title: Is otolith microchemistry (Sr: Ca and Ba:Ca ratios) useful to identify Mugil curema populations in the southeastern Caribbean Sea?
abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential use of otolith microchemistry (Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca ratios) to identify silver mullet, Mugil curema, populations in Southeastern Caribbean Sea. Fish samples were collected in 7 areas of Nueva Esparta State (Venezuela). The otolith Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca ratios and water Sr:Ca were determined (by ICP-OES and EDTA volumetric method). Otoliths Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca ratios and Sr:Ca partition coefficient of mullets in Cubagua island (south of the State) were significantly different from ratios in La Guardia (north of the State). A discriminant analysis of otolith Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca ratios separated Cubagua Island from La Guardia values. These results suggest the existence of different mullet groups in the Southeastern Caribbean Sea. For this, the simultaneous use of Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca ratios could be a potential tool to identify populations in the study area.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Animal, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Avigliano
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Animal, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Callicó-Fortunato
authors.affiliation: Estación de Investigaciones Marinas de Margarita, Fundación La Salle de Ciencias Naturales, Punta de Piedras, Nueva Esparta, Venezuela.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buitrago
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Animal, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Volpedo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001464:Barium / Q000032:analysis*; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis*; D017691:Caribbean Region; D017753:Ecosystem; D008832:Microchemistry; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D023701:Smegmamorpha / Q000502:physiology*; D013324:Strontium / Q000032:analysis*; D014687:Venezuela
chemical_list: D001464:Barium; D002118:Calcium; D013324:Strontium