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Quantitative reconstruction of salinity history by otolith oxygen stable isotopes: An example of a euryhaline fish Lateolabrax japonicus
Author(s) -
Hsieh Yu,
Shiao JenChieh,
Lin Saulwood,
Iizuka Yoshiyuki
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/rcm.8476
Subject(s) - otolith , euryhaline , salinity , brackish water , lateolabrax , seawater , fish migration , chemistry , anchovy , estuary , oceanography , fishery , geology , biology , fish <actinopterygii>
Rationale Otolith strontium:calcium (Sr:Ca) ratios have been extensively used to study fish migration across a river, estuary and ocean at each life stage. However, otolith Sr:Ca ratios only explain partial variations in salinity and quantitative reconstruction of salinity history of fishes remains a challenge. Using a euryhaline fish Lateolabrax japonicus as an example, this study demonstrated an isotopic method of quantitatively reconstructing the salinity histories and habitat uses of the fish. Methods Otolith oxygen stable isotopic ratios (δ 18 O oto values) were measured using a mass spectrometer for subsamples sequentially milled from the otolith core to the edge, and otolith Sr:Ca ratios were measured by an electron probe microanalyzer for the comparison. The mean water temperature within the studied area in the time period of each milled subsample was estimated from the Copernicus database. Based on an isotopic fractionation equation, each δ 18 O oto value and water temperature pair determined the water δ 18 O value, which was then converted into salinity using published linear equations or an equation that was newly generated for this study. Results Individual fish clearly revealed different preferences in habitat use. The retrospectively reconstructed salinity history indicated that most L. japonicus inhabit and can spawn in seawater as well as in brackish estuaries. Few fish lived in freshwater during the young stage based on the analysis of δ 18 O oto profiles; however, otolith Sr:Ca ratios can only reveal freshwater residence and cannot distinguish residence in brackish water or seawater. Conclusions This study demonstrated that otolith temporal microstructure and δ 18 O oto values are well‐suited approaches for quantitative reconstruction of salinity histories of the fish. This method can improve the understanding of the habitat uses of other fishes inhabiting diverse habitats among the rivers, estuaries and oceans.