Validation of daily increment deposition and early development in the otoliths of Sarotherodon melanotheron

A one-to-one relationship was found between days of rearing and counted dai ly increments in the otoliths of Sarotherodon melanotheron verifying daily increment deposition. A marked hatch check was found in all otoliths from b oth the reared fish and the wild specimens. Five to 10 faint prolarval incr ements were visible but the rate of their formation was not investigated. T he rate of increment deposition of S. melanotheron is apparently independen t of somatic growth and increments found in the otoliths of this species ca n therefore be used for ageing. (C) 2000 The Fisheries Society of the Briti sh Isles.