Publication Abstract

Can otolith chemistry interpret spatial dynamics in a changing environment? An experimental approach

A.M. Lewis, C.N. Trueman, and E. Hunter*

The FSBI Annual conference 2010, "Fish and climate change", Queen's University, Belfast, UK 26-30 July 2010

Changes in climate can have major effects on marine habitats, forcing spatial and temporal realignment in fish migration and distribution patterns. Assessing location and movement in natural marine fish stocks is challenging, especially when repeated assessments are needed to monitor population response to dynamic climatic and ecological factors.

Otoliths (earstones) are calcareous structures common to all teleost fish that are increasingly employed as natural tags of location, based on the observation that their chemical composition reflects, at least in part, characteristics of the surrounding water. As such, otolith chemistry can, in theory, be used to investigate species distribution and habitat use in a changing climate. Currently however, the precise relationships between ambient conditions, physiology and otolith composition are poorly understood and further validation studies are essential if we are to fully realise the potential of otolith microchemistry.

Here, we describe the blood and otolith trace metal composition of non-migrating plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) over a full reproductive cycle. We report the relationship between fish condition, blood chemistry and otolith chemistry and discuss the implications for the use of otoliths as tools in the interpretation and prediction of fish spatial dynamics in a changing environment.