Growth resolution of antarctic fish
Kim, H., L. Binder, and J. L. Rosenbaum. 1979. The periodic association of MAP, with brain microtubules in vitro. Journal of Cell Biology, 80, 266 - 276. Langford, G.M. 1978. In vitro assembly of dogfish brain tubulin and the induction of coiled ribbon polymers by calcium. Experimental Cell Research, 111, 139 - 151. Maccioni, R.B., and W. Mellado. 1981. Characteristics of the in vitro assembly of brain tubulin of Cyprinus carpio. Comparative Biochemistry
and Physiology, 70B, 375 - 380. Vallee, R.B. 1982. A taxol-dependent procedure for isolation of microtubules and microtubule-associated proteins (MAPS). Journal of Cell
Growth resolution of antarctic fish
Otoliths have been used for yearly age determinations in temperate fish through visualization of opaque and hyaline zones. This internal arrangement of components results from seasonally controlled periods of growth. However, in antarctic fish very little temperature seasonality is present. This has made it difficult to determine the age of antarctic fish and, consequently, has led to frustration in the determination of lifehistory information. Pannella (1971) found micro-increments in the otoliths of fishes and postulated that the micro-increments were daily in occurrence. Since then, daily increments have been found in a large number of fish species. Townsend (1980) first reported that otolith microstructure is found in antarctic fish and suggested that these micro-increments represent daily growth patterns as in other fishes. This study has been expanded by Radtke and Targett (1984) to make it possible to devise a growth model for the antarctic fish, Notothenia larseni. The present research is a further expansion in the use of otolith microstructure to provide growth information. In this study, we have investigated the microstructure in the otoliths of dominant antarctic fish and have validated daily increments in Notothenia gibberifrons, Trematomus newnesi, and Chaenocephalus aceratus through the use of tetracycline to mark the otoliths. By examining the daily increments (figure 2), we have been able to distinguish growth stanzas and eliminate the ambiguity of growth determinations. Our research has demonstrated that antarctic fish grow slowly and that daily increments in otoliths have the ability to record long-term activity in both adult and larval fishes. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) examinations of otolith internal structure has increased the resolution of daily increment enumeration and has made it possible to survey the core region of a fish's otolith and, thus, to determine growth history (figure 3) and to define events which have affected growth. Later, results of our SEM studies will be compared with results of other SEM studies of fish of different trophic levels to analyze the differences in growth rates and patterns. Applying the SEM techniques to the study of otoliths has added a new dimension to antarctic fish population studies. The captain and crew of the RIV Polar Duke and the Palmer Station personnel are acknowledged for their help with sampling and logistics. Craig Rowland and Scott Folsom helped with data analyses. A special thanks is due to the Director of Polar Programs for permitting the senior author to travel to Palmer Station despite being handicapped. This research was supported by National Science Foundation grant DPP 82-14492.
R. L. RADTKE Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology University of Hawaii Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744 T. E. TARGETT
University of Delaware College of Marine Studies Lewes, Delaware 19958
J.L. BELL Pacific Biomedical Research Center Kewalo Marine Laboratory University of Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Not much is known about the processes by which antarctic fish function within their ecosystem. To learn more about this group of fish, which has no counterpart anywhere in the world, a detailed investigation of growth is needed. Historically, growth processes of antarctic fish have been determined by collecting fish of various sizes. These methods measure only contemporary situations rather than past environmental conditions which may have profoundly affected population dynamics. The fish's growth record and concomitant environmental factors may be available, however, from the fish's otoliths when the proper techniques are employed. The otoliths of fish are six calcium carbonate concretions in the aragonite crystal form (Irie 1955; Degens, Deuser, and Haedrich 1969; Radtke 1984). Three otoliths (sagitta, lapillus, and asteriscus) are found on each side of the brain cavity in the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear (Lowenstein 1971; Popper and Coombs 1980). The location of otoliths in relation to the brain of the icefish, Chaenocephalus aceratus, is shown in figure 1. The largest otolith, the sagitta (identified by the arrow), is pecies specific (Hecht 1978) and is the otolith most used in age determination. In this study, we are using all six otoliths to provide growth information. 1985 REVIEW
Biology, 92, 435 - 442. Williams, R. C., Jr., and H. W. Detrich, III. In press. Presumptive
and "cold-stable" microtubules from antarctic marine poikilotherms. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
MAP'S
157
Figure 1. Location of otoliths within the brain area of the icefish, otoliths, the sagittae.
Chaenocephalus aceratus. Arrows denote the sacks which contain the largest
tv
SS'S
'SS'S SSS
"kS'
55
30 pm Figure 2. Daily increments from the sagitta of the icefish, Chaenocephalus acertaus, viewed by light microscopy. Visualization of increments made it possible to age antarctic fish. ("tim" denotes "micrometer:') 158
ANTARCTIC JOURNAL
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Figure 3. Scanning electron micrograph of the core regions of a sagitta of the antarctic fish Trematomas newnesi. Examination of the rugose surface from prepared otoliths provided life history information. ("tim" denotes "micrometer.)
References Degens, E.T., W.G. Deuser, and R.L. I-Iaedrich. 1969. Molecular structure and composition of fish otoliths. Marine Biology, 2, 105-113. Irie, T. 1955. The crystal texture of the otolith of a marine teleost, Pseudosciaena. Journal of the Faculty of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, Hiroshima University, 1, 1 - 13.
Hecht, T. 1978. A descriptive systematic study of the otoliths of the neopterygean marine fishes of South Africa. Part I. Introduction. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, 43, 191 - 197. Lowenstein, 0. 1971. The labyrinth. In W.S. Hoar and D.J. Randall (Eds.), Fish physiology, (Vol. 5). New York: Academic Press.
1985 REVIEW
Pannella, C. 1971. Fish otoliths: Daily growth layers and periodical patterns. Science, 173, 1124 - 1127. Popper, A. N., and S. Coombs. 1980 Auditor mechanism in teleost fish. American Scientist, 68, 429-440. Radtke, R.L. 1984. Cod fish otoliths: Information storage structures. In E. Dahl, D.S. Danielssen, E. Moksness, and P. Solemdal (Eds.), The Propagation of Cod Gadus morhua L., (Vol. 1). Norway: Flodevigen rapportser. Radtke, R.L., and T.F. Targett. 1984. Rhythmic structural and chemical patterns in otoliths of Antarctic fish Notothenia larseni: Their application to age determination. Polar Biology, 3, 203 - 210. Townsend, D.W. 1980. Microstructural growth increments in some Antarctic fish otoliths. Cybium 3e Ser, 8, 17 - 23.
159
and Physiology, 70B, 375 - 380. Vallee, R.B. 1982. A taxol-dependent procedure for isolation of microtubules and microtubule-associated proteins (MAPS). Journal of Cell
Growth resolution of antarctic fish
Otoliths have been used for yearly age determinations in temperate fish through visualization of opaque and hyaline zones. This internal arrangement of components results from seasonally controlled periods of growth. However, in antarctic fish very little temperature seasonality is present. This has made it difficult to determine the age of antarctic fish and, consequently, has led to frustration in the determination of lifehistory information. Pannella (1971) found micro-increments in the otoliths of fishes and postulated that the micro-increments were daily in occurrence. Since then, daily increments have been found in a large number of fish species. Townsend (1980) first reported that otolith microstructure is found in antarctic fish and suggested that these micro-increments represent daily growth patterns as in other fishes. This study has been expanded by Radtke and Targett (1984) to make it possible to devise a growth model for the antarctic fish, Notothenia larseni. The present research is a further expansion in the use of otolith microstructure to provide growth information. In this study, we have investigated the microstructure in the otoliths of dominant antarctic fish and have validated daily increments in Notothenia gibberifrons, Trematomus newnesi, and Chaenocephalus aceratus through the use of tetracycline to mark the otoliths. By examining the daily increments (figure 2), we have been able to distinguish growth stanzas and eliminate the ambiguity of growth determinations. Our research has demonstrated that antarctic fish grow slowly and that daily increments in otoliths have the ability to record long-term activity in both adult and larval fishes. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) examinations of otolith internal structure has increased the resolution of daily increment enumeration and has made it possible to survey the core region of a fish's otolith and, thus, to determine growth history (figure 3) and to define events which have affected growth. Later, results of our SEM studies will be compared with results of other SEM studies of fish of different trophic levels to analyze the differences in growth rates and patterns. Applying the SEM techniques to the study of otoliths has added a new dimension to antarctic fish population studies. The captain and crew of the RIV Polar Duke and the Palmer Station personnel are acknowledged for their help with sampling and logistics. Craig Rowland and Scott Folsom helped with data analyses. A special thanks is due to the Director of Polar Programs for permitting the senior author to travel to Palmer Station despite being handicapped. This research was supported by National Science Foundation grant DPP 82-14492.
R. L. RADTKE Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology University of Hawaii Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744 T. E. TARGETT
University of Delaware College of Marine Studies Lewes, Delaware 19958
J.L. BELL Pacific Biomedical Research Center Kewalo Marine Laboratory University of Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Not much is known about the processes by which antarctic fish function within their ecosystem. To learn more about this group of fish, which has no counterpart anywhere in the world, a detailed investigation of growth is needed. Historically, growth processes of antarctic fish have been determined by collecting fish of various sizes. These methods measure only contemporary situations rather than past environmental conditions which may have profoundly affected population dynamics. The fish's growth record and concomitant environmental factors may be available, however, from the fish's otoliths when the proper techniques are employed. The otoliths of fish are six calcium carbonate concretions in the aragonite crystal form (Irie 1955; Degens, Deuser, and Haedrich 1969; Radtke 1984). Three otoliths (sagitta, lapillus, and asteriscus) are found on each side of the brain cavity in the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear (Lowenstein 1971; Popper and Coombs 1980). The location of otoliths in relation to the brain of the icefish, Chaenocephalus aceratus, is shown in figure 1. The largest otolith, the sagitta (identified by the arrow), is pecies specific (Hecht 1978) and is the otolith most used in age determination. In this study, we are using all six otoliths to provide growth information. 1985 REVIEW
Biology, 92, 435 - 442. Williams, R. C., Jr., and H. W. Detrich, III. In press. Presumptive
and "cold-stable" microtubules from antarctic marine poikilotherms. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
MAP'S
157
Figure 1. Location of otoliths within the brain area of the icefish, otoliths, the sagittae.
Chaenocephalus aceratus. Arrows denote the sacks which contain the largest
tv
SS'S
'SS'S SSS
"kS'
55
30 pm Figure 2. Daily increments from the sagitta of the icefish, Chaenocephalus acertaus, viewed by light microscopy. Visualization of increments made it possible to age antarctic fish. ("tim" denotes "micrometer:') 158
ANTARCTIC JOURNAL
f/ '
nP
k4t'111 -1
I
/
-
4
*
* r
Aw'
.
kft
T;
-.ZA
V
01
s :
•
4*
-
W,
.r •
Ai
2OIJn
•-
Figure 3. Scanning electron micrograph of the core regions of a sagitta of the antarctic fish Trematomas newnesi. Examination of the rugose surface from prepared otoliths provided life history information. ("tim" denotes "micrometer.)
References Degens, E.T., W.G. Deuser, and R.L. I-Iaedrich. 1969. Molecular structure and composition of fish otoliths. Marine Biology, 2, 105-113. Irie, T. 1955. The crystal texture of the otolith of a marine teleost, Pseudosciaena. Journal of the Faculty of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, Hiroshima University, 1, 1 - 13.
Hecht, T. 1978. A descriptive systematic study of the otoliths of the neopterygean marine fishes of South Africa. Part I. Introduction. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, 43, 191 - 197. Lowenstein, 0. 1971. The labyrinth. In W.S. Hoar and D.J. Randall (Eds.), Fish physiology, (Vol. 5). New York: Academic Press.
1985 REVIEW
Pannella, C. 1971. Fish otoliths: Daily growth layers and periodical patterns. Science, 173, 1124 - 1127. Popper, A. N., and S. Coombs. 1980 Auditor mechanism in teleost fish. American Scientist, 68, 429-440. Radtke, R.L. 1984. Cod fish otoliths: Information storage structures. In E. Dahl, D.S. Danielssen, E. Moksness, and P. Solemdal (Eds.), The Propagation of Cod Gadus morhua L., (Vol. 1). Norway: Flodevigen rapportser. Radtke, R.L., and T.F. Targett. 1984. Rhythmic structural and chemical patterns in otoliths of Antarctic fish Notothenia larseni: Their application to age determination. Polar Biology, 3, 203 - 210. Townsend, D.W. 1980. Microstructural growth increments in some Antarctic fish otoliths. Cybium 3e Ser, 8, 17 - 23.
159
