Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T02:59:36.944Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Trace-element distributions in fish otoliths: natural markers of life histories, environmental conditions and exposure to tailings effluence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

N. M. Halden*
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
L. A. Friedrich
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
*

Abstract

Otoliths, the earbones of teleost (bony) fish, are constructed from alternating layers of aragonite and protein. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and proton-induced X-ray emission are used to obtain spatially well-resolved trace element line-scans that show trace-element concentrations are correlated with the annular structure. Zoned Sr and Zn signatures are common whereas other elements such as Cu, Pb, Li and Cs can be related to the proximity of mineral deposits. Aragonite in otoliths can incorporate a wide range of trace elements at the low-ppm level including alkali- and alkaline-earth elements and base metals; Se has also been detected in proximity to coal mines. These trace elements, in combination with the annular structures, are an important archive for recording information on environments occupied by fish, environmental change and exposure to pollutants.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ahmad, S. and Al-Ghais, S.M. (1997) Relation between age and heavy metal content in otoliths of Pomadasys stridens Forskaal 1775 collected from the Arabian Gulf. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 32, 304308.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Babaluk, J.A., Halden, N.M., Reist, J.D., Kristofferson, A.H., Campbell, J.L. and Teesdale, WJ. (1997) Evidence for non-anadromous behavior of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) from Lake Hazen, Ellesmere Island, Northwest Territories, Canada, based on otolith strontium distribution. Arctic, 50, 224233.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Babaluk, LA., Reist, J.D., Sahanatien, V.A., Halden, N.M., Campbell, J.L. and Teesdale, WJ. (1998) Preliminary results of stock discrimination of chars in Ivvavik National Park, Yukon Territory, Canada, using microchemistry of otolith strontium. In: Linking Protected Areas with Working Landscapes Conserving Biodiversity (Neil, W.P. and Martin, J.H., editors). Proceedings of the 3r International Conference on Science and Management of Protected Areas, Wolfville, Canada, SAMPAA.Google Scholar
Barnett-Johnson, R., Ramos, F.C., Grimes, C.B. and MacFarlane, R.B. (2005) Validation of Sr isotopes in otoliths laser ablation multicollector inductively coupled mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICP-MS): opening avenues in fisheries science applications. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 62, 24252430.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bradley, R.W. and Sprague, J.B. (1985) Accumulation of zinc by rainbow trout as influenced by pH, water hardness and fish size. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 4, 685694.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buckel, J.A., Sharack, B.L. and Zdanowicz, V.S. (2004) Effect of diet on otolith composition in Pomatomus saltrix, an estuarine piscavore. Journal of Fish Biology, 64, 14691484.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Campbell, J.L.,Teesdale, WJ. and Halden, N.M. (1995) Theory, practice and application of PIXE micro-analysis and SPM element mapping. The Canadian Mineralogist, 33, 279292.Google Scholar
Campana, S.E., Thorrold, S.R., Jones, C, Gunther, D., Turbrett, M., Longerich, H., Jackson, S., Halden, N.M., Kalish, J.M., Piccoli, P., de Pontual, H., Troadec, H., Panfilli, L, Secor, D.H., Severin, K., Sie, S.H., Thresher, R., Campbell, J.L. and Teesdale, WJ. (1997) Comparison of accuracy, precision and sensitivity in elemental analysis offish otoliths using the electron microprobe, PIXE and laser ablation ICP-MS. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 54, 20682079.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Campana, S.E., Chouinard, G.A., Hanson, J.M., Frechet, A. and Brattey, J. (2000) Otolith elemental fingerprints as biological tracers of fish stocks. Fisheries Research, 46, 343357.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Casey, R. and Siwick, P. (2000) Overview of selenium in surface waters, sediment and fish from the Mcleod, Pembina and Smokey Rivers: results of a survey from fall 1998 to fall 1999. Interim Report P/174: Water Management Division and Fisheries Management Division, Natural Resources Service, Alberta Environment, Alberta, Canada, http//environment.gov.ab.ca/info/home.asp. Google Scholar
Degens, E.T., Deuser, W.G. and Haedrich, R.L. (1969) Molecular structure and composition offish otoliths. Marine Biology, 2, 105113.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Friedrich, L.A. and Halden, N.M. (2008) Alkali element uptake in Otoliths: a link between the environment and Otolith microchemistry. Environmental Science and Technology, 42, 35143518.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Geffen, A.J., Pearce, N.J.G. and Perkins, W.T. (1998) Metal concentrations in fish otoliths in relation to body composition after laboratory exposure to mercury and lead. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 165, 235245.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Giinther, D. and Hattendorf, B. (2005) Solid sample analysis using laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometry. Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 24, 255265.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Halden, N.M., Babaluk, J.A., Kristofferson, A.H., Campbell, J.L., Teesdale, W.J., Maxwell, J. and Reist, J.D. (1996) Micro-PIXE studies of Sr zoning in Arctic char otoliths: migratory behavior and stock discrimination. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, B109/110, 592597.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Halden, N.M., Mejia, S.R., Babaluk, J.A., Reist, J.D., Kristofferson, A.H., Campbell, J.L. and Teesdale, WJ. (2000) Oscillatory zinc distribution in Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) otoliths: the result of biology or environment? Fisheries Research, 46, 289298.Google Scholar
Holm, J., Palace,V.P., Siwik, P., Sterling, G., Evans, R.E., Baron, C.L., Werner, J. and Wautier, K. (2006) Developmental effects of bioaccumulated selenium in eggs and larvae of two salmonid species. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 24, 23733281.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kalish, J.M. (1989) Otolith microchemistry: validation of the effects of physiology, age and environment on otolith composition. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 132, 151178.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Koch, G., Hofer, R. and Wograth, S. (1995) Accumulation of trace metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Sr) in Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) from oligotrophic alpine lakes: relation to alkalinity. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 52, 23672376.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maxwell, J.L., Campbell, J.L. and Teesdale, WJ. (1989) The Guelph PIXE software package. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, B43, 218230.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McFarlane, G.A., Franzin, W.G. and Lutz, A. (1979) Chemical analyses of Flin Flon area lake waters and precipitation: 1973 — 1977. Canadian Fisheries and Marine Services Report, 1486, 42.Google Scholar
Melancon, S., Fryer, B.J., Gagnon, J.E., Ludsin, S.A. and Yang, Z. (2005) Effects of crystal structure on the uptake of metals by lake trout Salvelinus namaycush otoliths. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 62, 26092619.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Milner, N.J. (1982) The accumulation of zinc by O-group plaice, Pleuronectes platessa (L.), from high concentration in seawater and food. Journal of Fish Biology, 21, 325336.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Milton, D.A., Tenakanai, CD. and Chenery, S.R. (2000) Can the movements of barramundi in the Fly River region, Papua New Guinea be traced in their otoliths? Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 50, 855868.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Outridge, P.M., Veinott, G. and Evans, R.D. (1995) Laser ablation ICP-MS analysis of incremental biological structures: archives of trace element accumulation. Environmental Reviews, 3, 160170.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Outridge, P.M., Chenery, S.R., Babaluk, J. and Reist, J.D. (2002) Analysis of geological Sr isotope markers in fish otoliths with subannual resolution using laser ablation-multicollector-ICP-mass spectrometry. Environmental Geology, 42, 891 — 899.Google Scholar
Palace, V.P., Halden, N.M., Yang, P., Evans, R.E. and Sterling, G. (2007) Determining residence patterns of rainbow trout using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analysis of selenium in otoliths. Environmental Science and Technology, 41, 36793683.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pearce, N.J.G., Perkins, W.T., Westgate, J.A., Gorton, M.P., Jackson, S.E., Neal, C.R. and Chenery, S.R. (1997) A compilation of new and published major and trace element data for NIST SRM 610 and NIST SRM 612 glass reference materials. Geostandards Newsletter, 21, 115144.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Platt, C. and Popper, A.N. (1981) Fine structure and function of the ear. Pp. 336 in: Hearing and Sound Communications in Fishes (Tavolga, W.N., Popper, A.N. and Fay, R.R., editors). Springer-Verlag, New York.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Radtke, R.L. (1989) Strontium-calcium concentration ratios in fish otoliths as environmental indicators. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, A92, 189193.Google Scholar
Renfro, W.C., Fowler, S.W., Heyraud, M. and La Rosa, J. (1975) Relative importance of food and water in long-term zinc65 accumulation in marine biota. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 32, 13391345.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Riva-Rossi, C, Pascual, M.A., Babaluk, J.A. and Halden, N.M. (2007) Intra-populational variation in anadromy and reproductive lifespan in Santa Cruz River Rainbow Trout. Journal of Fish Biology, 70, 17801797.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Saquet, M., Halden, N.M., Babaluk, J.A., Campbell, J.L. and Nejedly, Z. (2002) Micro-PIXE analysis of trace element variation in otoliths from fish collected near acid mine tailings: potential for monitoring contaminant dispersal. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, B189, 196201.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schmalz, P.J., Hansen, M.J., Holey, M.E., McKee, P.C. and Toneys, MX. (2002) Lake Trout movements in northwestern Lake Michigan. North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 22, 737749.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sie, S.H. and Thresher, R.E. (1992) Micro-PIXE analysis offish otoliths: methodology and evaluation of first results for stock discrimination. International Journal ofPIXE, 2, 357379.Google Scholar
Stemberger, R. and Chen, C.Y. (1998) Fish tissue metals and zooplankton assemblages of northeastern U.S. lakes. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, 55, 339352.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thorrold, S.R., Jones, CM., Campana, S.E., McLaren, J.W. and Lam, J.H.W. (1998) Trace element signatures in otoliths record natal river of juvenile American shad (Alosa sapidissima). Limnology and Oceanography, 43, 18261835.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thorrold, S.R., Jones, G.P., Planes, S. and Hare, J.A. (2006) Transgenerational marking of embryonic otoliths in marine fishes using barium stable isotopes. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 63, 11931197.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
van Achterberg, E., Ryan, C.G. and Griffin, W.L. (2001) GLITTER user's manual: on-line interactive data reduction for the LA-ICP-MS mieroprobe. Version 4. Maequarie Research Limited, North Ryde.Google Scholar