Abstract
Abstract Coasts are increasingly subject to the pressure of human activities, thus bioindicators of stress are also becoming necessary. We tested whether the otolith shape of Oblada melanura juveniles could be used as indicator of anthropic impacts. Otolith shapes, defined by Fourier elliptic analysis, were compared using canonical analysis of principal coordinates. In this three-year study, we compared two geographically close sites: one with low-level pollution and one near a recreational harbour. Determining the minimum fish standard length at which the influence of fish size on otolith shape does not occult other influences, 11 mm in this study, is a prerequisite for the study of otolith shape variation in juveniles. Inter-annual environmental variations interfere with local conditions and delays between samplings are also important considerations. We have demonstrated that the comparison of O. melanura juvenile otolith shape is an effective method to compare the short-term influence of different environmental conditions.
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