Validation of the ageing of 0+ carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)
Benjamin B. Smith and Keith F. Walker
Marine and Freshwater Research
54(8) 1005 - 1008
Published: 30 December 2003
Abstract
Forty carp larvae were reared from eggs spawned in the Torrens River, Adelaide, South Australia, and their otoliths were examined at the time of hatching or at 6, 10, 15 or 20 days after hatching (post-hatch). Using light- and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), otolith increments were counted and compared with known post-hatch ages. Typically, the counts were one day (range 0–2 days) more than the known post-hatch age, but increment formation was daily to at least age 20 days. Thus, age estimates derived from otolith increment counts of wild-caught 0+ carp should be reduced by one day. Comparison with SEM data showed that light microscopy alone offers sufficient resolution for ageing 0+ carp.Keywords: known age, larvae, otoliths, resolution hypothesis, scanning electron microscopy.
https://doi.org/10.1071/MF03010
© CSIRO 2003