Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

Application of otolith microchemistry to estimate the migratory history of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica on the Sanriku Coast of Japan

Application of otolith microchemistry to estimate the migratory history of Japanese eel Anguilla... Summary The age and migratory history of the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica Temminck & Schlegel, collected in Miyako Bay along the Sanriku coast of Japan, was examined using the otolith microstructure and analysis of strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) concentrations conducted with wavelength dispersive X‐ray spectrometry by an electron microprobe. The line analysis of Sr : Ca ratios along the life history transect of each otolith showed a peak (ca. 15–17 × 10−3) which corresponded with the period of their leptocephalus and early glass eel stages in the ocean. The mean Sr : Ca ratios from the elver mark to the otolith edge indicated that there were eels with several general categories of migratory history, including sea eels that never entered freshwater (average Sr : Ca ratios, ≥6.0 × 10−3), and others that entered freshwater for brief periods but returned to the estuary or bay. This evidence of the occurrence of sea eels in this northern area indicates that Japanese eels of the Sanriku coast do not necessarily migrate into freshwater rivers during recruitment as do glass eels at the beginning of their growth phase; even those that do enter freshwater may later return to the marine environment. Thus, anguillid eel migrations into freshwater are clearly not an obligatory migratory pathway, but rather a facultative catadromy with seawater or estuarine residents as an ecophenotype. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Applied Ichthyology Wiley

Application of otolith microchemistry to estimate the migratory history of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica on the Sanriku Coast of Japan

Loading next page...
 
/lp/wiley/application-of-otolith-microchemistry-to-estimate-the-migratory-0fAUEGFrpe

References (14)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
ISSN
0175-8659
eISSN
1439-0426
DOI
10.1046/j.1439-0426.2003.00500.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Summary The age and migratory history of the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica Temminck & Schlegel, collected in Miyako Bay along the Sanriku coast of Japan, was examined using the otolith microstructure and analysis of strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) concentrations conducted with wavelength dispersive X‐ray spectrometry by an electron microprobe. The line analysis of Sr : Ca ratios along the life history transect of each otolith showed a peak (ca. 15–17 × 10−3) which corresponded with the period of their leptocephalus and early glass eel stages in the ocean. The mean Sr : Ca ratios from the elver mark to the otolith edge indicated that there were eels with several general categories of migratory history, including sea eels that never entered freshwater (average Sr : Ca ratios, ≥6.0 × 10−3), and others that entered freshwater for brief periods but returned to the estuary or bay. This evidence of the occurrence of sea eels in this northern area indicates that Japanese eels of the Sanriku coast do not necessarily migrate into freshwater rivers during recruitment as do glass eels at the beginning of their growth phase; even those that do enter freshwater may later return to the marine environment. Thus, anguillid eel migrations into freshwater are clearly not an obligatory migratory pathway, but rather a facultative catadromy with seawater or estuarine residents as an ecophenotype.

Journal

Journal of Applied IchthyologyWiley

Published: Apr 1, 2004

There are no references for this article.