Radiocarbon in otoliths of tropical marine fishes: Reference Δ14C chronology for north Caribbean waters

Shervette, Virginia R.

Overly, Katherine E.

Rivera Hernández, Jesús M.

2021

Reef fishes support important fisheries throughout the Caribbean, but a combination of factors in the tropics makes otolith microstructure difficult to interpret for age estimation. Therefore, validation of ageing methods, via application of Δ¹⁴C is a major research priority. Utilizing known-age otolith material from north Caribbean fishes, we determined that a distinct regional Δ¹⁴C chronology exists, differing from coral-based chronologies compiled for ageing validation from a wide-ranging area of the Atlantic and from an otolith-based chronology from the Gulf of Mexico. Our north Caribbean Δ¹⁴C chronology established a decline series with narrow prediction intervals that proved successful in ageing validation of three economically important reef fish species. In examining why our north Caribbean Δ¹⁴C chronology differed from some of the coral-based Δ¹⁴C data reported from the region, we determined differences among study objectives and research design impact Δ¹⁴C temporal relationships. This resulted in establishing the first of three important considerations relevant to applying Δ¹⁴C chronologies for ageing validation: 1) evaluation of the applicability of original goal/objectives and study design of potential Δ¹⁴C reference studies. Next, we determined differences between our Δ¹⁴C chronology and those from Florida and the Gulf of Mexico were explained by differences in regional patterns of oceanic upwelling, resulting in the second consideration for future validation work: 2) evaluation of the applicability of Δ¹⁴C reference data to the region/location where fish samples were obtained. Lastly, we emphasize the application of our north Caribbean Δ¹⁴C chronology should be limited to ageing validation studies of fishes from this region known to inhabit shallow water coral habitat as juveniles. Thus, we note the final consideration to strengthen findings of future age validation studies: 3) use of Δ¹⁴C analysis for age validation should be limited to species whose juvenile habitat is known to reflect the regional Δ¹⁴C reference chronology.

Multidisciplinary

CoRIS (Coral Reef Information System)

NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service)

SEFSC (Southeast Fisheries Science Center)

PDF

Journal Article

Reef fishes support important fisheries throughout the Caribbean, but a combination of factors in the tropics makes otolith microstructure difficult to interpret for age estimation. Therefore, validation of ageing methods, via application of Δ¹⁴C is a major research priority. Utilizing known-age otolith material from north Caribbean fishes, we determined that a distinct regional Δ¹⁴C chronology exists, differing from coral-based chronologies compiled for ageing validation from a wide-ranging area of the Atlantic and from an otolith-based chronology from the Gulf of Mexico. Our north Caribbean Δ¹⁴C chronology established a decline series with narrow prediction intervals that proved successful in ageing validation of three economically important reef fish species. In examining why our north Caribbean Δ¹⁴C chronology differed from some of the coral-based Δ¹⁴C data reported from the region, we determined differences among study objectives and research design impact Δ¹⁴C temporal relationships. This resulted in establishing the first of three important considerations relevant to applying Δ¹⁴C chronologies for ageing validation: 1) evaluation of the applicability of original goal/objectives and study design of potential Δ¹⁴C reference studies. Next, we determined differences between our Δ¹⁴C chronology and those from Florida and the Gulf of Mexico were explained by differences in regional patterns of oceanic upwelling, resulting in the second consideration for future validation work: 2) evaluation of the applicability of Δ¹⁴C reference data to the region/location where fish samples were obtained. Lastly, we emphasize the application of our north Caribbean Δ¹⁴C chronology should be limited to ageing validation studies of fishes from this region known to inhabit shallow water coral habitat as juveniles. Thus, we note the final consideration to strengthen findings of future age validation studies: 3) use of Δ¹⁴C analysis for age validation should be limited to species whose juvenile habitat is known to reflect the regional Δ¹⁴C reference chronology.

Grant no. NA15NMF4330157

Grant no. NA18NMF4330239

Grant no. NA18NMF4270203

https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/51807

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251442