Wednesday 12 September 2012

'Ear Stones' Reveal Where Young Fish Lived


Where do young fish hang out? Consult their ear stones.

Also known as otoliths, ear stones help fish orient themselves. As a fish grows, it takes minerals like calcium from its environment and incorporates them into its otoliths in a series of layers. These layers contain information about where the fish was at different times in its life, because the mineral makeup of each location is unique.

By analyzing the mineral content of fish ear stones and matching it to different locations in the Red Sea off the coast of Saudi Arabia, researchers created a life history of various fish, reconstructing where they migrated to and when.

Continued:
  http://www.livescience.com/22980-ear-stones-reveal-fish-location.html

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