Analysis of Growth Marks in Calcified Structures: Insights into Stock Structure and Migration Pathways

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Patterns formed by annual, seasonal, and daily growth marks in the calcified structures of fish are particularly powerful tools in stock identification; they can be used to distinguish between groups of fish with different growth histories, pinpoint the stage in the life cycle at which groups diverge, and enhance the temporal resolution of information from other techniques. In this chapter, the historical development of this approach to stock identification is described, methods for preparing and analyzing otoliths and scales (which are the most commonly used structures in stock identification studies) are outlined, and techniques for quantifying stock-specific growth patterns are presented. The application of growth pattern analyses to questions of stock structure are reviewed under three emerging themes: the discrimination of natural or wild populations, the separation of wild from hatchery-reared fish, and the reconstruction of larval origin and dispersal pathways. Calcified structures have been widely used to separate spawning groups in Atlantic herring and to identify river of origin and migration pathways in salmonids. These case studies are discussed in detail.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationStock Identification Methods
Subtitle of host publicationApplications in Fishery Science: Second Edition
PublisherElsevier Inc.
Pages141-170
Number of pages30
ISBN (Print)9780123970039
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Growth analysis
  • Migration pathways
  • Otolith
  • Scale
  • Stock structure

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