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. 2022 Nov 29;11(12):1733.
doi: 10.3390/biology11121733.

Spatiotemporal Variability of Trace Elements Fingerprints in Otoliths of Japanese Eel (Anguilla japonica) and Its Use in Tracing Geographic Origin

Takaomi Arai  1 , Shogo Kimura  2
Affiliations

Spatiotemporal Variability of Trace Elements Fingerprints in Otoliths of Japanese Eel (Anguilla japonica) and Its Use in Tracing Geographic Origin

Takaomi Arai et al. Biology (Basel). .

Abstract

To secure traceability along supply chains of foodstuffs, the spatiotemporal variability of trace elements' fingerprints (TEF) in fish otoliths provides a powerful tool to determine and discriminate the origin. Spatiotemporal variability of TEF was examined in a commercially important seafood, Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica), by means of laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS). Six elemental ratios (Na:Ca, Mg:Ca, P:Ca, K:Ca, Sr:Ca, and Ba:Ca) were determined in the otoliths of specimens originating from four aquaculture farms to examine the spatial variability and from one wild habitat over three years to examine the temporal variation. Significant temporal variation was found in Mg:Ca and Sr:Ca ratios; however, discriminant function analysis showed a lower temporal variation (50%) for the three years. Spatial variations were significant in Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca ratios, and discriminant function analysis showed high (80%) spatial variation among the four farms. Otolith TEF in the Japanese eel showed specific spatial variation among aquaculture farms but intangible temporal variation, suggesting the otolith TEF reflect each aquaculture environment. The present study shows that otolith TEF can be a reliable tool to discriminate the geographic origin of the Japanese eel.

Keywords: element; environmental forensics; otolith microchemistry; stock identification; traceability.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Otolith elemental ratios (mean ± SD) for three years (2007, 2008, 2009) in the Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) collected in Oi River, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The letter a indicates statistically significant difference at p < 0.05.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Quadratic discriminant function analysis over three years (2007, 2008, 2009) based on all the otolith elemental ratios (Na:Ca, Mg:Ca, P:Ca, K:Ca, Sr:Ca, and Ba:Ca) in the Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) collected in Oi River, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Otolith elemental ratios (mean ± SD) in the Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) collected in four aquaculture farms in East Asia. C: China; K: Kagoshima Prefecture of Japan; S: Shizuoka Prefecture of Japan; T: Taiwan. The letters a, b and c indicate statistically significant difference at p < 0.001−0.0001.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Quadratic discriminant function analysis among four aquaculture farms (China, Kagoshima Prefecture of Japan, Shizuoka Prefecture of Japan, and Taiwan) in East Asia based on all the otolith elemental ratios (Na:Ca, Mg:Ca, P:Ca, K:Ca, Sr:Ca, and Ba:Ca) in the Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Quadratic discriminant function analysis among five locations in a wild habitat (Oi River) and four aquaculture farms (China, Kagoshima Prefecture of Japan, Shizuoka Prefecture of Japan, and Taiwan) based on all the otolith elemental ratios (Na:Ca, Mg:Ca, P:Ca, K:Ca, Sr:Ca, and Ba:Ca) in the Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica).
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