Kent State Research Review: Researchers End Ongoing Beluga Whale Debate

Joseph OrtizA new collaborative study between researchers at Kent State University and Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) has confirmed a way to determine the age of beluga whales - a topic that has been the center of much debate.

“Some scientists felt the standard measurement (one growth layer group per year) did not apply to belugas, which made age estimation difficult,” said Joseph Ortiz, Ph.D., professor and assistant chair in the Department of Geology in Kent State’s College of Arts and Sciences.

For decades the process of determining age in these species has been complicated; however, this breakthrough in research provides evidence of a new reliable way to measure age.

Read more in the 2019 issue of the Kent State Research Review
 

POSTED: Sunday, February 23, 2020 09:15 PM
Updated: Friday, December 9, 2022 10:44 AM
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Kent State Research Review 2019