OTOLITH MICROCHEMISTRY OF A TROPICAL FRESHWATER EEL, ANGUILLA BICOLOR BICOLORCOLLECTED IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA, MALAYSIATakaomi Arai and Naoko ChinoAbstract In order to apply otolith microchemistry for life history analysis, the ontogenic change patterns of Sr and Ca in the otolith were examined in a freshwater eel, Anguilla bicolor bicolorcollected in Peninsular Malaysia. Sr:Ca ratios in the otolith fluctuated strongly along the life history transect during 100 and 200 µm from the core of the otolith, indicating a period of metamorphosis during oceanic life. This suggests that the changes in Sr:Ca ratios are associated with internal physiological factors such as metamorphosis in the early developmental stage in the species. The low Sr:Ca ratios after marine life corresponded to the freshwater life history. These results suggest that otolith microchemistry can reconstract the whole life history in the freshwater eel.
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