Establishing growth chronologies from marine mammal teeth: A method applicable across species

The described approach to chronology development provides a number of advantages over others previously used on marine mammals; first, it has been formed on the basis of well-established and tested techniques and second provides a step-by-step process that is readily repeatable, thereby allowing direct comparisons between similarly developed chronologies from different species or regions. Once developed, chronologies can be used in modeling studies and compared with annually resolved climate indices to explore sensitivities in tooth growth and associated energetic budgets to environmental conditions.