Spatial and temporal variations in otolith chemistry and relationships with water chemistry: a useful tool to distinguish Atlantic salmon Salmo salar parr from different natal streams

Abstract

Otolith elemental (Sr:Ca, Ba:Ca, Mn:Ca, Mg:Ca and Rb:Ca) and isotopic (⁸⁷Sr:⁸⁶Sr) profiles from several annual cohorts of juvenile Atlantic salmon Salmo salar were related to the physico-chemical characteristics (chemical signatures, flow rate, temperature and conductivity) of their natal rivers over an annual hydrological cycle. Only Sr:Ca, Ba:Ca and ⁸⁷Sr:⁸⁶Sr in otoliths were determined by their respective ratios in the ambient water. Sr:Ca ratios in stream waters fluctuated strongly on a seasonal basis, but these fluctuations, mainly driven by water flow regimes, were not recorded in the otoliths. Otolith Sr:Ca ratios remained constant during freshwater residency at a given site and were exclusively related to water Sr:Ca ratios during low flow periods. While interannual differences in otolith elemental composition among rivers were observed, this variability was minor compared to geographic variability and did not limit classification of juveniles to their natal stream. Success in discriminating fish from different sites was greatest using Sr isotopes as it remained relatively constant across years at a given location.