Morphological and morphometric changes of sagittae otoliths related to fish growth in three Mugilidae species

The aim of this study was to analyze morphologic and morphometric changes of sagittae otoliths throughout the growth of three mullets: Mugil liza, Mugil cephalus and Liza ramada. Fish were collected seasonally between October 2011 and April 2014, and three methods were used: regression analysis of traditional biometric characters; morphological analysis for group identification; and morphometrical analysis of shape indices among groups (circularity, rectangularity, aspect ratio and percentage occupied by the sulcus). In all species, dependence of standard length on otolith length and height were best described as power functions. Two morphological groups were identified for M. liza and M. cephalus, while three for L. ramada. Morphological changes were supported by morphometry differences only for the first two species. Smaller size specimens of M. liza had more rectangular otoliths with more percentage covered by the sulcus while bigger fish tended to have a more circular shape. For M. cephalus smaller size fish had a more elliptical shape. The observed changes may be reflecting life history changes, related to habitat or dietary shifting.vFil: Callicó Fortunato, Roberta Glenda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Unidad Ejecutora de Investigaciones en Producción Animal. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Unidad Ejecutora de Investigaciones en Producción Animal; ArgentinaFil: Benedito Durà, V.. Universidad Politécnica de Valencia; EspañaFil: González Castro, Mariano. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Volpedo, Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Unidad Ejecutora de Investigaciones en Producción Animal. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Unidad Ejecutora de Investigaciones en Producción Animal; Argentin