Estimating the age of Antarctic larval fish from otolith microstructure using light and electron microscopy

摘要

Larval fish of Antarctica have very narrow rings on their otoliths (<1 μm) that may not be resolved with light microscopy. In this study, age data from the otoliths of larval Nototheniidae (Gobionotothen gibberifronsandLepidonotothenlarseni), determined using light and scanning electron microscopy, are compared. Rings 0.4 μm wide were observed on otoliths viewed under electron microscopy; however, light microscopy could only resolve rings ⩾ 0.5 μm wide. Scanning electron microscopy is more time consuming and costly than light microscopy but has greater resolving power and is recommended to validate ring counts made using light microscopy in otolith studies with Antarctic larval