Use of otolith strontium:calcium and zinc:calcium ratios as an indicator of the habitat of Percophis brasiliensis Quoy & Gaimard, 1825 in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

We evaluate the simultaneous use of Sr: Ca and Zn: Ca ratios of the sagitta otolith as a potential indicator of the habitat of Percophis brasiliensis along a latitudinal gradient in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean (34-42ºS and 51-67ºW), in order to reliably identify fish stocks. Fish were collected in three sampling sites: Argentine-Uruguayan Common Fishing Zone (AUCFZ), El Rincón (ER) and San Matías Gulf (SMG). The otolith Sr:Ca and Zn:Ca ratios were determined by ICP-OES and EDTA volumetric method. The otolith Sr:Ca ratio was similar in the three sampling sites, while the Zn:Ca ratio was significantly higher in AUCFZ than in ER and SMG for all age groups. The discriminant analysis showed an association between the otolith Sr:Ca and Zn:Ca ratios from ER and SMG. Present results suggest the potential occurrence of two fish stocks of P. brasiliensis in the study area.

Otolith Sr:Ca ratio and morphometry as indicators of habitat of a euryhaline species: The case of the silverside Odontesthes bonariensis

“…Chascomús Lagoon is located 10 m above sea level and forms part of the lower relacionada con la concentración de los mismos en el agua (Campana 1999, Sturrock et al 2012, Avigliano 2014. Estas características, sumadas al hecho de que son estructuras metabólicamente inertes y acelulares que incorporan elementos químicos en forma constante del agua, hacen que los otolitos sean una herramienta muy útil para estudios de poblaciones pesqueras e historia de vida de los peces (Campana 1999;Avigliano y Volpedo 2013b;Avigliano et al 2014Avigliano et al , 2015aAvigliano et al , 2015bAvigliano et al , 2015c.…”

“…Los otolitos de los peces teleósteos, alojados en el aparato vestibular, son complejos cuerpos policristalinos compuestos principalmente por carbonato de calcio y pequeñas cantidades de otros minerales (elementos traza) inmersos dentro de una matriz orgánica (Campana 1999). En determinadas especies, la concentración de algunos de estos elementos, tales como el estroncio, bario, zinc y magnesio, está Avigliano and Volpedo 2013b;Avigliano et al 2014Avigliano et al , 2015aAvigliano et al , 2015bAvigliano et al , 2015c.…”

Identification of potential fish stocks and lifetime movement patterns of Mugil liza Valenciennes 1836 in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean

“…The research on otolith (complex calcium carbonate structures located in the inner ear (Campana, 1999)) has widen the knowledge of fish movements and migrations and stock identification of important commercial species (Avigliano et al, 2014;Avigliano et al, 2015a;Gillanders, 2005;Tabouret et al, 2010;Tracey et al, 2012). Morphometrical analysis of features like shape and contour (Lestrel, 1997) allows stock identification of species (Avigliano et al, 2015c;Sadighzadeh et al, 2014;Tuset et al, 2003b). Also, the study of the otolith chemical composition has been increasingly used to study fish displacements and identify fish stocks (Kraus and Secor, 2004;Schuchert et al, 2010;Tabouret et al, 2010).…”

Identification of nurseries areas of juvenile Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1836) (Characiformes: Prochilodontidae) by scale and otolith morphometry and microchemistry

“…For this reason, Zn:Ca ratio has also been used as habitat indicator for species associated to La Plata River basin such as Percophis brasiliensis (Avigliano et al, 2015b). In this case, relatively elevated Zn:Ca ratios found in Estrella Wetland could be associated to geological features of the sampling areas, given that in Pilcomayo River Zn deposits has been found (Gemmell et al, 1992).…”