Otolith Increment Widths as Tools to Record and Assess Environmental Changes in Estuarine Areas

Otolith increments are widely used as accurate measures of age in fish biology and fisheries science. However, the information recorded in otolith increments can be put to a variety of other uses. For example, there is the potential of using the conservative physiology of otoliths as a powerful recording and monitoring tool in environmental and ecological studies. This paper presents the background to the application of otolith increment widths and provides evidence of their utility as a tool for monitoring environmental changes in estuaries and other aquatic systems. Future use of otolith increment widths as part of environmental impact assessments and monitoring is discussed and encouraged, as are the requirements of candidate species of fishes for this exciting field.