Evidence of diadromy in the French Polynesian Kuhlia malo (Teleostei: Percoidei) inferred from otolith microchemistry analysis |
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| Authors: | Pierre Feutry Philippe Keith Christophe Pécheyran Fanny Claverie Tony Robinet |
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| Institution: | 1. Département Milieux et Peuplements Aquatiques, Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (UMR CNRS‐MNHN 7208), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CP‐026, 43 Rue Cuvier, Paris, France;2. IPREM/LCABIE UMR 5254 Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour‐ CNRS 2 avenue Angot, Hélioparc Pau Pyrénées, Pau Cedex 9, France;3. Département Milieux et Peuplements Aquatiques, Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (UMR CNRS‐MNHN 7208), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Station de biologie marine de Concarneau, Place de la Croix, Concarneau, France |
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| Abstract: | Abstract – Strontium/Calcium (Sr/Ca) and Barium/Calcium (Ba/Ca) ratios were measured in 60 otoliths of the French Polynesian flagtail Kuhlia malo. Both elemental ratios were needed to correctly distinguish residence in marine, brackish and fresh water. High Sr/Ca and low Ba/Ca around the nucleus of all otoliths provided evidence of marine residency during the early life of all individuals. At about 0.5 mm from the core, Ba/Ca increased rapidly and remained high in all otoliths. High and unstable Sr/Ca ratios were attributed to estuarine residency, whereas low and stable Sr/Ca ratios were attributed to freshwater residency. These chemical signatures inferred that following recruitment to rivers, some fish remained in the estuary, while others moved upstream. Some individuals shared their time between fresh and brackish waters later in life. The findings of this study have important implications for the protection of nearshore, brackish and freshwater environments for the conservation of this French Polynesian diadromous species. |
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| Keywords: | diadromy Kuhlia malo otolith Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca femtosecond laser ablation ICP‐MS |
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