Relating otolith chemistry to surface water chemistry in a coastal plain estuary

Although laboratory studies confirm that otoliths incorporate trace elements and stable isotopes from surrounding waters, few studies explore the relationship of otolith chemistry to water chemistry in the field and none include a larger suite of environmental tracers, such as rare earth elements. Using spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) as model species, we tested the hypothesis that otoliths record the water chemistry of seagrass habitats in Chesapeake Bay. In summer 2001, we sampled water and juvenile fish in seagrass beds of the bay. Weighted linear regressions showed that [Ba/Ca]otolith and [La/Ca]otolith were best predicted by salinity and were modeled as [Ba/Ca]otolith (µmol·mol–1) = –2.25 ± 0.35 × salinity + 59.47 ± 7.01) and [La/Ca]otolith (pmol·mol–1) = –8.71 ± 0.65 × salinity + 243.87 ± 12.52. [Ba/Ca]otolith increased with [Ba/Ca]water, but the relationship was nonlinear. Salinity did not influence [Mn/Ca]otolith, but this ratio was positively correlated with [Mn/Ca]water. Although the partition coefficient of Sr (DSr = 0.23 ± 0.019) was similar to that in laboratory experiments, [Sr/Ca] in waters and otoliths was decoupled despite equal temperature exposure, suggesting that [Sr/Ca]otolith concentration may not be a simple function of water composition. However, there was a predictive relationship between [δ18O]otolith and [Sr/Ca]water ([δ18O]otolith = 1.18 ± 0.09 × [Sr/Ca]water (mmol·mol–1) – 14.286 ± 0.78) resulting from mixing between fluvial and oceanic waters. Water chemistry showed mixed values as a proxy for otolith chemistry and may not be a surrogate for otolith chemistry in wide estuaries.

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Can otolith chemistry be used for identifying essential seagrass habitats for juvenile spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus, in Chesapeake Bay?

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf04179 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 56 (5) ◽

pp. 645 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Emmanis Dorval ◽

Cynthia M. Jones ◽

Robyn Hannigan ◽

Jacques van Montfrans

Keyword(s):

Trace Elements ◽

Chesapeake Bay ◽

Classification Accuracy ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Juvenile Fish ◽

Spotted Seatrout ◽

Otolith Chemistry ◽

Seagrass Beds ◽

Cynoscion Nebulosus ◽

High Classification Accuracy

We investigated the variability of otolith chemistry in juvenile spotted seatrout from Chesapeake Bay seagrass habitats in 1998 and 2001, to assess whether otolith elemental and isotopic composition could be used to identify the most essential seagrass habitats for those juvenile fish. Otolith chemistry (Ca, Mn, Sr, Ba, and La; δ13C, δ18O) of juvenile fish collected in the five major seagrass habitats (Potomac, Rappahannock, York, Island, and Pocomoke Sound) showed significant variability within and between years. Although the ability of trace elements to allocate individual fish may vary between years, in combination with stable isotopes, they achieve high classification accuracy averaging 80–82% in the Pocomoke Sound and the Island, and 95–100% in the York and the Potomac habitats. The trace elements (Mn, Ba, and La) provided the best discrimination in 2001, a year of lower freshwater discharge than 1998. This is the first application of a rare earth element measured in otoliths (La) to discriminate habitats, and identify seagrass habitats for juvenile spotted seatrout at spatial scales of 15 km. Such fine spatial scale discrimination of habitats has not been previously achieved in estuaries and will distinguish fish born in individual seagrass beds in the Bay.

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Consistency of patterns between laboratory experiments and field collected fish in otolith chemistry: an example and applications for salinity reconstructions

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf04146 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 56 (5) ◽

pp. 609 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

T. S. Elsdon ◽

B. M. Gillanders

Keyword(s):

Environmental Variables ◽

Laboratory Experiments ◽

Juvenile Fish ◽

Otolith Chemistry ◽

Ambient Water ◽

Elemental Concentrations ◽

Adequate Knowledge ◽

Black Bream ◽

Environmental Histories ◽

The Relationship

Elemental concentrations within fish otoliths can track movements and migrations of fish through gradients of environmental variables. Tracking the movements of fish relies on establishing links between environmental variables and otolith chemistry, with links commonly made using laboratory experiments that rear juvenile fish. However, laboratory experiments done on juvenile fish may not accurately reflect changes in wild fish, particularly adults. We tested the hypotheses that: (1) the relationship between ambient (water) and otolith chemistry is similar between laboratory-reared black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) and wild black bream; and (2) ontogeny does not influence otolith chemistry. Field-collected and laboratory-reared fish showed similar effects of ambient strontium : calcium (Sr : Ca) on otolith Sr : Ca concentrations. However, ambient and otolith barium : calcium concentrations (Ba : Ca) differed slightly between laboratory-reared and field-collected fish. Importantly, fish reared in stable environmental variables showed no influence of ontogeny on Sr : Ca or Ba : Ca concentrations. Natural distributions of ambient Sr : Ca showed no clear relationship to salinity, yet, ambient Ba : Ca was inversely related to salinity. The distribution of ambient Sr : Ca and Ba : Ca in estuaries inhabited by black bream, suggest that these elements can answer different questions regarding environmental histories of fish. Reconstructing salinity histories of black bream using otolith Ba : Ca concentrations seems plausible, if adequate knowledge of Ba : Ca gradients within estuaries is obtained.

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Elemental signatures in otoliths of hatchery rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): distinctiveness and utility for detecting origins and movement

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f09-015 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 66 (4) ◽

pp. 513-524 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Daniel K. Gibson-Reinemer ◽

Brett M. Johnson ◽

Patrick J. Martinez ◽

Dana L. Winkelman ◽

Alan E. Koenig ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rainbow Trout ◽

Oncorhynchus Mykiss ◽

Water Chemistry ◽

Fisheries Management ◽

Valuable Insight ◽

Otolith Chemistry ◽

Considerable Potential ◽

Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus Mykiss ◽

The Relationship ◽

Ambient Levels

Otolith chemistry in freshwater has considerable potential to reveal patterns of origin and movement, which would benefit traditional fisheries management and provide a valuable tool to curb the spread of invasive and illicitly stocked species. We evaluated the relationship between otolith and water chemistry for five markers (Ba/Ca, Mn/Ca, Sr/Ca, Zn/Ca, and 87Sr/86Sr) in rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) using the existing hatchery system in Colorado and Wyoming, USA, to provide controlled, seminatural conditions. Otolith Ba/Ca, Sr/Ca, and 87Sr/86Sr reflected ambient levels, whereas Mn/Ca and Zn/Ca did not. Using only the markers correlated with water chemistry, we classified fish to their hatchery of origin with up to 96% accuracy when element and isotope data were used together. Large changes in 87Sr/86Sr were evident in otolith transects, although subtler changes in Sr/Ca were also detectable. Our results suggest the relatively few otolith markers that reflect ambient chemistry can discriminate among locations and track movements well enough to provide valuable insight in a variety of applied contexts.

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The relationship between surface water chemistry and geology in the North Branch of the Moose River

Biogeochemistry ◽

10.1007/bf02185183 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 3 (1-3) ◽

pp. 21-35 ◽

Cited By ~ 68

Author(s):

Robert M. Newton ◽

Jill Weintraub ◽

Richard April

Keyword(s):

Surface Water ◽

Water Chemistry ◽

Surface Water Chemistry ◽

The North ◽

The Relationship ◽

Moose River

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Regional Patterns in the Otolith Chemistry of Juvenile Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) Differ under Contrasting Hydrological Regimes

The Open Fish Science Journal ◽

10.2174/1874401x01508010001 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Chet F. Rakocinski ◽

Bruce H. Comyns ◽

Mark S. Peterson ◽

Alan M. Shiller

Keyword(s):

Geographic Distance ◽

Specific Effect ◽

Local Effect ◽

Spotted Seatrout ◽

Otolith Chemistry ◽

Cynoscion Nebulosus ◽

Regional Patterns ◽

Source Regions ◽

Source Contributions ◽

Hydrological Regimes

The value of using otolith chemistry to characterize recruitment in terms of natal source regions depends on how consistently spatio-temporal variation can be resolved. The objective of this study was to compare regional classification patterns in the otolith chemistry of juvenile Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) between two years experiencing disparate hydrological regimes, and separated by a five year interlude. Spatial patterns in the whole-otolith chemistry of juveniles of this estuarine-dependent species were compared between years using five otolith elements and two stable isotopes. Consistent size-related trends in uptake and deposition were evidenced by parallel ontogenetic relationships for six otolith variables. Nine natal regions were discerned equally well in both years; and region accounted for similar overall amounts of variation in the seven otolith variables in both years. However, the otolith variables did not distinguish the nine regions in the same manner in both years, and natal regions varied in how similar they were in otolith chemistry between years. Consequently, between-year cross-classification accuracy varied widely among regions, and geographic distance per se was unimportant for explaining regional patterns in otolith chemistry. Salinity correlated significantly with regional patterns in otolith chemistry in 2001, but not at all in 2006 when conditions were much drier. Regional patterns in individual otolith variables reflected either a general trend based on hydrology, a regional-local effect whereby geographically closer regions exhibited similar otolith chemistry, or a location-specific effect for which there was either no correlation in otolith concentration among regions between years, or a significant but individualistic relationship. In addition to elucidating limitations of using otolith chemistry to identify natal source regions or for tracking fish movements, knowing more about how and why otolith chemistry varies could be used to address specific questions about early recruitment dynamics, or to aid in the development of more reliable instruments for discerning natal source contributions.

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