Synopsis
Scanning proton microprobe imaging has been used to map the distribution of strontium (Sr) in an arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus, otolith. X-ray maps show that Sr variation follows an oscillatory zoned pattern which correlates with optically resolved zones (annuli). The internal region of the otolith shows optical zonation but no significant Sr content. Comparison of the optical image with the Sr X-ray map provides evidence of when the fish entered a high Sr environment. This may be interpreted as when the fish migrated from fresh water to a marine environment; this particular fish first migrated to sea in its eighth year. Micro-PIXE point analysis was used to determine the abundance of Sr in annuli along a radius from the nucleus to an outer edge; Sr levels in the internal region were about 10 ppm and variation in the outer zoned region was between 62 and 175 ppm. Detection limits for Sr are in the 1–2 ppm range. Other trace elements, such as transition elements, were found to be present in some growth regions in the 1–20 ppm range. Proton beam analysis is a non-destructive analytical technique capable of preserving the spatial integrity of trace-element data in otoliths such that element distribution may be linked to the growth structure of the otolith.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References cited
Arai, N. & W. Sakamoto. 1993. PIXE analysis of otoliths from reared Red Sea bream Pagrus major (Temminck et Schlegel). Int. J. PIXE 3: 275–281.
Campbell, J.L., W .J. Teesdale & N.M. Halden. 1995. Principles of PIXE and SPM analysis. Can. Mineral. (in press).
Chilton, D.E. & R.J. Beamish. 1982. Age determination methods for fishes studied by the Groundfish Program at the Pacific Biological Station. Can. Spec. Publ. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 60. 102 pp.
Coote, G.E., R.W. Gauldie & I.F. West. 1991. Application of a nuclear microprobe to the study of fish otoliths and scales. Nucl. Inst. Meth. Phys. Res. B54: 144–150.
Coutant, C.C. & C.H. Chen. 1993. Strontium microstructure in scales of freshwater and estuarine striped bass (Morone saxatilis) detected by laser ablation mass spectrometry. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 50: 1318–1323.
Czamanske, G.K., T.W. Sisson, J.L. Campbell & W.J. Teesdale. 1993. Micro-PIXE analysis of silicate reference standards. Amer. Mineral. 78: 893–903.
Degens, E.T., W.G. Deuser & R.L. Haedrich. 1969. Molecular structure and composition of fish otoliths. Mar. Biol. 2: 105–113.
Dick, T.A. & M. Belosevic. 1981. Parasites of arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus) and their use in separating sea-run and non-migrating charr. J. Fish Biol. 18: 339–347.
Gauldie, R.W., D.A. Fournier, D.E. Dunlop & G. Coote. 1986. Atomic emission and proton microprobe studies of the ion content of otoliths of chinook salmon aimed at recovering the temperature life history of individuals. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 84(A): 607–615.
Gudkov, P.K. & M.B. Skopets. 1989. A method for determining the age of smolting by back calculation of the age of anadromous char of the genus Salvelinus. J. Ichthyol. 29: 68–76.
Gunn, J.S., I.R. Harrowfield, C.H. Proctor & R.E. Thresher. 1992. Electron probe microanalysis of fish otoliths — evaluation of techniques for studying age and stock discrimination. J. Expl. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 158: 1–36.
Halden, N.M., F.C. Hawthorne, J.L. Campbell, W.J. Teesdale, J.A. Maxwell & D. Higuchi. 1993. Chemical characterization of oscillatory zoning and overgrowths in zircon using 3 MeV μ-PIXE. Can. Mineral. 31: 637–674.
Johnson, L. 1980. The arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus. pp. 15–98. In: E.K. Balon (ed.) Charrs: Salmonid Fishes of the Genus Salvelinus, Dr W Junk Publishers, The Hague.
Kalish, J.M. 1989. Otolith microchemistry: validation of the effects of physiology, age and environment on otolith composition. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 132: 151–178.
Maxwell, J.L., J.L. Campbell & W.J. Teesdale. 1989. The Guelph PIXE software package. Nucl. Inst. Meth. Phys. Res. B43: 218–230.
Mugiya, Y. 1964. Calcification in fish and shell-fish. -III. Seasonal occurrence of a prealbumin fraction in the otolith fluid of some fish, corresponding to the period of opaque zone formation in the otolith. Bull. Japan. Soc. Sci. Fish. 30: 955–967.
Nordeng, H. 1961. On the biology of charr (Salmo alpinus L.) in Salangen, North Norway. 1. Age and spawning frequency determined from scales and otoliths. Nytt. Mag. Zool. 10: 67–123.
Nordeng, H. 1983. Solution to the ‘charr problem’ based on Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) in Norway. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 40: 1372–1387.
Odum, H.T. 1951. Notes on the strontium content of sea water, celestite radiolaria, and strontianite snail shells. Science 114: 211–213.
Radtke, R.L. 1989. Strontium-calcium concentration ratios in fish otoliths as environmental indicators. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 92(A): 189–193.
Radtke, R.L. & T.E. Targett. 1984. Rhythmic structural and chemical patterns in otoliths of the Antarctic fish Notothenia larseni: their application to age determination. Polar Biology 3: 203–210.
Rosenthal, H.L., M.M. Eves & O.A. Cochran. 1970. Common strontium concentration of mineralized tissues from marine and sweet water animals. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 32: 445–450.
Sadovy, Y. & K.P. Severin. 1994. Elemental patterns in red hind (Epinephelus guttatus) otoliths from Bermuda and Puerto Rico reflect growth rate, not temperature. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 51: 133–141.
Seyama, H., J.S. Edmonds, M.J. Moran, Y. Shibata, M. Soma & M. Morita. 1991. Periodicity in fish otolith Sr, Na, and K corresponds with visual banding. Experientia 47: 1193–1196.
Sie, S.H. & R.E. Thresher. 1993. Micro-PIXE analysis of fish otoliths: methodology and evaluation of first results for stock discrimination. Int. J. PIXE 2: 357–379.
Simkiss, K. 1974. Calcium metabolism of fish in relation to ageing. pp. 1–12. In: T.B. Bagenal (ed.) Ageing of Fish, Unwin Brothers, London.
Teesdale, W.J., J.L. Campbell & N.M. Halden. 1993. Two-dimensional mapping of element variation in minerals using the Guelph proton microprobe. Nucl. Ins. Meth. Phys. Res. B77: 405–409.
Wogelius, R.A., D.G. Fraser, D.J. Feltham & M.I. Whiteman. 1992. Trace element zoning in dolomite: proton microprobe data and thermodynamic constraints on fluid compositions. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 56: 319–334.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Halden, N.M., Babaluk, J.A., Campbell, J.L. et al. Scanning proton microprobe analysis of strontium in an arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus, otolith: implications for the interpretation of anadromy. Environ Biol Fish 43, 333–339 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001166
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001166