2.8 | Application of the age estimation model towards individuals of unknown age
Using the best-constructed age estimation model, we estimated the age of 19 age-unknown individuals (7 males and 12 females) around Mikura Island, using DNA extracted from fecal samples. In this population, the age of weaning (average: 3.5 years, SD = 0.74, Kogi et al ., 2004) and the age of first birth (average: 10.31 years, SD = 1.75, Kogi, 2013) are reported. Of the individuals whose actual age was unknown, we selected only those individuals for which we could observe weaning and/or first birth. We then assigned their age in the year when the feces were collected, with an age of 3.5 years for weaning and 10.31 years for the year of first birth. We compared the estimated age derived from the genes developed in this study with the ages estimated from weaning or first birth.