Abstract
We have examined the macro- and microstructural features of teleost otoliths using light and scanning electron microscopy. There is a wide range in otolith morphology within the teleosts with little apparent relationship between otolith size and structure and the biology of the species. Once otolith formation began, the microstructural features, which include the crystals, organic matrix, incremental zone and the associated discontinuous zone of sagittal otoliths, were similar. Increments were dbserved to begin formation at different times in different species. Examples of such features from freshwater, brackish water, and marine species; active and passive species; egg layers and live bearers; and benthic and pelagic species are shown. The otolith appears to be a permanent physiological record of the fish and applications of the information it contains will be discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Bagenal, T.B. 1974. The ageing of fish. Unwin Brothers Limited. Surrey, England, pp. 234.
Barkman, R.C. 1978. The use of otolith growth rings to age young Atlantic silverside, Menidia menidia. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 107 (6): 790–792.
Brothers, E.B., C.P. Mathews, and R. Lasker. 1976. Daily growth increments in otoliths from larval and adult fishes. Fish. Bull. 74: 1–8.
Brothers, E.B. 1982. Aging reef fishes. In: The Biological Bases for Reef Fishery Management. NOAA Tech. Memorandum. NMFS-SEFC-80. NMFS Beaufort, N.C., U.S.A. Ed. G.R. Huntsman, W.R. Nicholson and W.W. Fox, Jr. pp. 3–23.
Carlstrom, D. 1963. A crystallographic study of vertebrate otoliths. Biol. Bull. 124: 441–463.
Dunkelberger, D.G., J.M. Dean, and N. Watabe. 1980. The ultrastructure of the otolithic membrane and otolith in the juvenile mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus. J. Morph. 163: 367–377.
Hederström, H. 1759. Rön om Fiskars Alder. Handl. Kungl. Vetenskapsakademin (Stockholm), Vol. XX: 222–229. In: Inst. Freshwater Research. Drottingholm, 1959, 11–14.
Haake, P.W., C.A. Wilson, and J.M. Dean. 1982. A technique for the examination of otoliths by SEM with application to larval fishes. In: Proc. of the 5th Ann. Larval Fish Conf. Ed. C.F. Bryan, J. V. Conner, and F.M. Truesdale. Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pp. 12–15.
Mugiya, Y., N. Watabe, J. Yamada, J.M. Dean, D.G. Dunkelberger, and M. Shimizu. 1981. Diurnal rhythm in otolith formation in the goldfish, Carrassius auratus. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 68A: 659–662.
Ottaway, E.M. and K. Simkiss. 1977. “Instantaneous” growth rates of fish scales and their use in studies of fish populations. J. Zool.(Lond.). 181: 407–419.
Panella, G. 1971. Fish otoliths: daily growth layers and periodical patterns. Sci. 173: 1124–1127.
Radtke, R. and J.M. Dean. In press. Increment formation in the otoliths of embryos, larvae, and juveniles of the mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus). Fish. Bull.
Tanaka, K., Y, Mugiya, and J. Yamada. 1981. Effects of photoperiod and feeding on daily growth patterns in otoliths of juvenile Tilapia nilotica. Fish. Bull. 79 (2): 459–466.
Taubert, B.D. and D.W. Coble. 1977. Daily rings in otoliths of three species of Lepomis and Tilapia mossambica. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Can. 34: 332–340.
Townsend, D.W. and J.J. Graham. 1981. Growth and age structure of larval Atlantic herring, Clupea harengus harengus, in the Sheepscot River Estuary, Maine, as determined by daily growth increments in otoliths. Fish. Bull. 79 (1): 123–130.
Watabe, N., K. Tanaka, J. Yamada, and J.M. Dean. 1982. Scanning electron microscope observations of the organic matrix in the otolith of the teleost fish Fundulus heteroclitus (Linnaeus) and Tilapia nilotica (Linneaus). J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 58: 127–134.
Wilson, C.A. and J.M. Dean. In press. The potential use of sagittal otoliths for estimating age of Atlantic swordfish (Xiphias gladius). In: Age Determination of Oceanic Pelagic Fishes — tunas, billfishes, sharks. NOAA-Technical Circular. Ed. E. Prince. NMFS, Miami Florida.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1983 D. Reidel Publishing Company
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Dean, J.M., Wilson, C.A., Haake, P.W., Beckman, D.W. (1983). Microstructural Features of Teleost Otoliths. In: Westbroek, P., de Jong, E.W. (eds) Biomineralization and Biological Metal Accumulation. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7944-4_35
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7944-4_35
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-009-7946-8
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-7944-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive