Otoliths result from the accretion of aragonite (CaCO3) and grow by the deposition of daily and annual increments throughout the life of the fish by elements such as Sr, Mg, Mn and Ba, which occur at a relatively high abundance in calcified structures. These are accompanied by trace elements derived from the surrounding water, thus fish otoliths are ideal biological proxy tracers of physico-chemical conditions in elucidating fish habitats histories (Sr:Ca ratios). They can be used to draw inferences about past heavy metal exposure with X-ray fluorescence (XRF) methods allowing for nondestructive otolith surface maps of the elemental distributions feasible for approximate elemental concentrations. These values were compared to whole fined ground otolith samples by XRF elemental analysis and ICP MS analysis. Fish were harvested from waters of Narragansett Bay, RI and the estuarine environment reflected in their otolith Sr:Ca mmol:mol ratios values 4-7. The composition of these otoliths Mn, Ag, Ni, and Fe remained constant across the harvest locations and year, while there was variation concentration of Cu 30ppm (± 50%).

XRF analysis of the otolith: A potential environmental bioindicator of salinity and toxic metal exposure

251st National Meeting (2016)

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