Iron content of the otoliths of tarakihi (Teleostei: Cheilodactylidae)

The otoliths (sagittae) of 1076 tarakihi Cheilodactylus macropterus collected from around the whole of New Zealand during 1968–69 were examined for heavy metal content by atomic absorption spectrometry. Copper, cadmium, nickel, manganese, and zinc did not occur in significant quantities, but iron was present in amounts ranging from 0.5 μg to 7.0 μg per otolith. The iron appears to be largely contained in the nucleus of the otolith. Variations in iron content per otolith indicate three regions where iron content is similar: a northern region (mean 3.39 μg; σ² = 1.35; n = 260); a central region (mean 1.92 μg; σ² = 1.32; n = 741); and a southern region (mean 0.96 μg; σ² = 0.45; n = 75). The significance of this regional variation, in otolith iron to the biology of the fish is not known, but may be linked by either heredity or environment to subpopulations of the fish.