Elemental signatures in otoliths of hatchery rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): distinctiveness and utility for detecting origins and movement

• Published in: Canadian journal of fisheries and aquatic sciences Vol. 66; no. 4; pp. 513 - 524
• Main Authors: Gibson-Reinemer, Daniel K, Johnson, Brett M, Martinez, Patrick J, Winkelman, Dana L, Koenig, Alan E, Woodhead, Jon D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ottawa, ON National Research Council of Canada 01.04.2009; NRC Research Press; Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subjects: Animal aquaculture; Animal productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical elements; Chemistry; Exploitation and management of natural biological resources (hunting, fishing and exploited populations survey, etc.); Fish hatcheries; Fisheries management; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human mechanics; Invasive fish; Oncorhynchus mykiss; Otoliths; Physiological aspects; Pisciculture; Rainbow trout; Salmon; Tracking and trailing; Trout; Vertebrate aquaculture; Water chemistry; United States; Wyoming; North America; Colorado; America; Canada; United States > US; USA, Wyoming; USA, Colorado; Water chemistry; Introduced species; Ambient medium; Fresh water; Hatchery; Marker; Oncorhynchus mykiss; Fishing; Dispersion; Displacement; Zinc; Vertebrata; Invasive species; Pisces; Otolith; Pisciculture
• ISSN: 0706-652X; 1205-7533
• DOI: 10.1139/F09-015

Otolith chemistry in freshwater has considerable potential to reveal patterns of origin and movement, which would benefit traditional fisheries management and provide a valuable tool to curb the spread of invasive and illicitly stocked species. We evaluated the relationship between otolith and water chemistry for five markers (Ba/Ca, Mn/Ca, Sr/Ca, Zn/Ca, and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) in rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) using the existing hatchery system in Colorado and Wyoming, USA, to provide controlled, seminatural conditions. Otolith Ba/Ca, Sr/Ca, and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr reflected ambient levels, whereas Mn/Ca and Zn/Ca did not. Using only the markers correlated with water chemistry, we classified fish to their hatchery of origin with up to 96% accuracy when element and isotope data were used together. Large changes in 87 Sr/ 86 Sr were evident in otolith transects, although subtler changes in Sr/Ca were also detectable. Our results suggest the relatively few otolith markers that reflect ambient chemistry can discriminate among locations and track movements well enough to provide valuable insight in a variety of applied contexts.