Abstract
Abstract Evaluating the response of fish populations to environmental influences requires precise age estimation. Pectoral fin rays and scales were compared to determine which is more precise for estimating age of blue sucker, Cycleptus elongatus (Lesueur), from the Missouri River, USA. Mean coefficient of variation was significantly lower for fin rays both among three novice readers (rays 19.9%; scales 23.1%) and among three reads by a single experienced reader (rays 11.8%; scales 18.6%). Additionally, exact per cent agreement (rays 20.0%; scales 14.3%) and within‐1‐year per cent agreement (rays 89.1%; scales 73.9%) were higher for fin rays compared with scales for multiple reads by the same experienced reader. Age–bias plots revealed that scale ages were lower than fin‐ray ages >7. The use of fin rays is recommended for estimating ages of blue sucker until validation procedures are conducted.
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