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Demographic analysis of fish populations rely on age-structured information.Within age and growth studies, research on the growth and composition of fish otoliths has enabled researchers to reconstruct the responses of fishes to their physical and biological environments. It is well known that the microstructure of otoliths contains lamellar structures that accurately record yearly and daily growth.

Growth rings in scales, otoliths, opercular bones, fin rays and vertebrae have been used to age fish for a long time. The finding of Pannella in the early 1970's that many teleost fish deposit otolith growth increments with a 24h periodicity, was a major step forward in assessing age and growth with greater accuracy and precision. Deposition of daily increments appears to be a universal phenomenon under all but the most severe conditions. The field of otolith microstructure research is now an accepted, and in most cases, a preferred tool for the study of fish.

	Engraulis encrasicolus larval otolith
	Sardina pilchardus larval otolith
	Sprattus sprattus larval otolith

Applications of information derived from otolith microstructure are numerous:

(i) age determination;
(ii) daily growth rate estimations - population (integrated) and individual growth;
(iii) mortality and recruitment;
(iv) migratory and environmental history;
(v) life history events;
(vi) condition;
(vii) taxonomy and stock structure

Otolith Research Laboratory (How to mount and study a larval otolith)

2 Pentium-based PCs (128Mb Ram) 10Gb disc storage

17" and 19 monitor working at 1024x768 and 1280x1024 resolutions

High resolution (1280x1024) digital video camera (Olympus DP10)

Dissecting and compound microscopes (Wild M5A and Olympus BH-2)

B&W laser and colour printers (HP5L and Epson Stylus color 400)

Colour scanner (HP Scanjet 4C)

Image Pro Plus Software

Larval and juvenile otolith microstructure studies (mainly Clupeoids).

Recruitment and mortality studies

Age validation studies

Photographic atlas of larval fish otolith