- A new study suggests Michigan lake sturgeon can live significantly longer than previously believed, with some females estimated to reach up to 427 years.
- This finding drastically revises previous research that capped the lake sturgeon's lifespan at 150 years, making them comparable to Greenland sharks, the longest-lived vertebrates.
- Researchers determined the estimates by analysing 44 years of growth data from five sturgeon populations, rather than directly observing fish of that age.
- Understanding their extended lifespan and late reproductive maturity, with females reproducing between 15 and 25 years old, is crucial for conservation efforts.
- Lake sturgeon populations, severely depleted since the late 1800s, continue to face threats from pollution, infrastructure, and climate change.
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