Validation of a simple and well‐suited chemical cleaning method for fish otoliths. (7th August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vandenbussche, Pierre S.P.; Spennato, Guillaume; Francour, Patrice; Pierson, Patricia M.
• Is Part Of: Acta zoologica. Volume 99:Number 3(2018:Jul.)
• Page Start: 258
• Page End: 262
• Publication Date: 2017-08-07
• Subjects: fish -- NaOH -- otolith -- sodium hydroxide -- tissue removing; Zoology -- Periodicals; 590
• DOI: 10.1111/azo.12209
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0001-7272

Abstract

Abstract: In marine biology, many research fields are based on use of fish otoliths. All the studies dealing with otoliths need as starting point a perfectly clean otolith. Dissection is difficult when working on small or highly jagged otoliths. A common problem is that during otolith preparation some fish tissue may remain stuck to it, even after a mechanical cleaning. Then, supplementary cleaning with chemicals is needed. Classical methods are known to possibly alter otolith's structure and/or composition. Here, we present a chemical cleaning method using only sodium hydroxide. We have validated the method on two different fish species, Oblada melanura and Dicentrarchus labrax . Observation and analyses of morphological measurements have confirmed significant suppression of residual tissues. We propose this method as a good alternative to previously published mono‐ or multichemical methods.