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Elemental chemistry of left and right sagittal otoliths in a marine fish Hippoglossus stenolepis displaying cranial asymmetry
Author(s) -
Loher T.,
Wischniowski S.,
Martin G. B.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2008.01982.x
Subject(s) - otolith , halibut , biology , flatfish , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery
The hypothesis was tested that the sagittae of age 2 year Pacific halibut Hippoglossus stenolepis are interchangeable, by analysing whole‐otolith preparations for element‐to‐calcium ratios of 10 trace metals ( 7 Li, 25 Mg, 55 Mn, 56 Fe, 60 Ni, 63 Cu, 66 Zn, 88 Sr, 138 Ba and 208 Pb) and carbon and oxygen stable isotope ratios (δ 13 C and δ 18 O). After detrending for significant ( α = 0·05) relationships between elemental concentration and otolith mass, significant (paired t ‐tests, P < 0·01) asymmetry was detected in δ 13 C and δ 18 O, and 88 Sr: 48 Ca. Right (smaller) sagittae exhibited higher δ 13 C and δ 18 O, and lower 88 Sr: 48 Ca, than left sagittae. Significant ( α = 0·05) left–right differences were not detected in the remained trace metals. Given that sagittae are the same size at hatch and diverge as H. stenolepis age, the larger otolith is presumably biased towards later‐accreted carbonate. Estuarine‐reared flatfish probably exhibit more pronounced dissimilarities than observed here, given greater environmental variability in such habitats relative to coastal halibut nurseries, and the importance of salinity and temperature in regulating elemental uptake.