2 (2012) 61-66
1
Marine Science and Fisheries Centre, Ministry of Fisheries Wealth, P.O. Box 427, Postal Code 100,
Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. E-mail: laith_jawad@hotmail.com
2
Marine Biology Department, Faculty of Marine Science & Technology, Islamic Azad University,
Hesarak, Tehran, Islamic, Republic of Iran.
Abstract
The mass asymmetry in the otolith of the three pelagic fish species, Encrasicholina punctifer (Family:
Engraulidae), Sardinella sindensis (Family: Clupeidae) and Sillago sihama (Family: Sillaginidae) collected
from the Persian Gulf near Bandar Abbas was calculated. Saccular otolith mass asymmetry, x, can be
defined as the difference between the mass of the right and left paired otoliths divided by the average otolith
mass. The results showed that the absolute value of x in these three species does not depend on the length
of the fish and the otolith growth rate, although the absolute value of the otolith mass difference decreases
with the fish length. This result coincides with the results obtained for the otolith mass asymmetry in other
symmetrical fish species. The value of x for the three species did not exceed the range of -0.2 and +0.2.
Keywords: Otolith, Mass Asymmetry, Persian Gulf, Iran, Pelagic Species
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Laith Jawad & Zahra Sadighzadeh Water Research and Management, Vol. 2, No. 2 (2012) 61-66
The objective of the present study is firstly, to The relationship between the species absolute value
quantify and compare the value of the otolith mass of x and the species otolith growth rate was studied.
asymmetry range in three pelagic fish species in The absolute value of the species otolith mass
question, secondly, to assess the variability of this asymmetry is calculated as the average individual
asymmetry during the growth of these species. No value.
previous work has been done on Iranian fish with
regard to otolith mass asymmetry. Thus, the present
work is considered as additional information in this Results
field for Iranian fish fauna.
For E. punctifer, the mean value of x is 0.0068+
0.0407, n = 30 (Fig. 1) and the value of IXI is
0.0348+ 0.0191, n = 30 (Fig. 2). For S. sindensis,
Materials and Methods the mean value of x is 0.0063+ 0.0654 (Figure 3)
Fish specimens (30) of E. punctifer, S. sindensis and and the value of IXI is 0.0499 + 0.041762, n = 30
S. sihama were collected on 13 June 2007 from the (Fig. 4) and for S. sihama, the mean value of x is
Persian Gulf near Bandar Abbas. Standard length -0.0013 + 0.0248, n = 30 (Fig. 5) and the value of
was measured following the procedure of Lychakov IXI is 0.0184 + 0.0163, n = 30 (Fig. 6). According
et al.( 2006) prior to the removal of otoliths. Otoliths to the regression analysis there was no relationship
from both sides of the head of fish were dissected out between fish length and both IXI (y = 0.0028x +
from the auditory capsules, then rinsed in distilled 0.015) (P > 0.05, R2 = 0.0043) and x (y = 0.0415x -
water and air dried at room temperature for several 0.2818) (P > 0.05, R2 = 0.2012) for E. punctifer, (y =
days. The weight of the otoliths was then measured -0.0064x + 0.1017) (P > 0.05, R2 = 0.0139) and x (y
using a Sartorius TE 313S analytical balance to the = -0.0047x + 0.0317) (P > 0.05, R2 = 0.0031) for S.
accuracy of 0.0001g. sindensis and (y = -0.0026x + 0.0587) (P > 0.05, R2
= 0.094) and x (y = -0.0009x + 0.0122) (P > 0.05, R2
The otolith mass asymmetry (x) was calculated from
= 0.0046) for S. sihama.
the formula: x = (MR ML) M-1, where MR and ML
are the otolith masses of the right and left paired For the three species in question, the relation
otoliths and M is the mean mass of the right and left between the otolith mass difference (MR ML)
paired otoliths. and fish length was more complex than the relation
between x and fish length (n = 30, for E. punctifer,
In theory, the x value can vary between -2 and 2, and
total length = 64-77 mm, P > 0.05, y = 0.258x -
x = 0 represents the absence of mass asymmetry
1.7459, R2 = 0.2055) (Fig. 7), for S. sindensis,
(MR ML), whereas x = -2 or x = 2 represents the
standard length 72-107 mm, P> 0.05, y = 0.0533x
maximum asymmetry (absence of one otolith). The
- 0.1198, R2 = 0.0269 (Figure 9) and for S. sihama,
positive value of x means that the right otolith mass is
standard length= 127- 201 mm, P>0.05, y = -0.0132x
larger than the left paired otolith mass and a negative
+ 0.1821 + 0.0295 (Figure 9). The saccular otolith
sign means the opposite.
mass difference decreases with fish length.
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Laith Jawad & Zahra Sadighzadeh Water Research and Management, Vol. 2, No. 2 (2012) 61-66
Figure 8: Absolute otolith mass asymmetry in Sillago sihama as function of the standard
length of the fish
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Rahmman and Anken (2002) suggested a regulating Lychako, D. V. (2002). Otolithic membrane:
factor that controls the growth of the otolith via a structural and functional organization,
negative feedback loop between the brain and the evolution, ecomorphological plasticity and
inner ear. This factor is the weight of the otolith tolerance to extreme conditions (Doctorskaya
mass on the sensory epithelium. But other evidence Dissertaziya), Vol 1. Sechenov Institute, St.-
argues against this hypothesis, and it seems that Petersberg (text, tables), pp. 1-266, Vol. 2
the otolith weight is not involved in the regulation of (illustrations), pp., 1-107 (in Russian).
its growth (Lychakov, 2002).
Lychako, D. V., Boyadzhieva-Mikailova, A.,
However, the complex relationship between the otolith Christov, I., Paschinin, A.N., Evdokimov, I.I.
mass difference and fish length was obtained. In the and A.A. Matkov (1988). Changes in the otolith
present work, no relationship has been established apparatus of rat and fish after prolonged
between the fish length and otolith mass difference. exposure to acceleration. Kosmicheskaya
This is in agreement with the results obtained by Biologiya Aviakosmicheskaya Meditsina 22:
Lychakov and Rebane (2004, 2005) on several fish 27-33 (in Russian).
species. Lychakov et al. (2006) suggested three
Lychako, D. V. and Y.T. Rebane (2004). Otolith mass
reasons for the absence of a relationship; (1) it
asymmetry in 18 species of fish and pigeon.
might be due to the small sample used in the study;
Journal of Gravitational Physiology 11: 17-34.
(2) when specimens have the same size range or do
not differ markedly in size; and (3) possible inherent Lychako, D. V. and Y.T. Rebane (2005). Fish otolith
cause. These suggestions are evident in the data of mass asymmetry: morphometry and influence
the three species in question as only 30 specimens on acoustic functionality. Hearing Research
ranging in total length between 64-77 mm for E. 201: 55-69.
punctifer, in standard length between 72-107 mm
Lychako, D. V., Rebane, Y.T., Lombarte, A., Fuiman,
and 127- 201 mm for S. sindensis and S. sihama
L.A. and T. Takabayashi (2006). Fish Otolith
respectively, were used in this work.
asymmetry: morphometry and modelling.
Hearing Research 219:1-11.
Lychako, D. V., Rebane, Y.T., Lombarte, A.,
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