LE3 .A278 2021

2021

Avery, Trevor
Yang, Zhe

Acadia University

Bachelor of Science

Honours

Biology

Biology

Ageing fish is a key tool used in fisheries conservation and management. The research presented aims to assess otolith and body dimension relationships in Atlantic Striped bass Morone saxatilis and Atlantic tomcod Microgadus tomcod and to explore whether otolith size can be used to estimate fish age. Otoliths are small stone-like structures made of calcium carbonate and other constituents located within the inner ear of fish. They form an organ that helps with spatial orientation. Otoliths accumulate chemicals laid down in growth rings which store information such as environment and are used to estimate fish age. Atlantic tomcod and Striped bass were processed, and otoliths were extracted, rinsed, and placed in separate vials, desiccated and weighed. Otoliths were photographed using a digital SLR with a macro lens, or a dissecting stereo microscope with a digital camera. Each otolith image was analyzed using Fiji software to measure length, width, and area. Otolith dimensions were related to fish dimensions including fish total length and weight. Otolith area was found to relate well to otolith length and width for both species. Otolith area related well to otolith weight and fish length for Striped bass, but otolith area was not as well related to fish weight for Striped bass or fish length and weight for Atlantic tomcod. This study provides relationships of otolith size and fish size leading to a potential useful way to estimate fish age without undertaking otolith ageing.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3594