Use of otolith strontium:calcium and zinc:calcium ratio as indicator of habitat of Percophis brasiliensis in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean

AVIGLIANO, E; M.B SAEZ; R. RICO ; A.V. VOLPEDO

NEOTROPICAL ICHTHYOLOGY

SOC BRASILEIRA ICTIOLOGIA

Lugar: Porto Alegre; Año: 2015 vol. 76

1679-6225

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the simultaneous use of Sr:Ca and Zn:Ca ratios of the sagitta otolith as a potential indicator of the habitat of Percophis brasiliensis along a latitudinal gradient in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean (34-42° S and 51-67° W), in order to reliably identify fish stocks. Fish were collected in three sampling sites: Argentine-Uruguayan Common Fishing Zone (AUCFZ), El Rincón (ER) and San Matías Gulf (SMG). The otolith Sr:Ca and Zn:Ca ratios were determined by ICP-OES and EDTA volumetric method. The otolith Sr:Ca ratio was similar in the three sampling sites, while the Zn:Ca ratio was significantly higher in AUCFZ than in ER and SMG for all age groups. The discriminant analysis showed an association between the otolith Sr:Ca and Zn:Ca ratios from ER and SMG. Present results suggest the potential occurrence of two fish stocks of P. brasiliensis in the study area