TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON THE INCORPORATION OF STRONTIUM IN OTOLITH OF JAPANESE EEL ANGUILLA-JAPONICA

The effects of temperature on somatic and otolith growth and the incor poration of strontium in otolith of the Japanese eel, were studied in laboratory-reared and field-caught eels. The somatic and otolith growt h rates of the eel increased significantly with temperature and were e stimated as approximately 0.096 mm T.L. (P<0.01) and 0.36 mu m in otol ith diameter per degree-day (0.01<P<0.05), respectively. In contrast, the Sr/Ca ratio in the otoliths was negatively correlated with water t emperature. The feasibility of using the otolith Sr/Ca ratio to recons truct environmental temperature history of the eel is discussed.