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Fishes
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Application of Otoliths in Fish Ecology and Fisheries
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Application of Otoliths in Fish Ecology and Fisheries

A special issue of Fishes (ISSN 2410-3888). This special issue belongs to the section "Biology and Ecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 2212

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Alberto Teodorico Correia

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Guest Editor
1. Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto (UP), Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
2. Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR), Avenida General Norton de Matos S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
Interests: fish ecology and ecotoxicology; structure, shape and chemistry of fish otoliths; body geometric morphometrics; age, growth and reproduction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Wann-Nian Tzeng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Fisheries Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
Interests: fish otolith; climate change; fisheries oceanography; eel biology and ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Esteban Avigliano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Animal (INPA-CONICET-UBA), Buenos Aires C1427CWO, Argentina
2. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1427CWO, Argentina
3. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1427CWO, Argentina
Interests: fisheries; biodiversity; geochemisty; chemical biology and environmental pollution

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Otoliths have become indispensable tools in modern fish ecology and fisheries science. Their growth patterns, structural patterns, morphological traits, and chemical composition, provide insights that extend far beyond traditional age estimation. By decoding their structural, morphological and chemical signatures, researchers can reconstruct individual life histories, migration pathways, habitat use, stock structure, connectivity patterns, and even responses to environmental change. This Special Issue, Application of Otoliths in Fish Ecology and Fisheries, highlights recent advances in methodologies, case studies, and conceptual frameworks that demonstrate the versatility of otoliths as natural tracers. Contributions explore diverse applications—from understanding population connectivity and stock structure to assessing the impacts of climate variability and anthropogenic pressures on aquatic ecosystems. Holistic and complementary approaches are also welcome, particularly those integrating otolith research with ecological, genetic, and modeling perspectives. The aim of this issue is to showcase the central role of otolith science in supporting sustainable fisheries management and conservation strategies. Ultimately, this collection underscores how otolith-based studies enhance our understanding of fish biology and ecology, offering critical insights for preserving biodiversity and ensuring the long-term resilience of fisheries worldwide.

Dr. Alberto Teodorico Correia
Prof. Dr. Wann-Nian Tzeng
Dr. Esteban Avigliano
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fishes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • fish otoliths
  • fish biology and ecology
  • fisheries science
  • stock structure
  • population connectivity
  • migration pathways
  • aquatic pollution

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 3387 KB  
Article
Revealing Ontogenetic Vertical Migration in Deep-Sea Grenadiers (Macrouridae) from the Southwestern Atlantic Through Otolith Microchemistry
by César Santificetur, Rodolfo Miguel Silva, Ana Méndez, Jorge Pisonero and Alberto Teodorico Correia
Fishes 2026, 11(5), 288; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11050288 - 12 May 2026
Viewed by 140
Abstract
Understanding the life-history strategies of deep-sea fishes is essential for improving ecological knowledge and informing conservation efforts. Using otolith microchemistry, this study reconstructed the ontogenetic movement patterns of four grenadier species (Nezumia aequalis, Hymenocephalus billsam, Coelorinchus marinii, and Malacocephalus [...] Read more.
Understanding the life-history strategies of deep-sea fishes is essential for improving ecological knowledge and informing conservation efforts. Using otolith microchemistry, this study reconstructed the ontogenetic movement patterns of four grenadier species (Nezumia aequalis, Hymenocephalus billsam, Coelorinchus marinii, and Malacocephalus occidentalis) caught in the continental slope off southern Brazil (Southwestern Atlantic). Elemental signatures (Ba:Ca, Sr:Ca, Li:Ca, Mg:Ca, Mn:Ca, Ni:Ca, Cu:Ca, and Zn:Ca) were quantified along core-to-edge transects of sagittal otoliths using Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Ontogenetic shifts were identified using change-point detection (PELT). A general decline in elemental incorporation with age was observed across species, consistent with ontogenetic physiological regulation. Species-specific multi-elemental patterns suggest distinct ecological strategies. Nezumia aequalis exhibited an abrupt decline in Ba:Ca, indicating an early-life environmental shift. Hymenocephalus billsam showed increasing Ba:Ca and Sr:Ca profiles, consistent with continued use of pelagic-associated water masses. Coelorinchus marinii and Malacocephalus occidentalis displayed more complex patterns, with the latter showing pronounced Ba:Ca and Zn:Ca peaks that may reflect mid-life habitat shifts or physiological events. Mn:Ca ratios differed between pelagic and demersal species. Otolith microchemistry combined with change-point analysis could provide insights into deep-sea fish ontogeny, although interpretations should consider both environmental and physiological influences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Otoliths in Fish Ecology and Fisheries)
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18 pages, 4967 KB  
Article
From Core to Edge: Habitat Signatures in the Otoliths of Genidens genidens in the Southwestern Atlantic Estuaries
by Marina Paixão Gil, Mario Vinicius Condini, Maurício Hostim-Silva and Felippe Alexandre Daros
Fishes 2026, 11(4), 247; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11040247 - 18 Apr 2026
Viewed by 349
Abstract
Understanding habitat use and connectivity in estuarine fishes is essential for effective conservation and management. In this study, otolith microchemistry was applied to investigate habitat use and connectivity of the estuarine catfish Genidens genidens across three estuaries in southeastern Brazil. A total of [...] Read more.
Understanding habitat use and connectivity in estuarine fishes is essential for effective conservation and management. In this study, otolith microchemistry was applied to investigate habitat use and connectivity of the estuarine catfish Genidens genidens across three estuaries in southeastern Brazil. A total of 58 individuals were analyzed using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, focusing on strontium-to-calcium (Sr:Ca) and barium-to-calcium (Ba:Ca) ratios. Variations in elemental ratios along otolith transects were used to infer individual ontogenetic patterns along the estuarine–marine gradient. Most individuals exhibited combined use of estuarine and marine environments, while trajectories restricted to freshwater were rare. The apparent complexity of chemical profiles tended to increase with age; however, this pattern disappeared after correction for size-related bias, suggesting that age itself did not significantly influence habitat-use transitions. These patterns are consistent with ecological plasticity and partial migration within populations of G. genidens, although they may also reflect exposure to variable environmental conditions. Sr:Ca ratios were useful indicators of salinity-related transitions, whereas Ba:Ca ratios provided complementary information associated with continental influence. Overall, this study highlights the applicability of otolith microchemistry for investigating habitat-use patterns in estuarine fishes and reinforces the ecological importance of estuaries for feeding, growth, and recruitment in G. genidens, while acknowledging inherent limitations related to environmental variability and proxy interpretation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Otoliths in Fish Ecology and Fisheries)
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13 pages, 3174 KB  
Article
A Case Study of Coilia nasus: Is There a Difference in Microchemical Signatures Between Left and Right Fish Sagittae?
by Chengchao Du, Tao Jiang and Jian Yang
Fishes 2026, 11(3), 146; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11030146 - 2 Mar 2026
Viewed by 423
Abstract
Owing to the asynchronous deposition of trace elements between paired left and right otoliths within individual fish, researchers must consciously and uniformly use only single otoliths (especially the left one) for microchemical studies. To ensure reliability of unilateral otolith data for inferring the [...] Read more.
Owing to the asynchronous deposition of trace elements between paired left and right otoliths within individual fish, researchers must consciously and uniformly use only single otoliths (especially the left one) for microchemical studies. To ensure reliability of unilateral otolith data for inferring the same habitat experiences of individual fish, this study focused on Coilia nasus as a representative case to validate whether the microchemical composition was consistent between left and right sagittal otoliths. Electron probe microanalysis was employed to determine microchemical profiles of Sr and Ca in both otoliths of 20 wild C. nasus specimens of the same age. At the individual level, Sr/Ca ratios in corresponding micro-regions (e.g., core and edge) of bilateral otoliths showed highly significant positive correlations, with approximately 92.59% of paired comparisons showing no significant differences at equivalent life-history stages, demonstrating that microchemical signals recorded by either otolith are highly consistent in both spatial distribution and elemental concentration levels. This study provides evidence of fundamental concordance in microchemical composition between bilateral otoliths within an individual, providing critical references on the methodological foundation for reliably using either the left or right otolith in future studies on otolith microchemistry of fish population connectivity, migration characteristics, and life history reconstruction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Otoliths in Fish Ecology and Fisheries)
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18 pages, 2710 KB  
Article
Morphological Classification of the Sagittal Otoliths of Two Species of Sciaenidae Based on the Landmark Point Method
by Xiaoyu Huang, Liguo Ou, Weiguo Qian and Rijin Jiang
Fishes 2026, 11(1), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11010036 - 8 Jan 2026
Viewed by 680
Abstract
Larimichthys crocea and Larimichthys polyactis, two commercially and ecologically important sciaenid species, are often morphologically confused (especially at the juvenile stage or for incomplete specimens), leading to limitations in traditional morphological taxonomic methods for accurate identification. Otoliths, as stable hard tissues with [...] Read more.
Larimichthys crocea and Larimichthys polyactis, two commercially and ecologically important sciaenid species, are often morphologically confused (especially at the juvenile stage or for incomplete specimens), leading to limitations in traditional morphological taxonomic methods for accurate identification. Otoliths, as stable hard tissues with species-specific morphological characteristics, serve as an ideal tool for species discrimination. To investigate the efficacy of landmark-based methods in extracting morphological information from different surfaces of sagittal otoliths, this study analyzed six surfaces (medial, lateral, dorsal, ventral, anterior, and posterior) of left otoliths from two sciaenid species using geometric morphometrics. We collected 487 sagittal otolith samples from sciaenids in the Zhoushan Islands of the East China Sea (Larimichthys polyactis: 277 specimens; Larimichthys crocea: 210 specimens). Landmark coordinates were extracted using tps-series software, and morphological differences were quantified through principal component analysis (PCA), discriminant analysis, and thin-plate spline visualizations. Key results include: relative warp PCA showed cumulative contributions of PC1 + PC2 at 52.48% (medial), 52.87% (lateral), 71.29% (dorsal), 63.7% (ventral), 64.8% (anterior), and 67.85% (posterior), effectively discriminating species with Type I/III landmarks demonstrating highest contributions; centroid size analysis revealed significantly larger values in L. crocea across all surfaces (most pronounced on medial surface: F = 183.450, p < 0.05); discriminant analysis achieved peak cross-validated success on the medial surface (98.6% for L. polyactis, 95.2% for L. crocea), with other surfaces ranging from 79.6–83.6%. This confirms that multi-surface landmark analysis effectively captures morphological divergence, with the medial surface providing optimal species discrimination. The established method provides a reliable supplementary tool for the taxonomy of L. crocea and L. polyactis, and offers scientific support for fisheries resource survey, population dynamic monitoring, and conservation of these sciaenid species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Otoliths in Fish Ecology and Fisheries)
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