Daily Growth Rings in Otoliths of Young-of-the-Year Largemouth Bass

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Daily rings were found in the otoliths of laboratory‐raised, young‐of‐the‐year largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides for at least 151 days after swim‐up. Ring formation began at hatching but the total complement of prolarval rings was visible for only 10–15 days after swim‐up. Subdaily rings were visible in the posterior field but were easily distinguished from daily rings. Both high‐ and low‐contrast tissues were present in otoliths from fish over 45 days old. Sagittal and frontal sections yielded ages of similar accuracy but sagittal sections were much easier and faster to prepare and nearly twice as many were readable. Otolith growth was directly proportional to body growth and the regression intercept was not substantially different from 0.