Shedding light on fish otolith biomineralization using a bioenergetic approach

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 6; no. 11; p. e27055
• Main Authors: Fablet, Ronan, Pecquerie, Laure, de Pontual, Hélène, Høie, Hans, Millner, Richard, Mosegaard, Henrik, Kooijman, Sebastiaan A L M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 14.11.2011; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Acidification; Age; Algorithms; Animal Feed; Animals; Bioenergetics; Biology; Budgets; Calcification; Calcification, Physiologic; Calibration; Chemistry; Climate change; Climate effects; Cod; Computer simulation; Corals; Earth Sciences; Ecological monitoring; Ecology; Ecosystems; Energy; Energy Metabolism; Engineering Sciences; Environmental changes; Environmental monitoring; Experiments; Fish; Fisheries; Fisheries management; Fishery management; Fishes; Gadiformes - metabolism; Gadiformes - physiology; Integrated approach; Marine biology; Mathematical models; Metabolism; Mineralization; Molecular Imaging; Mollusks; Numerical models; Ocean acidification; Otolithic Membrane - metabolism; Otoliths; Precipitation; Seasons; Shellfish; Signal and Image processing; Simulation; Temperature; Temperature effects; Theory; United States > US; Santa Barbara California; California
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0027055

Otoliths are biocalcified bodies connected to the sensory system in the inner ears of fish. Their layered, biorhythm-following formation provides individual records of the age, the individual history and the natural environment of extinct and living fish species. Such data are critical for ecosystem and fisheries monitoring. They however often lack validation and the poor understanding of biomineralization mechanisms has led to striking examples of misinterpretations and subsequent erroneous conclusions in fish ecology and fisheries management. Here we develop and validate a numerical model of otolith biomineralization. Based on a general bioenergetic theory, it disentangles the complex interplay between metabolic and temperature effects on biomineralization. This model resolves controversial issues and explains poorly understood observations of otolith formation. It represents a unique simulation tool to improve otolith interpretation and applications, and, beyond, to address the effects of both climate change and ocean acidification on other biomineralizing organisms such as corals and bivalves.