Differences in Otolith Microstructure between Reared and Wild Hedinichthys yarkandensis

Abstract

In this study, a significant difference was demonstrated between the otolith increments of wild and reared Hedinichthys yarkandensis (day, 1877) $\left(P<0.05\right)$ . By comparing the width of the first 40 daily increments of otoliths, it was found that the otolith width of the wild H. yarkandensis was significantly wider than that of the reared H. yarkandensis. The otolith daily increment width of wild H. yarkandensis tends to increase significantly with age and then decreases slowly, while the otolith daily increment width of reared H. yarkandensis grows more steadily. This may be related to the different growing conditions of the two groups. This study investigates the relationship between the early life history of H. yarkandensis and the daily otolith increment and provides a basis for identifying fish groups and fish life histories through differences in otolith microstructure.