Naslov
Otolith morphology and microchemistry fingerprints of European eel, Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758) stocks from the Adriatic Basin in Croatia and Montenegro

Autori
Milošević, Dragana ; Bigović, Miljan ; Mrdak, Danilo ; Milašević, Ivana ; Piria, Marina

Izvornik
Science of the total environment (0048-9697) 786 (2021); 147478, 9

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
European Eel ; Shape indices ; Trace element ; Otolith

Sažetak
Morphological and elemental composition of otoliths are a promising tool for fish stock identification. In this regard, European eel has not been sufficiently researched. The aimof this study was to determine otolith shape index values andmicrochemistry composition of 14 elements in otoliths of European eel between riverine and lacustrine stocks fromthe Adriatic Basin in Croatia andMontenegro. In terms of morphometry, the shape indices, formfactor and circularity of the sagittal otolith were statistically different between lacustrine and riverine stocks. The European eel is considered to have a small otolith relative size. Canonical variate analysis indicated no statistical differences among the concentrations of trace elements in sagittal otoliths between riverine and lacustrine stocks. However, constrained redundancy analysis suggested a stronger relationship of width, total length, females and the silver stage with the Sr/Ca, Cr/Ca, Ba/Ca and K/Ca ratios of specimens from riverine than lacustrine habitats. Gender and stage dependent variations showed that females were better indicators of relationships between microchemistry composition and intrinsic factors. In conclusion, form factor and circularity of the sagittal otolith was able to distinguish between European eel stocks from different habitats. Also, it seems that the European eels' otolith fingerprint is homogenous, species specific and independent of ecological conditions.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija, Biotehnologija

POVEZANOST RADA