Abstract
AbstractWe evaluated the accuracy and precision of age estimates from ground sagittal otoliths, sectioned pectoral fin rays, and whole branchiostegal rays of Longnose Gar Lepisosteus osseus and Spotted Gar Lepisosteus oculatus using fish marked with oxytetracycline (OTC). The presence of OTC time stamps in these calcified structures and the ability to correctly identify post time-stamp annuli varied greatly. We identified time stamps in 66.7% and 91.7% of the otoliths and 43.8% and 61.4% of the pectoral fin rays for Longnose Gar and Spotted Gar, respectively; OTC marks were not observed in branchiostegal rays. Annual increment periodicity was validated in ground sagittal otoliths through age 10 for both species. For fish > age 10, accuracy declined to about 60% with most errors underestimating the number of post time-stamp annuli by one year. Ages derived from pectoral fin rays consistently underestimated the number of post time-stamp annuli because OTC marks were generally associated with the outer edge ...
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