Microstructural growth patterns in the otoliths of larval and juvenile starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus

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Abstract
Microstructural growth patterns were examined and interpreted in the otoliths of both wild and laboratory-reared starry flounders, Platichthys stellatus. Growth increments were not formed with a daily periodicity in laboratory-reared larvae. However, increment counts increased with the degree of sample preparation, suggesting that increments near the resolving limit of light microscopy were not being observed. Increments in wild flounder sagittae were more clearly defined under both light and electron microscopy; in addition, larval and juvenile growth patterns could be easily differentiated. A transition zone between the growth regions corresponded to the size and age at metamorphosis. An increase of increment width with larval age resulted from a curvilinear relationship between otolith diameter and fish size. Larval growth rates of wild fish remained relatively constant at 0.25 mm/day until metamorphosis; juvenile growth rates were substantially higher. Metamorphosis was characterized by a sudden but temporary decline in growth rate.

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