The forgotten element: Why do we ignore calcium in otolith studies?

Sammanfattning

Typical analyses of otolith microchemistry use calcium, a major constituent, as an internal standard, setting its value as a constant and ignoring any potential variations. In fact, patterns do occur in otolith Ca deposition, as can be observed either by repeating the analysis, by creating two-dimensional maps of Ca, or both. Here we present evidence of Ca variations in fish otoliths from analyses using synchrotron-based scanning X-ray fluorescence microscopy, electron microprobe analysis, and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). 2-D maps of otoliths created with LA-ICP-MS indicate that Ca is elevated where especially Zn and P are low, and vice versa, suggesting that spatial variations in protein deposition may affect concentrations of Ca. We encourage others to examine Ca concentrations in their biomineralized samples to check for variations, using LA-ICP-MS and other methods.

Nyckelord

Calcium; Internal standard; 2-D elemental mapping; Multiple analytical approaches

Publicerad i

Fisheries Research
2025, volym: 283, artikelnummer: 107297

SLU författare

• Limburg, Karin

  • Institutionen för akvatiska resurser (SLU Aqua), Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    
  • State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF)

• Heimbrand, Yvette

  • Institutionen för akvatiska resurser (SLU Aqua), Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Blass, Martina

  • Institutionen för akvatiska resurser (SLU Aqua), Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

UKÄ forskningsämne

Biokemi
Fisk- och akvakulturforskning

Publikationens identifierare

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2025.107297

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/141150