Skip to main content

Tagging the next generation: validation of trans-generational chemical tagging for an endangered fish

Environmental Biology of Fishes volume 95, pages 463–468 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

In this study we validated marking offspring through peritoneal injection of ripe females using two concentrations of strontium (strontium chloride hexahydrate). Larvae from treatments were monitored for condition morphometrics and tested for chemical mark incorporation in their otoliths via laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) to quantify the strontium concentration (Sr/Ca) and laser ablation multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICPMS) to measure the strontium isotope ratios (87Sr:86Sr) of otoliths. Otolith strontium concentrations and strontium isotopes ratios were elevated in the high-concentration treatment, while the low-concentration and control treatments were not significantly different from each other. Larval size and eye diameter at hatch were similar among treatments; however, yolk and oil globule diameters were significantly reduced in the high-concentration treatment. Moreover, growth rates after 60 days post-hatch were significantly reduced in the high-concentration treatment relative to the low-concentration and control treatments, suggesting trans-generational tagging can have deleterious effects on offspring. Our study provides evidence for the efficacy of artificially marking offspring via injection of strontium into ripe females and could provide new tools for managing endangered fish populations; however, careful consideration of chemical concentrations and dosages may be required prior to its application in a fisheries management experiment.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price includes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

References

  • Almany GR, Berumen ML, Thorrold SR, Planes S, Jones GP (2007) Local replenishment of coral reef fish populations in a marine reserve. Science 316:742–744

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bergenius MA, Meekan MG, Robertson DR, McCormick MI (2002) Larval growth predicts the recruitment success of coral reef fish. Oecologia 131:521–525

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brothers EB (1990) Otolith Marking. Pages 182–202 in Parker NC, Giorgi AE, Heidinger RC, Jester Jr DB, Prince ED Winans GA Editors. Fish-marking techniques. American Fisheries Society, Symposium 7, Bethesda, Maryland

  • Campana SE, Chouinard GA, Hanson JM, Fréchet BJ (2000) Otolith elemental fingerprints as biological tracers of fish stocks. Fish Res 46:343–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elsdon TS, Gillanders BM (2003) Reconstructing migratory patterns of fish based on environmental influences on otolith chemistry. Rev Fish Biol Fisher 13:219–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Hare JA, Cowen RK (1997) Size, growth, development and survival of the planktonic larvae of Pomatomus saltatrix (Pisces: Pomatomidae). Ecology 78:2415–2431

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobbs JA, Yin QZ, Burton J, Bennett WA (2005) Retrospective determination of natal habitat for an estuarine fish with otolith strontium isotope ratios. Mar Freshw Res 56:655–660

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hobbs JA, Bennett WA, Burton JE, Gras MA (2007) Classification of larval and adult delta smelt to nursery areas by use of trace elemental fingerprinting. Trans Am Fish Soc 136:518–527

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Houde ED (1987) Fish early life dynamics and recruitment variability. Am Fish Soc Symp 2:17–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones GP, Milicich MJ, Emslie MJ, Lunow C (1999) Self-recruitment in a coral reef fish population. Nature 402:802–804

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones GP, Planes S, Thorrold SR (2005) Coral reef fish larvae settle close to home. Curr Biol 15:1314–1318. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2005.06.061

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuroki M, Buckley RM, LeClair LL, Hauser L (2010) Validation and efficacy of transgenerational mass marking of otoliths in viviparous fish larvae. J Fish Biol 77:292–298

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meekan MG, Fortier L (1996) Selection for fast growth during the larval life of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua on the Scotia Shelf. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 137:25–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Munro AR, Gillanders BM, Elsdon TS, Crook DA, Sanger AC (2008) Enriched stable isotope marking of juvenile golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) otoliths. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 65:276–285. doi:10.1139/F08-010

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Munro AR, Gillanders BM, Thurstan S, Crook DA, Sanger AC (2009) Transgenerational marking of freshwater fishes with enriched stable isotopes: a tool for fisheries management. J Fish Biol 75:668–684. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2009.02352.x

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen LA (1992) Methods of marking fish and shellfish. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 23, Bethesda, Maryland

  • Schroeder SL, Knudsen CM, Volk EC (1995) Marking salmon fry with strontium chloride solutions. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 52:1141–1149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Secor DH, White MG, Dean JM (1991) Immersion marking of larval and juvenile hatchery-produced striped bass with oxytetracycline. Trans Am Fish Soc 120:261–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Secor DH, Henderson-Arzapalo A, Piccoli PM (1995) Can otolith microchemistry chart patterns of migration and habitat utilization in anadromous fishes? J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 192:15–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Secor DH, Rooker JA, Zlokovitz E, Zdanowicz VS (2001) Identification of riverine, estuarine, and coastal contingents of Hudson River striped bass based upon otolith elemental fingerprints. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 211:245–253

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shippentower GE, Schreck CB, Heppell SA (2011) Who’s your momma? Recognizing maternal origin of juvenile steelhead using injections of strontium chloride to create transgenerational marks. Tran Am Fish Soc 140:1330–1339

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Swearer SE, Shima JS, Hellberg ME, Thorrold, SR, Jones GP, Robertson DR, Morgan SG, Selkoe KA, Ruiz GM (2002) Evidence of self-recruitment in demersal marine populations. Bull Mar Sci 70(suppl 1):251–271

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorrold SR, Jones GP, Hellberg ME, Burton RS, Swearer SE, Neigel JE, Morgan SG, Warner RR (2002) Quantifying larval retention and connectivity in marine populations with artificial and natural markers. Bull Mar Sci 70(suppl 1):291–308

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorrold SR, Jones GP, Planes S, Hare JA (2006) Transgenerational marking of embryonic otoliths in marine fishes using barium stable isotopes. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 63:1193–1197

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsukamoto K (1985) Mass marking of ayu plecoglossus-altivelis eggs and larvae by tetracycline-tagging of otoliths. Nip Suis Gak 51(6):903–912

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsukamoto K, Kuwada H, Hirokawa J, Oya M, Sekiya S, Fujimoto H, Imaizumi K (1989) Size-dependent mortality of red sea bream, pagarus major, juveniles released with fluorescent otolith-tags in News Bay, Japan. J Fish Biol 35:59–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williamson DH, Jones GP, Thorrold SR, Frisch AJ (2009) Transgenerational marking of marine fish larvae: stable isotope retention, physiological effects and health issues. J Fish Biol 74:891–905. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2008.02176.x

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Ashley Ratcliffe, Norm Ponferrada and Levi Lewis (UC Davis) for their invaluable assistance marking fish and processing samples; Justin Gleissner and Joel Commisso for their critical help at the ICP-MS lab. We also thank Luke Ellison and other staff members at the UC Davis Fish Conservation and Culture Laboratory for their invaluable help with experimental fish. Paul Cadrett and Kim Webb (Stockton U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office) provided valuable comments, and along with DWR Staff (Cassandra Enos; Russ Stein and Carl Torgerson), facilitated critical study implementation. Jewel Huckaby and Sheryl Moore (DWR) provided timely coordination of sample collections at the Skinner Fish Facility. Project was funded by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation under Cooperative Agreement #81332 7 J010 between UC Davis and the Stockton U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wildlife, Fish & Conservation Biology Department, University of California, Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616-8751, USA

    James A. Hobbs & Georgia Ramos

  2. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4001 N. Wilson Way, Stockton, CA, 95205, USA

    Gonzalo Castillo

  3. Fish Conservation and Culture Laboratory, University of California, Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616-8751, USA

    Galen Tigan & Joan Lindberg

  4. Interdisciplinary Center for Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, University of California, Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616-8751, USA

    Naoaki Ikemiyagi

Authors
  1. James A. Hobbs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gonzalo Castillo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Galen Tigan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Joan Lindberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Naoaki Ikemiyagi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Georgia Ramos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to James A. Hobbs.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hobbs, J.A., Castillo, G., Tigan, G. et al. Tagging the next generation: validation of trans-generational chemical tagging for an endangered fish. Environ Biol Fish 95, 463–468 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-012-0034-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-012-0034-1

Keywords

  • Otolith
  • Microchemistry
  • Trans-generational chemical tag
  • Delta smelt
  • Laser ablation