Elemental signature in otolith nuclei for stock discrimination of anadromous tapertail anchovy (Coilia nasus) using laser ablation ICPMS

The elemental signature in otolith nuclei was determined using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) for stock discrimination of adult anadromous tapertail anchovy, Coilia nasus, in five Chinese estuaries. Five elements (Na, Mg, K, Sr, and Ba) were well detected in the otolith nuclei of the adult fish. Results showed that the elemental composition in the otolith nuclei varied substantially among the estuaries. Age and fish length data showed no significant influences on the elemental concentration ratios across the sample sites. The Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca ratios were inter-site distinct and could be used as natal tags for discriminating among stocks. Discriminant function analyses (DFA) showed that these ratios can be used in discriminating the Liaohe River estuary (LD, 92.3?%), the Yangtze River estuary (CJ, 86.7?%), and the Yellow River estuary (HH, 76.9?%) samples with high classification accuracy, followed by the Haihe River estuary (BH, 58.3?%) and the Daguhe River estuary (JZ, 46.2?%) samples. An overall classification accuracy rate of 72.7?% from the discriminant functions indicated that elemental fingerprinting appeared to have the potential to discriminate between tapertail anchovy stocks in these estuaries.