Isotopes Inside Salmon Ear Tell a Fishy Story
SEAFOODNEWS.COM [ZME Science] May 18, 2015
According to a new study, just like tree rings carry with them hints about previous dry or rainy years, bones in fish carry with them a specific signature which records the chemical composition of the waters they used to live in.Most vertebrates, especially fish, have what is called an ‘otolith’ – a specific bony structure inside the inner ear. The otolith accretes layers of calcium carbonate and gelatinous matrix throughout the entire life. The accretion rate varies with growth of the fish – often less growth in winter and more in summer – which results in the appearance of rings that resemble tree rings; and just like with tree rings, scientists can figure out the age. Another interesting fact is that the otolith ...
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