X-Ray Spectrometric and Multivariate Analysis of Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) from Different Geographic Regions

Abstract

The chemical composition of samples of fry and adult sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) collected in different areas was characterized by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Multivariate analysis of the spectra indicate that fish taken from an area possess recognizably distinct chemical compositions. Discriminant functions computed using spectral data were used to classify unknowns successfully. The relative similarity of groups characterized by fluorescence spectrometry is shown by canonical analysis and the nature of the chemical differences is discussed. The results indicate that these aquatic organisms possess a chemoprint, a form of natural tag.