Otolith morphogenesis during the early life stages of fish is temperature-dependent: Validation by experimental approach applied to European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax).

Otolith shape is often used as a tool in fish stock identification. The goal of this study was to experimentally assess the influence of changing temperature and ontogenic evolution on the shape component of the European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) otolith during early-life stages. A total of 1079 individuals were reared in a water temperature of 16°C up to 232 days post hatch (dph).

Heterogeneity of otolith chemical composition from two-dimensional mapping: Relationship with biomineralization mechanisms and implications for microchemistry analyses.

Although otoliths are widely used as archives to infer life-history traits and habitat use in fishes, their biomineralization process remains poorly understood. This lack of knowledge is problematic as it can lead to misinterpretation of the different types of signals (e.g.

Coupling spectral analysis and hidden Markov models for the segmentation of behavioural patterns.

Background: Movement pattern variations are reflective of behavioural switches, likely associated with different life history traits in response to the animals' abiotic and biotic environment. Detecting these can provide rich information on the underlying processes driving animal movement patterns. However, extracting these signals from movement time series, requires tools that objectively extract, describe and quantify these behaviours.

Preparation techniques alter the mineral and organic fractions of fish otoliths: insights using Raman micro-spectrometry.

The high spatial resolution analysis of the mineral and organic composition of otoliths using Raman micro-spectrometry involves rigorous protocols for sample preparation previously established for microchemistry and trace elements analyses. These protocols often include otolith embedding in chemically neutral resin (i.e.

Shedding light on fish otolith biomineralization using a bioenergetic approach.

Otoliths are biocalcified bodies connected to the sensory system in the inner ears of fish. Their layered, biorhythm-following formation provides individual records of the age, the individual history and the natural environment of extinct and living fish species. Such data are critical for ecosystem and fisheries monitoring.

Understanding otolith biomineralization processes: new insights into microscale spatial distribution of organic and mineral fractions from Raman microspectrometry.

It is generally accepted that the formation of otolith microstructures (L- and D-zones) and in particular the organic and mineral fractions vary on a daily basis. Raman microspectrometry provides a nondestructive technique that can be used to provide structural information on organic and mineral compounds. We applied it to thin otolith sections of hake in order to address the following issues: (1) the simultaneous characterization of variations in the organic and mineral fractions both in the core area and along successive otolith microstructures; (2) elucidation of significant differences between these fractions; (3) quantification of the effects of etching and staining protocols on otolith structures.

Characterization and variations of organic parameters in teleost fish endolymph during day-night cycle, starvation and stress conditions.

The aim of the present work was to examine the modifications of the organic composition of fish endolymph under environmental conditions (day-night cycle, starvation and Cl2-stress) known to modify otolith growth. Endolymph electrophoretic patterns were compared. An antibody raised against the trout otolith organic matrix allowed examining the variations of organic matrix precursors in the endolymph under the above conditions.