Shape Analysis and Microchemistry of Redfish Otoliths: Investigation of Geographical Differences in the North Atlantic

As part of an ongoing EU project on redfish, otolith shape analysis and otolith trace element assays were conducted to test for differences between distribution areas. Otolith morphometry and shape (Fourier) descriptors were compared between sampling areas of golden redfish (Sebastes marinus) and de...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Christoph Stransky
Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 2003
Subjects:
Otolith shape analysis
Fourier analysis
trace element analysis
elemental assays
otolith microchemistry
LA-ICPMS
deep-sea redfish
golden redfish
Sebastes mentella
Sebastes marinus
North Atlantic
Online Access:http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.498.5011
http://www.redfish.de/project/deliv16.pdf
Description
Summary:As part of an ongoing EU project on redfish, otolith shape analysis and otolith trace element assays were conducted to test for differences between distribution areas. Otolith morphometry and shape (Fourier) descriptors were compared between sampling areas of golden redfish (Sebastes marinus) and deep-sea redfish (Sebastes mentella) in the North Atlantic. A first series of trace element assays was performed using laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) on cross-sections of S. mentella otoliths. Geographical separation by these methods appeared to be weak, although some distinction of western, central and eastern areas was apparent for otolith shapes of S. marinus. Trace element concentrations in S. mentella otoliths differed between three otolith zones (core, 3-year annulus and edge), giving first hints to physiological effects and/or migration. Differences in elemental concentrations between areas showed repeated patterns for some elements, indicating area-specific signatures. Multivariate analysis of these signatures, however, revealed no clear discrimination of distribution areas. Since the otolith shape analysis was limited to material from medium-sized fish (30-40 cm total length) and microchemical assays were only performed on a sub-set of S. mentella otoliths, further investigations will be carried out during the next months to reveal more information on possible natural markers for redfish.

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