Otolith Rings

A new study published in ‘Nature’, tried to predict the effects of climate change on the physiological performance and distribution of organisms by studying the Otoliths.

Otolith – They are small, white bio-mineralized ear stones in the head.Small calcium carbonate crystals are accumulated every day as very thin layers over a tiny core, and this forms an otolith.

They are found in all fishes other than sharks, rays and lampreys but their shape and morphology is unique to each fish species.
It contributes to both hearing and vestibular function in fish.

Significance – When the fish dies the otoliths are preserved, separated from the decomposed fish body, and buried in the sediments of the sea floor unaffected for thousands of years.It records the age and growth of a fish from the date of hatch to the time of death and also reveals about fish’s health.

- Oxygen isotopes – It indicate the temperature the fish experienced when it was alive.
- Carbon isotopes – It reveal how quickly food was converted into energy.

Otoliths relevance in climate change - Animals’ energy needs shift with temperature and studying the otoliths can help us predict which animals are most at risk from rising temperatures.

Atlantic bluefin tuna in warmer waters had lower metabolic rates, showing that their bodies were unable to keep up with the energy costs of living in temperatures over 28°C.

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