by

• Main Author: Christoph Stransky
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2002
• Subjects: Otolith shape analysis; Fourier analysis; redfish; pelagic redfish; Sebastes mentella; North Atlantic; Irminger Sea
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.550.1402; http://archive.nafo.int/open/sc/2002/scr02-035.pdf

This paper represents a preliminary otolith shape analysis of pelagic redfish (Sebastes mentella) in the Irminger Sea, comparing NAFO and NEAFC convention areas and depth layers (shallower and deeper than 500 m). Elliptical Fourier Analysis (EFA) was applied to describe digitised otolith outlines. The resulting Fourier descriptors were used as the basis for discriminant analysis to investigate separation success between area/depth groups. In general, differences in univariate measurements (otolith length, breadth and weight) and otolith shapes between area/depth groups were marginal and subject to high variation. Discriminant analysis indicated poor separation between area/depth groups. Differences in average shapes between the area/depth groups were relatively low. Based on this morphometric study, the existence of separate s tocks of S. mentella in the Irminger Sea seems to be unlikely, neither on a vertical (depth) nor horizontal scale (NAFO/NEAFC areas).