissues of known age individuals from different age classes, locations and at different sampling times. Telomere length tended to decrease with age only in young oysters less than 18 months old, but no decrease was observed in older oysters aged 2–4 years. Regional and temporal differences in telomere attrition rates were also observed. The relationship between telomere length and age was weak, however, with individuals of identical age varying significantly in their telomere length making it an imprecise age biomarker in oysters. |
