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Age in Years from Otoliths of Adult Tropical Fish

  • Chapter
Tropical Fish Otoliths: Information for Assessment, Management and Ecology

Part of the book series: Reviews: Methods and Technologies in Fish Biology and Fisheries ((REME,volume 11))

Abstract

Otoliths of fish are hard, calcified internal structures that assist in orientation and sound perception (Popper et al. 2005, Green et al., Chapter 1, this volume). As otoliths grow inside each fish’s head they record an extraordinary amount of information about the life of that fish and the environments that it experiences (Begg et al. 2005). The challenge to scientists is to retrospectively access this information, to interpret it accurately in terms of the biology and life history of the fish, and to use the data to appropriately understand and manage the natural resources of the fish population and the broader aquatic ecosystem. The greatest application of otoliths to date has been in providing information on the age and growth of fish in years, which has ultimately been used in the management of associated fisheries (Campana & Thorrold 2001, Campana 2005). Prior to the 1980s, and stretching back to the late 19th Century, most such ageing work was done in the temperate regions of the world and contributed to managing the enormous fisheries in the oceans of these regions (Beamish 1992, Beamish & McFarlane 1995).

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  1. South Australian Research and Development Institute, PO Box 120, Henley Beach, 5022, South Australia

    A.J. Fowler

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Tasmanian Aquaculture & Fisheries Inst. Crustacean Research Group, University of Tasmania, 7001, Hobart, TAS, Australia

    Bridget S. Green  & Gary Carlos  & 

  2. Centre for Australian Weather & Climate Research, A Research Partnership between CSIRO and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS, Australia

    Bruce D. Mapstone

  3. Dept. Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry, Bureau of Rural Sciences, ACT 2601, Canberra, Australia

    Gavin A. Begg

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Fowler, A. (2009). Age in Years from Otoliths of Adult Tropical Fish. In: Green, B.S., Mapstone, B.D., Carlos, G., Begg, G.A. (eds) Tropical Fish Otoliths: Information for Assessment, Management and Ecology. Reviews: Methods and Technologies in Fish Biology and Fisheries, vol 11. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5775-5_3

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