The Using of Skeletochronology as a Screening Method for Age Determination of Alpine Newts (Mesotriton Alpestris): a Technical Report

Skeletochronology is a widely used method for age determination in amphibians. This method is based mainly on the histological examination of the finger bones. However, the lengths of utilized severed fingers have not been specified in previous studies. The objective of this study was to analyse the structure of line arrested growth (LAGs) involving taking only the last two phalanges of a finger, and using the entire finger of Alpine newts (Mesotriton alpestris). Altogether 432 fingers were taken from four localities in the Czech Republic during the newt breeding period. The first group (group A) contained fingers that consisted of the last two phalanges (330 samples), and the second (group B) contained complete fingers with all phalanges (102 samples). All fingers were processed using standard histological methods and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Phalange cross-section slides were made, and the ages of the individuals were determined by the number of LAGs. From two phalanges it is determine the age of 17.87% of newts; however, age determination was successful in 49.01% of newts when using whole fingers. Age determination success rate differences between groups were significant (P < 0.001). This is a histological study and it is recommended utilizing whole fingers in future Caudata amphibian screening age studies.Errata to this article were published in: Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 2015, 63(3): 1079–1079. http://dx.doi.org/10.11118/actaun201563031079