Abstract
We describe the microincrements, checks and annuli in the lapilli of the schizothoracine Ptychobarbus dipogon, an endemic species of the Tibetan plateau. We collected samples in the Yarlung Tsangpo River and its tributaries on a monthly basis (from April 2004 to August 2006). We describe the shape features of the three pairs of otoliths and document the full trajectory of lapillus development. We found that five to seven checks were clearly visible in the opaque zone of the first annulus. The pattern of 21–23 daily growth increments within each check might be explained as a lunar-induced deposition. We counted between 137 and 154 increments within the first annulus. Annuli appeared as a sequence of gradually declining increment widths, whereas false rings were characterized by abrupt checks. Our oldest estimates were 23+years for males and 44+ for females. The time of annulus completion was clearly between March and April each year using monthly marginal increments analysis. We consider the factors responsible for daily increment formation as an endogenous circadian rhythm. Environmental information, such as strong sunlight and cold water temperatures in the Tibetan Plateau, could reinforce the endogenous daily cycle. Our results provided important data addressing the ecology and population dynamics of P. dipogon.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Fuhua Hao, Yintao Jia and Chengzhi Ding provided assistance in collecting specimens. This research was supported by the Knowledge Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (grant no. KSCX2-SW-125; KSCX1-SW-13-04) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 30471345). Additional sincerely thanks are extended to Prof. Songguang Xie and Prof. Weisong Feng for their kind help in laboratory work and several anonymous reviewers for their valuable advice on the manuscript.
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Li, X., Chen, Y., He, D. et al. Otolith characteristics and age determination of an endemic Ptychobarbus dipogon (Regan, 1905) (Cyprinidae: Schizothoracinae) in the Yarlung Tsangpo River, Tibet. Environ Biol Fish 86, 53–61 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-008-9420-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-008-9420-0