Some lake sturgeon in the Great Lakes could live more than 400 years, according to a new study released this month.
This finding fundamentally alters the scientific understanding of the species' lifespan and suggests that current conservation models may be based on inaccurate age data.
A team of scientists, including researchers from the University of Michigan, conducted the study by re-analyzing 44 years of data from five different lake-sturgeon populations [4]. The researchers used growth-ring analysis to determine the age of the fish, a method that revealed previous estimates were far too low [4].
Prior to this research, the oldest recorded lake sturgeon was estimated to be 152 years old [3]. The new data indicates a much wider and higher age range for the species. Male lake sturgeon were found to live anywhere from 90 to 279 years [1].
Female sturgeon showed even greater longevity. The study found that females lived from 99 to as many as 427 years [2]. While some reports suggest the fish may live between 200 and 300 years [5], the primary study data points to the higher potential of over 400 years [6].
Lake sturgeon are prehistoric fish known for their slow growth and late maturity. Because they live so long, they are particularly vulnerable to environmental changes and overfishing, as they take decades to reach reproductive age. The discovery that they may live for four centuries suggests that ancient individuals may still be swimming in the Great Lakes, some potentially born before the industrialization of the region.
“Female lake sturgeon could live up to 427 years”
The discovery that lake sturgeon can live for over four centuries suggests that the species has a much slower biological clock than previously believed. For wildlife managers, this means that protecting old-growth populations is critical, as these fish represent a genetic link to the pre-industrial Great Lakes ecosystem and may have different reproductive strategies than younger fish.
