Stable carbon and oxygen isotope ratios of otoliths differentiate juvenile winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) habitats

作者：Pruell Richard J^*; Taplin Bryan K; Karr Jonathan D

来源：Marine and Freshwater Research, 2010, 61(1): 34-41.

DOI：10.1071/MF08353

• fish
• stable isotopes

The use of natural tags for identifying the source locations of individuals recruited to fish populations has become an important area of research in fisheries science. We used stable carbon (delta(13)C) and oxygen (delta(18)O) isotope ratios in otoliths to differentiate juvenile winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) collected from locations along the coast of Rhode Island, USA. Sagittal otoliths from the flounder were analysed for delta(13)C and delta(18)O using isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Plots of delta(13)C v. delta(18)O and discriminant function analysis (DFA) indicated differences among samples from Narragansett Bay, the coastal ponds and the Narrow River. Separations were observed among fish from the upper, middle and lower portions of Narragansett Bay and along the salinity gradient in Narrow River. Otoliths from sites grouped on the basis of low, medium and high salinities also showed differences according to DFA. Correlation analysis indicated a significant negative relationship (r=-0.60, P=0.009) between seawater temperature and delta(18)O, and a significant positive relationship (r=0.93, P<0.001) between salinity and delta(18)O for the combined dataset. These results indicate that delta(13)C and delta(18)O values of juvenile winter flounder otoliths may prove useful for differentiating individuals from various juvenile habitats.

• 出版日期2010