The relationship between trace elements in fish otoliths of wild carp and hydrochemical conditions

Abstract

The trace element composition of the fish otolith is an indicator of biomineralization. In contrast to other skeletal tissue, the otolith retains its entire original structure and does not absorb any elements after the fish dies. Because otoliths in carp degrade very slowly in the dead body, the information it provides on the environment is retained, even in fossil form. Here, we report our analysis of the trace elements in otoliths of carp and of the water in Donghu Lake and Longhupao Lake, Heilongjiang province, China, where the fish lived. The results revealed that the trace elements found in the carp otoliths were clearly correlated with those found in these water bodies. There were high concentrations of Au, Ba, K, Sr and Zn in both the water and otoliths; in contrast there were high levels of As, Na and Se in water, but low concentrations in otoliths. These results indicate that an analysis of the otoliths of carps provides an accurate procedure for studying the surrounding hydrochemistry conditions. The interaction of the elements during deposition was also studied. The correlation coefficients of 13 trace elements identified in the otoliths in both lakes were calculated.

Relationship of phosphorus content in carp otoliths with that in ambient water in Xiaoxi Port of the Taihu Lake, East China

“…Geochemistry study on carp lapilli in Lianhuanhu and Longhupao lakes near Qiqihar city of Heilongjiang Province, supports that elements in carp lapilli correlate well to the corresponding elements in water (Gao et al, 2010). Linear relationship of trace elements was found between lapilli and water in Baiyangdian lake and Miyun reservoir near Beijing (Yang et al, 2006;Cao et al, 2008).…”

Multielement Solid Phase Preconcentration Using a Chelating Resin of Styrene Divinylbenzene Copolymer and Application for the Analysis of Seawater and Fish Otoliths by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

“…Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal, but recent studies show that Cd also plays important role through Cd–species anhydrase and is required by certain diatoms (Lane et al 2007; Norisuye et al 2007). Lead (Pb) is important tracer of natural or anthropogenic inputs through aerosol deposition and/or lateral transport from continental margins (Ho et al 2010; Milne et al 2010). Likewise, trace elements in fish otoliths are biological tracers of physico-chemical conditions of fish habitats and thus provide useful information in fisheries to elucidate life histories, nursery habitats, mixing rates and population dynamics of the fish species (Thresher 1999; Campana and Thorrold 2001; Arslan and Secor 2005; Campana et al 2007; Gao et al 2010).…”

“…It has also been an indispensable tool in otolith microchemical analysis (Thresher 1999; Campana and Thorrold 2001; Arslan and Paulson 2002; Arslan and Secor 2005; Campana et al 2007; Daniels and Arslan 2007; Gao et al 2010). However, determination of trace elements, especially those in the mid-mass range, by traditional ICP–MS analysis is problematic due to the instrumental instability and spectral interferences caused by the salt matrices.…”

“…The spectral interferences of matrix ions, and molecular ions of argon oxides and hydroxides, such as 40 Ar 16 O + , 40 Ar 16 OH + , 43 Ca 16 O + , 44 Ca 16 O + and 23 Na 40 Ar + , often preclude accurate determinations (Warnken et al 2000; Arslan and Paulson 2002; Beck, Franks and Bruland 2002; Otero-Romani et al 2005, 2009; Daniels and Arslan 2007; Biller and Bruland 2012). To overcome these hurdles, various approaches have been used for determination of trace elements in seawater and otoliths, which include solvent extraction (Batterham and Parry 1996; Yoshinaga, Morita and Edmonds 1999), cloud point extraction (Dasilva, Frescura and Curtius 2000), coprecipitation (Saito and Schneider 2006; Daniels and Arslan 2007), and solid phase extraction (SPE) (Warnken et al 2000; Willie et al 2001; Arslan and Paulson 2002; Beck et al 2002; Camel 2003; Arslan and Secor 2005; Ho et al 2010; Milne et al 2010). …”

Enrichment of Pb, Hg and Cr in cultured carp otolith

“…In these years, the chosen aquatic organisms are aquatic algae, zooplankton community and zoobenthos. Otolith is a new choice for this biological monitoring method (Thorrold, 1998;Anadon et al, 2002;Bacon et al, 2004;Gao et al, 2010;Li et al, 2011a;Li et al, 2011b;Du et al, 2011). Otolith is a kind of calcium carbonate biomineral that grows in the inner ear of teleost.…”