Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Marine and Freshwater Research Marine and Freshwater Research Society
Advances in the aquatic sciences
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Laser ablation–accelerator mass spectrometry reveals complete bomb 14C signal in an otolith with confirmation of 60-year longevity for red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus)

Allen H. Andrews A D , Christiane Yeman B , Caroline Welte B , Bodo Hattendorf C , Lukas Wacker B and Marcus Christl B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A NOAA Fisheries – Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818, USA.

B Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, ETHZ, Otto-Stern Weg 5, HPK, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland.

C Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, D-CHAB, ETHZ, Vladimir-Prelog Weg 1, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland.

D Corresponding author. Email: allen.andrews@noaa.gov

Marine and Freshwater Research 70(12) 1768-1780 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF18265
Submitted: 25 July 2018  Accepted: 11 February 2019   Published: 18 April 2019

Journal Compilation © CSIRO 2019 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND

Abstract

Bomb-produced 14C has been used to make valid estimates of age for various marine organisms for 25 years, but fish ages that lead to birth years earlier than the period of increase in 14C lose their time specificity. As a result, bomb 14C dating is limited to a minimum age from the last year of prebomb levels because the temporal variation in 14C in the marine surface layer is negligible for decades before c. 1958. The longevity of red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) in the Gulf of Mexico remains unresolved despite various forms of support for ages near 50–60 years. Although the age and growth of red snapper have been verified or validated to a limited extent, some scepticism remains about longevity estimates that exceed 30 years. In this study, red snapper otoliths were analysed for 14C using a novel laser ablation–accelerator mass spectrometry technique to provide a continuous record of 14C uptake. This approach provided a basis for age validation that extends beyond the normal limits of bomb 14C dating with confirmation of a 60-year longevity for red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico.

Additional keywords : age validation, carbon-14, Gulf of Mexico, Lutjanidae, radiocarbon.


References

Andrews, A. H. (2016). Lead–radium dating of Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) – validation of the young-fish scenario. Marine and Freshwater Research 67, 1982–1986.
Lead–radium dating of Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) – validation of the young-fish scenario.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Andrews, A. H., Cailliet, G. M., and Coale, K. H. (1999a). Age and growth of the Pacific grenadier (Coryphaenoides acrolepis) with age estimate validation using an improved radiometric ageing technique. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 56, 1339–1350.
Age and growth of the Pacific grenadier (Coryphaenoides acrolepis) with age estimate validation using an improved radiometric ageing technique.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Andrews, A. H., Coale, K. H., Nowicki, J. L., Lundstrom, C., Palacz, Z., Burton, E. J., and Cailliet, G. M. (1999b). Application of an ion-exchange separation technique and thermal ionization mass spectrometry to 226Ra determination in otoliths for radiometric age determination of long-lived fishes. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 56, 1329–1338.
Application of an ion-exchange separation technique and thermal ionization mass spectrometry to 226Ra determination in otoliths for radiometric age determination of long-lived fishes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Andrews, A. H., Cailliet, G. M., Coale, K. H., Munk, K. M., Mahoney, M. M., and O’Connell, V. M. (2002). Radiometric age validation of the yelloweye rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus) from southeastern Alaska. Marine and Freshwater Research 53, 139–146.
Radiometric age validation of the yelloweye rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus) from southeastern Alaska.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Andrews, A. H., Kerr, L. A., Calliet, G. M., Brown, T. A., Lundrtom, C. C., and Stanley, R. D. (2007). Age validation of canary rockfish (Sebastes pinniger) using two independent otolith techniques: lead–radium and bomb radiocarbon dating. Marine and Freshwater Research 58, 531–541.
Age validation of canary rockfish (Sebastes pinniger) using two independent otolith techniques: lead–radium and bomb radiocarbon dating.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Andrews, A. H., Tracey, D. M., and Dunn, M. R. (2009). Lead–radium dating of orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus): validation of a centenarian life span. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 66, 1130–1140.
Lead–radium dating of orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus): validation of a centenarian life span.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Andrews, A. H., Kalish, K. M., Newman, S. J., and Johnston, J. M. (2011). Bomb radiocarbon dating of three important reef-fish species using Indo-Pacific Δ14C chronologies. Marine and Freshwater Research 62, 1259–1269.
Bomb radiocarbon dating of three important reef-fish species using Indo-Pacific Δ14C chronologies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Andrews, A. H., DeMartini, E. E., Brodziak, J., Nichols, J. S., and Humphreys, R. L. (2012). A long-lived life history for a tropical, deep-water snapper (Pristipomoides filamentosus): bomb radiocarbon and lead–radium dating as extensions of daily increment analyses in otoliths. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 69, 1850–1869.
A long-lived life history for a tropical, deep-water snapper (Pristipomoides filamentosus): bomb radiocarbon and lead–radium dating as extensions of daily increment analyses in otoliths.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Andrews, A. H., Barnett, B. K., Allman, R. J., Moyer, R. P., and Trowbridge, H. D. (2013). Great longevity of speckled hind (Epinephelus drummondhayi), a deep-water grouper, with novel use of bomb radiocarbon dating in the Gulf of Mexico. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 70, 1131–1140.
Great longevity of speckled hind (Epinephelus drummondhayi), a deep-water grouper, with novel use of bomb radiocarbon dating in the Gulf of Mexico.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Andrews, A. H., Choat, J. H., Hamilton, R. J., and DeMartini, E. E. (2015). Refined bomb radiocarbon dating of two iconic fishes of the Great Barrier Reef. Marine and Freshwater Research 66, 305–316.
Refined bomb radiocarbon dating of two iconic fishes of the Great Barrier Reef.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Andrews, A. H., Asami, R., Iryu, Y., Kobayashi, D. R., and Camacho, F. (2016a). Bomb-produced radiocarbon in the western tropical Pacific Ocean–Guam coral reveals operation-specific signals from the Pacific proving grounds. Journal of Geophysical Research. Oceans 121, 6351–6366.
Bomb-produced radiocarbon in the western tropical Pacific Ocean–Guam coral reveals operation-specific signals from the Pacific proving grounds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Andrews, A. H., DeMartini, E. E., Eble, J. A., Taylor, B. M., Lou, D. C., and Humphreys, R. L. (2016b). Age and growth of bluespine unicornfish (Naso unicornis): a half-century life-span for a keystone browser, with a novel approach to bomb radiocarbon dating in the Hawaiian Islands. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 73, 1575–1586.
Age and growth of bluespine unicornfish (Naso unicornis): a half-century life-span for a keystone browser, with a novel approach to bomb radiocarbon dating in the Hawaiian Islands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Andrews, A. H., Siciliano, D., Potts, D. C., DeMartini, E. E., and Covarrubias, S. (2016c). Bomb radiocarbon and the Hawaiian Archipelago: coral, otoliths, and seawater. Radiocarbon 58, 531–548.
Bomb radiocarbon and the Hawaiian Archipelago: coral, otoliths, and seawater.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Andrews, A. H., Humphreys, R. L., and Sampaga, J. D. (2018a). Blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) longevity estimates confirmed with bomb radiocarbon dating. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 75, 17–25.
Blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) longevity estimates confirmed with bomb radiocarbon dating.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Andrews, A. H., Smale, M. J., Cowley, P. D., and Chang, N. (2018b). 55-year longevity for the largest member of family Sparidae, the endemic red steenbras Petrus rupestris from South Africa. African Journal of Marine Science 40, 343–353.
55-year longevity for the largest member of family Sparidae, the endemic red steenbras Petrus rupestris from South Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Andrews, A. H., DeMartini, E. E., Brodziak, J., Nichols, R. S., and Humphreys, R. L. (2019). Growth, longevity, and age at first maturity and sex change of Hawaiian grouper (Hyporthodus quernus) – input for management and conservation of a large, slow-growing grouper. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences , .
Growth, longevity, and age at first maturity and sex change of Hawaiian grouper (Hyporthodus quernus) – input for management and conservation of a large, slow-growing grouper.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Baker, M. S., and Wilson, C. A. (2001). Use of bomb radiocarbon to validate otolith section ages of red snapper Lutjanus campechanus from the northern Gulf of Mexico. Limnology and Oceanography 46, 1819–1824.
Use of bomb radiocarbon to validate otolith section ages of red snapper Lutjanus campechanus from the northern Gulf of Mexico.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Baker, M. S., Wilson, C. A., and Van Gent, D. L. (1999) Age validation of red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus, and red drum, Scienops ocellatus, from the Northern Gulf of Mexico using 210Po/226Ra disequilibrium in otoliths. In ‘Proceedings of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute’, November, 1999, Key West, FL, USA. Vol. 52, pp. 52, 63–73. (Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute: Marathon, FL, USA.) Available at http://proceedings.gcfi.org/proceedings/age-validation-of-red-snapper-lutjanus-campechanus-and-red-drum-sciaenops-ocellatus-from-the-northern-gulf-of-mexico-using-210po-226ra-disequilibria-in-otoliths/?_sf_s=baker [Verified 23 March 2019].

Barnett, B. K., Thornton, L., Allman, R., Chanton, J. P., and Patterson, W. F. (2018). Linear decline in red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) otolith Δ14C extends the utility of the bomb radiocarbon chronometer for fish age validation in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. ICES Journal of Marine Science 75, 1664–1671.
Linear decline in red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) otolith Δ14C extends the utility of the bomb radiocarbon chronometer for fish age validation in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Campana, S. E. (1997). Use of radiocarbon from nuclear fallout as a dated marker in the otoliths of haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus. Marine Ecology Progress Series 150, 49–56.
Use of radiocarbon from nuclear fallout as a dated marker in the otoliths of haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Campana, S. E. (1999). Chemistry and composition of otoliths: pathways, mechanisms and applications. Marine Ecology Progress Series 188, 263–297.
Chemistry and composition of otoliths: pathways, mechanisms and applications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Campana, S. E., Valentine, A. E., Maclellan, S. E., and Groot, J. B. (2016). Image-enhanced burnt otoliths, bomb radiocarbon and the growth dynamics of redfish (Sebastes mentella and S. fasciatus) off the eastern coast of Canada. Marine and Freshwater Research 67, 925–936.
Image-enhanced burnt otoliths, bomb radiocarbon and the growth dynamics of redfish (Sebastes mentella and S. fasciatus) off the eastern coast of Canada.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cook, M., Fitzhugh, G. R., and Franks, J. S. (2009). Validation of yellowedge grouper, Epinephelus flavolimbatus, age using nuclear bomb-produced radiocarbon. Environmental Biology of Fishes 86, 461–472.
Validation of yellowedge grouper, Epinephelus flavolimbatus, age using nuclear bomb-produced radiocarbon.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

DeMartini, E. E., Andrews, A. H., Howard, K. G., Taylor, B. M., Lou, D.-C., and Donovan, M. K. (2018). Comparative growth, age at maturity and sex change, and longevity of Hawaiian parrotfishes, with bomb radiocarbon validation. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 75, 580–589.
Comparative growth, age at maturity and sex change, and longevity of Hawaiian parrotfishes, with bomb radiocarbon validation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Druffel, E. R. M., Beaupré, S. R., and Ziolkowski, L. A. (2016). Radiocarbon in the oceans. In ‘Radiocarbon and Climate Change: Mechanisms, Applications and Laboratory Techniques’. (Eds E. A. G. Schuur, E. R. M. Druffel, and S. E. Trumbore.) pp. 139–166. (Springer: Basel, Switzerland.)

Grammer, G. L., Fallon, S. J., Izzoa, C., Wood, R., and Gillanders, B. M. (2015). Investigating bomb radiocarbon transport in the southern Pacific Ocean with otolith radiocarbon. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 424, 59–68.
Investigating bomb radiocarbon transport in the southern Pacific Ocean with otolith radiocarbon.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Grottoli, A. G., and Eakin, C. M. (2007). A review of modern coral δ18O and Δ14C proxy records. Earth-Science Reviews 81, 67–91.
A review of modern coral δ18O and Δ14C proxy records.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ishihara, T., Abe, O., Shimose, T., Takeuchi, Y., and Aires-da-Silva, A. (2017). Use of post-bomb radiocarbon dating to validate estimated ages of Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis, of the North Pacific Ocean. Fisheries Research 189, 35–41.
Use of post-bomb radiocarbon dating to validate estimated ages of Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis, of the North Pacific Ocean.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kalish, J. M. (1993). Pre- and post-bomb radiocarbon in fish otoliths. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 114, 549–554.
Pre- and post-bomb radiocarbon in fish otoliths.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kalish, J. M. (1995). Radiocarbon and fish biology. In ‘Recent Developments in Fish Otolith Research’. (Eds D. H. Secor, J. M. Dean, S. E. Campana, and A. B. Miller.) The Belle W. Baruch Library in Marine Science Number 19, pp. 537–653. (University of South Carolina Press: Columbia, SC, USA.)

Kalish, J. M., Nydal, R., Nedreaas, K. H., Burr, G. S., and Eine, G. L. (2001). A time history of pre- and post-bomb radiocarbon in the Barents Sea derived from Arcto-Norwegian cod otoliths. Radiocarbon 43, 843–855.
A time history of pre- and post-bomb radiocarbon in the Barents Sea derived from Arcto-Norwegian cod otoliths.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kastelle, C. R., Kimura, D. K., and Goetz, B. J. (2008). Bomb radiocarbon age validation of Pacific ocean perch (Sebastes alutus) using new statistical methods. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 65, 1101–1112.
Bomb radiocarbon age validation of Pacific ocean perch (Sebastes alutus) using new statistical methods.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kastelle, C. R., Helser, T. E., Wischniowski, S. G., Loher, T., Goetz, B. J., and Kautzi, L. A. (2016). Incorporation of bomb-produced 14C into fish otoliths: a novel approach for evaluating age validation and bias with an application to yellowfin sole and northern rockfish. Ecological Modelling 320, 79–91.
Incorporation of bomb-produced 14C into fish otoliths: a novel approach for evaluating age validation and bias with an application to yellowfin sole and northern rockfish.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kerr, L. A., Andrews, A. H., Frantz, B. R., Coale, K. H., Brown, T. A., and Cailliet, G. M. (2004). Radiocarbon in otoliths of yelloweye rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus): a reference time series for the coastal waters of southeast Alaska. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 61, 443–451.
Radiocarbon in otoliths of yelloweye rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus): a reference time series for the coastal waters of southeast Alaska.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Libby, W. F. (1955). ‘Radiocarbon Dating’, 2nd edn. (University of Chicago Press: Chicago, IL, USA.)

Patterson, W. F., Cowan, J. H., Wilson, C. A., and Shipp, R. L. (2001). Age and growth of red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus, from an artificial reef area off Alabama in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Fishery Bulletin 99, 617–627.

Piner, K. R., Hamel, O. S., Henkel, J. L., Wallace, J. R., and Hutchinson, C. E. (2005). Age validation of canary rockfish (Sebastes pinniger) from off the Oregon coast (USA) using the bomb radiocarbon method. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 62, 1060–1066.
Age validation of canary rockfish (Sebastes pinniger) from off the Oregon coast (USA) using the bomb radiocarbon method.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Reimer, P. J., Brown, T. A., and Reimer, R. W. (2004). Discussion: reporting and calibration of post-bomb 14C data. Radiocarbon 46, 1299–1304.
Discussion: reporting and calibration of post-bomb 14C data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rosenheim, B. E., Thorrold, S. R., and Roberts, M. L. (2008). Accelerator mass spectrometry 14C determination in CO2 produced from laser decomposition of aragonite. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 22, 3443–3449.
Accelerator mass spectrometry 14C determination in CO2 produced from laser decomposition of aragonite.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18844243PubMed |

Stuiver, M., and Polach, H. A. (1977). Reporting of 14C data. Radiocarbon 19, 355–363.
Reporting of 14C data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Szedlmayer, S. T., and Beyer, S. G. (2011). Validation of annual periodicity in otoliths of red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus. Environmental Biology of Fishes 91, 219–230.
Validation of annual periodicity in otoliths of red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tracey, D. M., Andrews, A. H., Horn, P. L., and Neil, H. L. (2017). Another New Zealand centenarian – age validation of black cardinalfish (Epigonus telescopus) using lead–radium and bomb radiocarbon dating. Marine and Freshwater Research 68, 352–360.
Another New Zealand centenarian – age validation of black cardinalfish (Epigonus telescopus) using lead–radium and bomb radiocarbon dating.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Wacker, L., Christl, M., and Synal, H.-A. (2010). Bats: a new powerful tool for AMS data reduction. Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research. Section B, Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms 268, 976–979.
Bats: a new powerful tool for AMS data reduction.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Wacker, L., Fülöp, R.-H., Hajdas, I., Molnár, M., and Rethemeyer, J. (2013). A novel approach to process carbonate samples for radiocarbon measurements with helium carrier gas. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research – B. Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms 294, 214–217.
A novel approach to process carbonate samples for radiocarbon measurements with helium carrier gas.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Welte, C., Wacker, L., Hattendorf, B., Christl, M., Fohlmeister, J., Breitenbach, S. F. M., Robinson, L. F., Andrews, A. H., Freiwald, A., Farmer, J. R., Yeman, C., Synal, H. A., and Günther, D. (2016). Laser ablation–accelerator mass spectrometry: a novel approach for rapid radiocarbon analyses of carbonate archives at high spatial resolution. Analytical Chemistry 88, 8570–8576.
Laser ablation–accelerator mass spectrometry: a novel approach for rapid radiocarbon analyses of carbonate archives at high spatial resolution.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27396439PubMed |

Wilson, C. A., and Nieland, D. L. (2001). Age and growth of red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus, from the northern Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana. Fishery Bulletin 99, 653–664.

Yeman, C., Christl, M., Wacker, L., Hattendorf, B., and Synal, H.-A. (2017). Data reduction for LA-AMS. In ‘Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics Annual Report 2017’. (Eds H.-A. Synal and M. Christl.) p. 29. (ETH Zürich: Basel, Switzerland.) Available at https://www.ethz.ch/content/dam/ethz/special-interest/phys/particle-physics/ion-beam-physics-dam/documents/Final.pdf [Verified 23 March 2019].