We compared five calcified structures (scale, otolith, vertebra, cleithrum, and opercular bone) for estimating the age ofbream Abramis brama (L.) from the Irtysh River in China. Otoliths consistently had the clearest marks, highest confidencescores, highest between-reader agreement (91.63%), and lowest CVs. Cleithra provided the second-highest between-readeragreement (88.65%) and highest agreement (66.08%) with otoliths. Scales and vertebrae yielded equivalent age estimates thatwere lower than those from otoliths and cleithra, but the estimates of A. brama older than 11 years were consistentlyunderestimated using scales and vertebrae. Opercular bone was inferior to other structures for aging A. brama. Opercularbones resulted in the lowest between-reader agreement (84.68%), lowest agreement with otoliths (62.33%), and highest CVs.According to these findings, we recommend the use of ground otoliths for estimating the age of A. brama when an accurateage structure assessment is required, and recommend scales if a nonlethal procedure is needed for age estimation in order toanalyze simple population metrics of A. brama.
___
Alves, A., Barros, P.D., & Pinho, M.R. (2002). Age and growth studies of bigeye tuna Thunnus obesus from Madeira using vertebrae. Fisheries Research, 54(3), 389-393. http://doi.org/10.1016/S0165- 7836(01)00268-5
Barbour, S.E., & Einarsson, S.M. (1987). Ageing and growth of charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.), from three habitat types in Scotland. Aquaculture Research, 18(1), 63-72. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365- 2109.1987.tb00125.x
Baudouin, M., Marengo, M., Pere, A., Culioli, J.M., Santoni, M.C., Marchand, B., & Durieux, E.D. (2016). Comparison of otolith and scale readings for age and growth estimation of common dentex Dentex dentex. Journal of Fish Biology, 88(2), 760-766. http://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.12816
Beamish, R.J. (1973). Determination of age and growth of populations of the white sucker (Catostomus commersoni) exhibiting a wide range in size at maturity. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 30(5), 607-616. http://doi.org/10.1139/f73- 108
Beamish, R.J., & McFarlane, G.A. (1987). Current trends in age determination methodology. In R.C. Summerfelt & G.E. Hall (Eds.), Age and Growth of Fish (pp. 15- 42). Ames, USA: Iowa State University Press,
Braaten, P.J., Doeringsfeld, M.R., & Guy, C.S. (1999). Comparison of age and growth estimates for river carp suckers using scales and dorsal fin ray sections. North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 19(3), 786-792. http://doi.org/10.1577/1548- 8675(1999)019<0786:COAAGE>2.0.CO;2
Campana, S.E. (2001). Accuracy, precision and quality control in age determination, including a review of the use and abuse of age validation methods. Journal of Fish Biology, 59(2), 197-242. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2001.tb00127.x
Campana, S.E., Annand, M.C., & McMillan, J.I. (1995). Graphical and statistical methods for determining the consistency of age determinations. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 124(1), 131-138. http://doi.org/10.1577/1548- 8659(1995)124%3C0131:GASMFD%3E2.3.CO;2
Chang, W.Y.B. (1982). A statistical method for evaluating the reproducibility of age determination. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 39(8), 1208-1210. http://doi.org/10.1139/f82-158
Goldspink, C.R. (1981). A note on the growth rate and year class strength of bream, Abramis brama (L.), in three eutrophic lakes, England. Journal of Fish Biology, 19(6), 665-673. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095- 8649.1981.tb03832.x
Gunn, J.S., Clear, N.P., Carter, T.I., Rees, A.J., Stanley, C.A., Farley, J.H., & Kalish, J.M. (2008). Age and growth in southern bluefin tuna, Thunnus maccoyii (Castelnau): direct estimation from otoliths, scales and vertebrae. Fisheries Research, 92(2), 207-220. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2008.01.018
Hammers, B.E., & Miranda, L.E. (1991). Comparison of methods for estimating age, growth, and related population characteristics of white crappies. North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 11(4), 492-498. http://doi.org/10.1577/1548- 8675(1991)011%3C0492:COMFEA%3E2.3.CO;2
Hill, K.T., Calliet, G.M., & Radtke, R.L. (1989). A comparative-analysis of growth zones in four calcified structures of Pacific Blue Marlin, Makaira nigricans. Fishery Bulletin, 87(4), 829-843.
Kakareko, T. (2001). The diet, growth and condition of common bream, Abramis brama (L.) in Wloclawek Reservoir. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria, 31(2), 37- 53. http://doi.org/10.3750/AIP2001.31.2.04
Khan, M.A., & Khan, S. (2009). Comparison of age estimates from scale, opercular bone, otolith, vertebrae and dorsal fin ray in Labeo rohita (Hamilton), Catla catla (Hamilton) and Channa marulius (Hamilton). Fisheries Research, 100(3), 255-259. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2009.08.005
Khemiri, S., Gaamour, A., Zylberberg, L., Meunier, F., & Romdhane, M.S. (2005). Age and growth of bogue, Boops boops, in Tunisian waters. Acta Adriatica, 46(2), 159-175.
Kompowski, A. (1982). On some aspects of biology of bream, Abramis brama (L. 1758) inhabiting the River Regalica and Lake Dąbie. Acta Ichthyologica Et Piscatoria, 12(1), 3-25.
Li, H., Shen, J.Z., Liu, Q.G., Liu, Y., Zhao, Y.J., Ma, X.F., Wang, Y.B., Liu, J., & Zhu, X.Q. (2009). Comparative studies on four calcified structures for age determination of roach Rutilus rutilus in Ulungur Lake, Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region, China. Journal of Shanghai Ocean University, 18(3), 295- 301.
Liu, K.M., Lee, M.L., Joung, S.J., & Chang, Y.C. (2009). Age and growth estimates of the sharptail mola, Masturus lanceolatus, in waters of eastern Taiwan. Fisheries Research, 95(2-3), 154-160. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2008.08.013
Ma, B.S., Xie, C.X., Huo, B., Yang, X.F., & Huang, H.P. (2010). Age and growth of a long-lived fish Schizothorax o’connori in the Yarlung Tsangpo River, Tibet. Zoological Studies, 49(6), 749-759.
Ma, B.S., Xie, C.X., Huo, B., Yang, X.F., & Huang, H.P. (2011). Age validation, and comparison of otolith, vertebra and opercular bone for estimating age of Schizothorax o’connori in the Yarlung Tsangpo River, Tibet. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 90(2), 159- 169. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-010-9727-5
Maceina, M.J., Boxrucker, J., Buckmeier, D.L., Gangl, R.S., Lucchesi, D.O., Isermann, D.A., Jackson, J.R., & Martinez, P.J. (2007). Current status and review of freshwater fish ageing procedures used by state and provincial fisheries agencies with recommendations for future directions. Fisheries, 32(7), 329-340. http://doi.org/10.1577/1548- 8446(2007)32[329:CSAROF]2.0.CO;2
Maceina, M.J., & Sammons, S.M. (2006). An evaluation of different structures to age freshwater fish from a Northeastern US river. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 13(4), 237-242. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2400.2006.00497.x
Nargis, A. (2006). Determination of age and growth of Catla catla (HAM.) from opercular bones. Journal of Biosciences, 14(2), 143-145. http://doi.org/10.3329/jbs.v14i0.461
Neja, Z., & Kompowski, A. (2001). Some data on the biology of common bream, Abramis brama (L., 1758), from the Międzyodrze Waters. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria, 31(1), 3-26.
Niewinski, B.C., & Ferreri, C.P. (1999). A comparison of three structures for estimating the age of yellow perch. North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 19(3), 872-877. http://doi.org/10.1577/1548- 8675(1999)019%3C0872:ACOTSF%3E2.0.CO;2
Paul, L.J., & Horn, P.L. (2009). Age and growth of sea perch (Helicolenus percoides) from two adjacent areas off the east coast of South Island, New Zealand. Fisheries Research, 95(2), 169-180. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2008.08.011
Phelps, Q.E., Edwards, K.R., & Willis, K.R.E.D.W. (2007). Precision of five structures for estimating age of common carp. North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 27(1), 103-105. http://doi.org/10.1577/M06-045.1
Polat, N., Bostanci, D., & Yilmaz, S. (2001). Comparable age determination in different bony structures of Pleuronectes flesus luscus Pallas, 1811 inhabiting the Black Sea. Turkish Journal of Zoology, 25(4), 441- 446.
Reid, S.M. (2007). Comparison of scales, pectoral fin rays, and opercles for age estimation of Ontario redhorse, Moxostoma, species. Canadian Field Naturalist, 121(1), 29-34. http://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v121i1.389
Secor, D.H., Trice, T.M., & Hornick, H.T. (1995). Validation of otolith-based ageing and comparison of otolith and scale-based ageing in mark-recaptured Chesapeake Bay striped bass, Morone saxatilis. Fishery Bulletin, 93(1), 186-190.
Shafi, M., & Maitland, P.S. (1971). The age and growth of perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) in two Scottish lochs. Journal of Fish Biology, 3(1), 39-57. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1971.tb05904.x
Sipe, A.M., & Chittenden, M.E. (2001). A comparison of calcified structures for ageing summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus. Fishery Bulletin, 99(4), 628- 640.
Treer, T., Opačak, A., Aničić, I., Safner, R., Piria, M., & Odak, T. (2003). Growth of bream, Abramis brama, in the Croatian section of the Danube. Czech Journal of Animal Science, 48(6), 251-256.
Valoukas, V.A., & Economidis, P.S. (1996). Growth, population composition and reproduction of bream Abramis brama (L.) in Lake Volvi Macedonia, Greece. Ecology of Freshwater Fish, 5(3), 108-115. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0633.1996.tb00042.x
Yilmaz, S., Erbasaran, M., Yazicioglu, O., & Polat, N. (2015). Age, growth and reproductive season of freshwater bream, Abramis brama (L., 1758) in Lake Ladik (Samsun, Turkey). SDU Journal of Science, 10(1), 1-22.
Zhang, Z.M., Xie, C.X., Ding, H.P., Liu, C.J., Ma, X.F., & Cai, L.G. (2016). Age and growth of bream Abramis brama (linnaeus, 1758) in the downstream section of Irtysh River in China. Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 32(1), 105-109. http://doi.org/10.1111/jai.12944