Multiscale analysis on otolith structural features reveals differences in ontogenesis and sex in Merluccius merluccius in the western Adriatic Sea

Royal Society Open Science

Jaap Kaandorp¹  Robert G. Belleman¹  Steven Raaijmakers¹  Simona Fermani²  Quinzia Palazzo²  Giuseppe Falini²  Jörg U. Hammel³  Marco Stagioni⁴  Fiorella Prada⁵  Stefano Goffredo⁵ 

[1] Computational Science Lab, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Department of Chemistry ‘Giacomo Ciamician’, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy;Institute of Materials Physics, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Straße 1, Geesthacht, D-21502, Germany;Laboratory of Fisheries and Marine Biology at Fano, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Adriatico 1/N, 61032, Fano, Italy;Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy;

关键词: Merluccius merluccius;    Adriatic sea;    ecomorphology;    micro-CT scanning;    functional morphology;    sagitta;   

DOI  :  10.1098/rsos.211943

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Otolith biomineralization results from biochemical processes regulated by the interaction of internal (physiological) and external (environmental) factors which lead to morphological and ultrastructural variability at intra- and interspecific levels. The aim of this study was to conduct a multi-scale analysis of the sagittal otoliths of the Merlucius merlucius (European hake) from the western Adriatic Sea in order to correlate otolith features with fish ontogeny and sex. We show that otoliths of sexually undifferentiated (non-sexed) individuals having a fish body total length (TL) less than 15 cm had faster growth in length, width, area, perimeter, volume and weight and a higher amount of organic matrix compared with otoliths of sexually differentiated individuals (females and males) having a fish size range of 15–50 cm. Most importantly, with increasing fish TL, female saccular otoliths contained a higher number of protuberances and rougher surface compared with male specimens, which showed more uniform mean curvature density. The differences between females and males discovered in this study could be associated with fish hearing adaptation to reproductive behavioural strategies during the spawning season. The outcomes of this research provide insights on how size and sex-related variations in otolith features may be affected by fish ecological and behavioural patterns.

【 授权许可】

Unknown