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Analysis of otolith Sr-87/Sr-86 to elucidate salinity histories of Nurseryfish Kurtus gulliveri (Perciformes:Kurtidae) in a tropical lowland river in northern Australia

Crook, David A., Wedd, Dion and Berra, Tim M. (2015). Analysis of otolith Sr-87/Sr-86 to elucidate salinity histories of Nurseryfish Kurtus gulliveri (Perciformes:Kurtidae) in a tropical lowland river in northern Australia. Freshwater Science,34(2):609-619.

Document type: Journal Article
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IRMA ID 75039815xPUB991
Title Analysis of otolith Sr-87/Sr-86 to elucidate salinity histories of Nurseryfish Kurtus gulliveri (Perciformes:Kurtidae) in a tropical lowland river in northern Australia
Author Crook, David A.
Wedd, Dion
Berra, Tim M.
Journal Name Freshwater Science
Publication Date 2015
Volume Number 34
Issue Number 2
ISSN 2161-9565   (check CDU catalogue  open catalogue search in new window)
Start Page 609
End Page 619
Total Pages 11
Place of Publication United States of America
Publisher University of Chicago Press
HERDC Category C1 - Journal Article (DIISR)
Abstract The Nurseryfish Kurtus gulliveri is found in estuarine and freshwater reaches of tropical rivers in northern Australia and southern New Guinea. Nurseryfish have been recorded in salinities ranging from freshwater to seawater (salinity <0.5–36‰), but almost nothing is known of their movements. We conducted core-to-edge transect analyses of 87Sr/86Sr in the otoliths of 16 male and 14 female Nurseryfish collected from a tropical river in northern Australia to examine their movements across a freshwater–estuarine salinity gradient. Comparisons between water and otolith 87Sr/86Sr showed that most fish had 87Sr/86Sr values indicative of periods of saline (salinity > 4‰) residence during their early life history, usually followed by a distinct transition into brackish (0.5–4‰) or fresh water (<0.5‰) later in life. No differences were discernible between the salinity histories of male and female Nurseryfish. Analysis of the relationship between the otolith core-to-edge distance and fish mass indicated that most growth occurred in brackish water. We conclude that Nurseryfish are euryhaline rather than diadromous and that analysis of water and otolith 87Sr/86Sr is an effective method for assessing the movements of tropical riverine fishes and the potential importance of fish migration in driving foodweb subsidies.
Keywords Otolith chemistry
Strontium
Euryhaline
Diadromy
Migration
Estuary
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/681022   (check subscription with CDU E-Gateway service for CDU Staff and Students  check subscription with CDU E-Gateway in new window)
 
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