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Otolith Microstructure of the Lesser Sandeel, Ammodytes Marinus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

P. J. Wright
P. J. Wright
Affiliation:
SOAFD Marine Laboratory, PO Box 101, Victoria Road, Aberdeen, AB9 8DB
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Extract

Daily increments were demonstrated in the sagittae of the lesser sandeel, Ammodytes marinus, maintained in outdoor enclosures. Daily increment formation was also inferred for wild sandeels from an analysis of changes in age composition within a series of field samples. A comparison between sagitta microstructure and morphological development of larval and juvenile sandeels indicated that the first sagitta increment was formed around the time of hatching. Yolk-sac absorption and larval metamorphosis were accompanied by changes in otolith microstructure.

The lesser sandeel, Ammodytes marinus (Raitt), is important as a prey item for many species of fish, seabirds and marine mammals (Furness, 1990) and supports major fisheries in the North Sea (Anon., 1991). However, little is known about the ecological processes affecting year-class strength in this species. Otolith microstructure has been demonstrated to be a potentially useful tool for investigating early survivorship in fishes, since otoliths may provide a chronological record of early growth and life-history events (see Campana & Neilson, 1985). This paper examines the usefulness of otolith microstructure for studies of sandeel growth, from investigations of increment periodicity and a comparison between otolith microstructure and morphological development.

Type
Short Communications
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 73 , Issue 1 , February 1993 , pp. 245 - 248
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1993

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