Microstructure of the otoliths of the glacier lanternfish, Benthosema glaciale

Abstract

Ageing using otolith microstructure is based on the assumption that growth increments are deposited daily. Individuals of the glacier lanternfish (Benthosema glaciale) were collected in the Flemish Cap (north-west Atlantic) during June-July 2010. A total of 44 individuals (ranging from 28 to 49 mm standard length; ,2 years old) were selected to analyse otolith microstructure using light microscopy in order to assess the reliability of the use of microincrements to infer the true age of this species. Three distinct zones were distinguished: the larval zone, the postlarval zone and the postmetamorphic zone. The otolith core was, on average, 8 AE 0.7 mm. The mean microincrement number in the larval zone was 42 AE 7.5 within a radius of 0.095 AE 0.010 mm whereas in the postlarval zone it was 25 AE 3.0 within a segment of 0.104 AE 0.015 mm. SEM examinations in a subsample of otoliths showed that the resolution power of the light microscope was sufficient to study both the larval and the postlarval zones. Back-calculation from the time of capture suggests a hatching period from mid-June to mid-December with a peak in September. The spawning time and daily deposition of the microincrements in B. glaciale are discussed.

Daily growth patterns of juveniles and adults of the Peruvian anchovy (Engraulis ringens) in northern Chile

“…Microstructural zones in sagittal otoliths of youngof-the-year (YOY) have been reported in several teleost fish (Wellington and Victor 1989;Beldade et al 2007;Sponaugle 2010;García-Seoane et al 2015), particularly in demersal and reef-associated fish (Victor 1986;Wilson and McCormick 1997;Sponaugle 2010). These features have been linked roughly with the larval stage, the transition from larval to juvenile stages or habitat transitions, and later juvenile stages where juveniles occur in nursery areas or deeper habitats Table 4.…”

Growth of the Mesopelagic Fish Vinciguerria attenuata (Cocco, 1838) in the Strait of Messina (Central Mediterranean Sea)

“…They may be due to special events in the life history of the species (such as metamorphosis), changes in habitat, metabolism rate, fish behavior, or environmental conditions (e.g., lunar marks) [40,55,59]. Presumably, the dark mark observed between CZ and MZ is a metamorphic check (passage from larval stage to post-larval stage) usually associated to a habitat shift, as often found in other mesopelagic fish [40,55,60,61].…”

Age and Growth of Diaphus brachycephalus in the South China Sea Using Sagittal Otolith Microstructure

“…After gluing and fixing with epoxy resin and hardener (EpoHeat, Buehler, Lake Bluff, IL, USA), the otoliths were longitudinally ground by a MetaServ 250 grinding machine (Buehler, Lake Bluff, IL, USA) with 280-and 800-grit sandpaper. They were further polished on top of its viewing surface using 1200-and 2500-grit sandpaper to obtain clear longitudinal sections [23,39,40].…”

“…further polished on top of its viewing surface using 1200-and 2500-grit sandpap tain clear longitudinal sections [23,39,40]. Sagittal otoliths were divided into three regions: the central zone (CZ), mid (MZ), and external zone (EZ), as proposed by Gigarosov and cited in subsequen [23,[41][42][43].…”