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Three-dimensional Laser Confocal Microscopy as a Tool to Age Fish Otoliths by Optical Sections: Validation of Daily Microincrements by Both Injected Dyes and Theoretical Otolith Growth Models

This project will apply new tools to the analysis of fish otolith growth. Initial application will be on fish whose growth is well understood. After validation, the method will be applied to the difficult problem of estimating the age composition of swordfish populations.

Principal Investigator:
Dr. Robert Gauldie
Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology
University of Hawaii at Manoa
2525 Correa Road, HIG Annex
Honolulu, Hawaii 96822
Phone (808) 956-9838
FAX (808) 956-3188

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Progress Report

Funding for this project was received in February 1995.

Laser confocal microscopy images of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) otoliths showed the expected array of microincrements. The MAC8100 computer, delivered in June 1995, coupled with SPY GLASS software has the capacity for volume rendering of otoliths from optical slices and the capacity for further analysis of arbitrary sections. Some start up difficulties with the system were encountered. Quantitative analyses of otolith structure will begin in July 1995. The results will be used to devise improved methods for determining the age of swordfish.

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This page updated August 15, 2006