Abstract
The otolith microstructure of juvenile starry flounders (Platichthys stellatus) sampled from a monitored environment was examined for evidence of lunar periodicity. Three types of biweekly cycles were observed in all of the flounder otoliths; two of the cycles were correlated with a tidal modulation of the environment. Through a multiple regression model, much of the day-to-day variability in increment width could be related to daily variations in temperature, salinity and tidal mixing. My results suggest that a 15-d increment width cycle was entrained by the interaction of a 15-d tidal cycle with temperature and salinity. The same tidal cycle/temperature interaction probably produced a biweekly pattern of increment contrast. However, the presence of otolith checks formed at weekly and/or biweekly intervals could not be so explained, although checks were consistently formed on the new and full moons.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Brothers, E. B., C. P. Mathews and R. Lasker: Daily growth increments in otoliths from larval and adult fishes. Fish. Bull., U.S. 74, 1–8 (1976)
Brothers, E. B.: What can otolith microstructure tell us about daily and subdaily events in the early life history of fish? Rapp. P.-v. Reun. Cons. int. Explor. Mer. 178, 393–394 (1981)
Brothers, E. B. and W. N. McFarland: Correlations between otolith microstructure, growth and life history transitions in newly recruited French grunts (Haemulon flavolineatum). Rapp. P.-v. Reun. Cons. int. Explor. Mer 178, 369–374 (1981)
Campana, S. E. and J. D. Neilson. Daily growth increments in otoliths of starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) and the influence of some environmental variables in their production. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 39, 937–942 (1982)
Campana, S. E.: Calcium deposition and check formation during periods of stress in coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch. Compar. Biochem. Physiol. 75A, 215–220 (1983a)
Campana, S. E.: Feeding periodicity and the production of daily growth increments in the otoliths of steelhead trout (Salmo gairdneri) and starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus). Can. J. Zool. 61, 1591–1597 (1983b)
Campana, S. E.: Interactive effects of age and environmental modifiers on the production of daily growth increments in otoliths of plainfin midshipman, Porichthys notatus. Fish. Bull., U.S. 82 (In press) (1983c)
deWilde, P. A. W. J. and E. M. Berghuis: Cyclic temperature fluctuations in a tidal mud-flat. In: Cyclic phenomena in marine plants and animals, pp 435–441. Ed. by E. Naylor and R. G. Hartnoll. New York: Pergamon Press 1979
Environment Canada: Monthyly record 66 (9&10), 102 pp. Ottawa 1981
Gibson, R. N.: Lunar and tidal rhythms in fish. In: Rhythmic activity of fishes, pp 201–213. Ed. by J. E. Thorpe. New York: Academic Press 1978
Grau, E. G., W. W. Dickhoff, R. S. Nishioka, H. A. Bern and L. C. Folmar: Lunar phasing of the thyroxine surge preparatory to seaward migration of salmonid fish. Science, N.Y. 211, 607–609 (1981)
Irie, T.: The growth of the fish otolith. J. Fac. Fish. Anim. Husb. Hiroshima Univ. 3, 203–229 (1960)
Kavaliers, M.: Endogenous lunar rhythm in the behavioural thermoregulation of a teleost fish, the white sucker, Catostomus commersoni. J. Interdiscip. Cycle Res. 13, 23–27 (1982)
Lockwood, S. J.: The daily food intake of 0-group plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) under natural conditions. J. Cons. int. Explor. Mer 39, 154–159 (1980)
Marshall, S. L. and S. S. Parker: Pattern identification in the microstructure of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) otoliths. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 39, 542–547 (1982)
Methot, R. D., Jr.: Spatial covariation of daily growth rates of larval northern anchovy, Engraulis mordax, and northern lampfish, Stenobrachius leucopsarus. Rapp. P.-v. Reun. Cons. int. Explor. Mer 178, 424–431 (1981)
Mugiya, Y., N. Watabe, J. Yamada, J. M. Dean, D. G. Dunkelberger and M. Shimuzu: Diurnal rhythm in otolith formation in the goldfish, Carassius auratus. Compar. Biochem. Physiol. 68A, 659–662 (1981)
Neilson, J. D. and G. H. Geen: Otoliths of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): daily growth increments and factors influencing their production. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 39, 1340–1347 (1982)
Neumann, D.: Tidal and lunar rhythms. In: Handbook of behavioural neurobiology, pp 351–380. Ed. by J. Aschoff. New York: Plenum Press. 1981
Orcutt, H.: The life history of the starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus). Calif. Fish. Game, Fish. Bull 78, 1–89 (1950)
Pannella, G.: Fish otoliths: daily growth layers and periodical patterns. Science, N.Y. 173, 1124–1127 (1971)
Pannella, G.: Otolith growth patterns: an aid in age determination in temperate and tropical fishes. In: Ageing of fish, pp 28–39. Ed. by T. B. Bagenal. England: Unwin Bros. 1974
Pannella, G.: Growth patterns in fish sagittae. In: Skeletal growth of aquatic organisms, pp 519–560. Ed. by D. C. Rhoads and R. A. Lutz, New York: Plenum Press 1980
Radtke, R. L. and J. M. Dean: Increment formation in the otoliths of embryos, larvae, and juveniles of the mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus. Fish. Bull., U.S. 80, 201–216 (1982)
Rosenberg, A. A.: Growth of juvenile English sole, Parophrys vetulus, in estuarine and open coastal nursery grounds. Fish. Bull., U.S. 80, 245–252 (1982)
Rosenberg, A. A. and A. S. Haugen: Individual growth and sizeselective mortality of larval turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) reared in enclosures. Mar. Biol. 72, 73–77 (1982)
Simkiss, K.: Calcium metabolism of fish in relation to ageing. In: Ageing of fish, pp 1–12. Ed. by T. B. Bagenal. England: Unwin Bros. 1974
Struhsaker, P. and J. H. Uchiyama: Age and growth of the nehu, Stolephorus purpureus (Engraulidae), from the Hawaiian islands as indicated by daily growth increments of sagittae. Fish. Bull., U.S. 74, 9–17 (1976)
Tanaka, K., Y. Mugiya and J. Yamada: Effects of photoperiod and feeding on daily growth patterns in otoliths of juvenile Tilapia nilotica. Fish. Bull., U.S. 79, 459–466 (1981)
Taubert, B. D. and D. W. Coble: Daily rings in otoliths of three species of Lepomis and Tilapia mossambica. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 34, 332–340 (1977)
Toole, C. L.: Intertidal recruitment and feeding in relation to optimal utilization of nursery areas by juvenile English sole (Parophrys vetulus). Envir. Biol. Fish. 5, 383–390 (1980)
Tyler, A. V.: Surges of winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus, into the intertidal zone. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 28, 1727–1732 (1971)
Vugts, H. F. and J. T. F. Zimmerman: Interaction between the daily heat balance and the tidal cycle. Nature, Lond. 255, 113–117 (1975)
Wilson, K. H. and P. A. Larkin: Relationship between thickness of daily growth increments in sagittae and change in body weight of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) fry. Can. J. Fish.aquat. Sci. 37, 1335–1339 (1982)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by R. W. Doyle, Halifax
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Campana, S.E. Lunar cycles of otolith growth in the juvenile starry flounder Platichthys stellatus . Mar. Biol. 80, 239–246 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392818
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392818