La Tour du Valat

Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes

Titre :	Use of Regenerated Scales and Scale Marginal Increments as Indicators of Recent Dietary History in Fish
Auteurs :	Matthew P. Hammond, Auteur ; Candida Savage, Auteur
Type de document :	Article
Dans :	Estuaries and Coasts (32(2) MAR 2009)
Article en page(s) :	340-349
Résumé :	The potential of teleost scales as indicator tissues of recent dietary history was investigated in the estuarine fish, Notolabrus celidotus. Treatment fish were fed a (15)N-enriched bivalve diet (delta(15)N = 108.8aEuro degrees) for up to 90 days to examine integration of the dietary source signature in scale margin, regenerated scale, and dorsal muscle tissues. Regenerated scales exhibited the greatest and most rapid enrichment in delta(15)N (to 53.4 +/- 5.0aEuro degrees) of the tissues examined. Scale margin delta(15)N signatures also increased significantly from 14.5aEuro degrees to 30.9 +/- 6.0aEuro degrees, while muscle tissue only increased by 2.8aEuro degrees after 90 days. Dietary contribution models suggested that isotopic equilibration of dietary nitrogen would be most rapid in regenerated scales, followed by scale marginal increments and then muscle. In conclusion, teleost scales hold considerable potential as novel, nondestructive indicators of recent dietary history, yet currently face constraints from uncertainties in isotopic integration mechanisms.

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