Stanisław Robak, Grzegorz Zieliński, Magdalena Pańczyk, Piotr Chmieliński, Tomasz Nermer
ABSTRACT. The chemical analysis of otoliths of eels from the Szczecin Lagoon confirmed the presence of 16 chemical elements, including three dominant ones – calcium (Ca), oxygen (O), and carbon (C)– in an aragonite matrix of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). They constituted a total of 99.33% of the otolith mass. Other elements, i.e., iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), sodium (Na), fluorine (F), magnesium (Mg), strontium (Sr), silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), Potassium (K), chlorine (Cl), sulfur (S), phosphorus (P), and barium (Ba), were present in trace amounts and their share of the total was 0.65%. Despite their small share, trace elements provide important information on the life histories of individuals, and they participate in the construction of the biomineral matrix, inter alia, as inhibitors or catalysts of chemical processes.
Key words: eel, otolith, chemical composition
Przyjęto po recenzji 8.10.2018 r.