Why otoliths? Insights from inner ear physiology and fisheries biology

Abstract

Otoliths are of interest to investigators from several disciplines including systematics, auditory neuroscience, and fisheries. However, there is often very little sharing of information or ideas about otoliths across disciplines despite similarities in the questions raised by different groups of investigators. A major purpose of this paper is to present otolith-related questions common to all disciplines and then demonstrate that the issues are not only similar but also that more frequent interactions would be mutually beneficial. Because otoliths evolved as part of the inner ear to serve the senses of balance and hearing, we first discuss the basic structure of the ear. We then raise several questions that deal with the structure and patterns of otolith morphology and how changes in otoliths with fish age affect hearing and balance. More specifically, we ask about the significance of otolith size and how this might affect ear function; the growth of otoliths and how hearing and balance may or may not change with growth; the significance of different otolith shapes with respect to ear function; the functional significance of otoliths that do not contact the complete sensory epithelium; and why teleost fishes have otoliths and not the otoconia found in virtually all other extant vertebrates.

Ocean acidification alters the otoliths of a pantropical fish species with implications for sensory function

“…Although otoliths (ear stones) are an important part of the auditory and vestibular sense organs in fishes (19), their formation under ocean acidification conditions has received limited attention. Previous studies of larval fish otoliths have identified consistent ocean acidification effects across some species, but have been constrained by the use of 2D measures of size, which limits further analysis of sensory consequences and the ability to examine the full extent of ocean acidification impacts (20)(21)(22).…”

KARAKTERISTIKMORFOLOGI DANHUBUNGANMORFOMETRIK OTOLITH DENGAN UKURAN IKAN LEMURU (Sardinella lemuru Bleeker, 1853) DI SELAT BALI

“…Otolith merupakan organ yang berfungsi mengatur keseimbangan, pendengaran, koordinasi arah renang, dan orientasi (Bani et al, 2013;Cabello et al, 2014;Popper et al, 2005;Valinassab et al, 2012;Yilmaz et al, 2014;Sadighzadeh et al, 2014;Tuset et al, 2003). Otolith ditemukan pada semua jenis ikan kecuali hiu, pari dan lamprey (Campana, 2004).…”

“…Bentuk sagittae ikan lemuru umumnya sama dengan Sardinella gibbosa, Sardinella longiceps, dan Sardinella sidensis (Homayuni et al, 2013). Kelompok ikan dari satu genus memiliki pola sulcus acusticus yang khas dan konsisten (Nolf, 1985dalam Homayuni et al, 2013, seperti halnya pada genus Sardinella ini, dimana sulcus acusticus menjelaskan kemampuan pendengaran ikan (Popper et al, 2005). Ikan yang hidup di dasar perairan memiliki rasio luas area sulcus acusticus dan sagittae secara keselururan yang lebih besar (Tuset et al, 2003).…”

Otolith research and application: current directions in innovation and implementation

“…A total of 26 presentations encompassed the fundamental aspects of this theme. Popper et al (2005) provided an overview of the structure and function of otoliths, particularly with respect to hearing and balance, and how these functions change with age and growth. They also highlighted the multidisciplinary nature of otolith research and the current lack of collaborative research and information exchange among disciplines to resolve similar questions.…”