IMES
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Ryan Dail - Project Update
As I have mentioned in my previous posts, the sagittal otolith can provide an accurate age of a fish by the rings (2 rings per year) located at the core of the calcified structure. After looking into how the otoliths are cut to be able to see the rings, I found out there is an otolith sectioning process. In most cases, there is a slow speed saw with 4 thin blades to cut the otolith into 3 sections. For consistency, scientists compare the 3 sections and if consistent they will take one of the sections for further research and store the others as an archive.
As I am now finishing up researching otoliths and what they are used for. I am going to spend the rest of the time we have to look into Florida's coastal fisheries. A fishery is defined as a person raising or harvesting a species or type of fish. Since I am doing this project on if there is a relationship between fish otoliths and the regulations set for Florida's coastal fisheries, I will be looking at some of the fish commercially caught just off of Florida's coastline.
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When you go to visit these fisheries will you just be inquiring about their otolith size regulations? Or will you ask them for a few fish specimens to remove and observe the otolith yourself?
ReplyDeleteI'd also like to know more about the saw. How much does it cost and I wonder where I might get one for our lab?--how easy would it be for a student to cut-off a finger :-/
ReplyDeletewhat are the otoliths made of? What is the smallest otolith the saw can cut?
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