Application of the analysis of trace elements composition for calcified structures of fish to solve fundamental and applied scientific tasks: a review

Abstract

Microchemical analysis of calcified structures of fish is a modern technique for determining the origin of fish species and ontogenetic reconstructions of their habitat that can be applied for such tasks as stocks separation in mixed samples, tracking of fish migrations, determining of spawning, feeding or wintering areas, differentiation of fish of artificial and natural origin, growth analysis, age evaluation, etc. The approach is based on analysis of trace elements concentration between the center and periphery of a calcified structure, or precise measurement of the elements and their isotopes concentration in certain sites of sample. The calcified structures most often used for analysis are otoliths, skeleton bones, scales, and also statoliths of lampreys or beaks and statoliths of cephalopods. Specifics of the method application are described with examples of its use for solving diverse tasks of fundamental and applied science, in particular in complex studies of biological resources in the Amur River basin.