Otolith collection from adult and juvenile Caranx caninus, Lutjanus argentiventris and Lutjanus novemfasciatus fishes in Barra de Navidad, Mexico

This project is a data collection project; the collected data will be part of a greater project that will aim to demonstrate using microchemistry that commercially important fish stocks of Caranx caninus, Lutjanus argentiventris and Lutjanus novemfasciatus that are regularly fished from Bahía de Navidad use Barra de Navidad lagoon as a nursery area. Adults fished from Bahía de Navidad will be bought from local fisherman, and juveniles will be caught from Barra de Navidad. Samples will be processed; otoliths (small bones) will be removed, and weights and measurements of the fishes will be taken. These results will eventually be used for a larger project that will analyze and compare Strontium concentrations found in the otoliths of the adults and juveniles. Saltwater contains several times more Strontium than freshwater, and this element is retained by continuously growing otoliths in the fish proportionally to the ambient level. Therefore, analyzing concentrations of Strontium from otoliths allows us to see if the fish has spent time in fresh, estuarine, and/or saltwater, and during which part of its life.

Faculty Supervisor:

Allen Curry

Student:

Partner:

Universidad de Guadalajara

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

University of New Brunswick

Program: