Assessment of laser ablation and solution-based ICP-MS applications commonly used in otolith geochemical analysis of marine teleosts

Different applications of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) have the potential to influence results of otolith geochemical assays. Laser ablation and solution-based ICP-MS were compared on paired otoliths from three species of juvenile fish representative of estuarine (red drum [...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Michelle Zapp Sluis, Daniel L. Lippi, Phillip J. Sanchez, Nathaniel R. Miller, Shane A. Stephens, Beatrice P. Ferreira, Jay R. Rooker
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Marine Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1531755/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850229480082112512
author Michelle Zapp Sluis
Daniel L. Lippi
Phillip J. Sanchez
Phillip J. Sanchez
Nathaniel R. Miller
Shane A. Stephens
Beatrice P. Ferreira
Jay R. Rooker
author_facet Michelle Zapp Sluis
Daniel L. Lippi
Phillip J. Sanchez
Phillip J. Sanchez
Nathaniel R. Miller
Shane A. Stephens
Beatrice P. Ferreira
Jay R. Rooker
author_sort Michelle Zapp Sluis
collection DOAJ
description Different applications of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) have the potential to influence results of otolith geochemical assays. Laser ablation and solution-based ICP-MS were compared on paired otoliths from three species of juvenile fish representative of estuarine (red drum [Sciaenops ocellatus]), coastal/reef (gray parrotfish [Sparisoma axillare]), and pelagic (blackfin tuna [Thunnus atlanticus]) ecosystems. Additionally, two laser ablation techniques (continuous line transects and series of spots) were performed to determine whether these two commonly used approaches yielded comparable results. No significant differences existed between line transects and spots for any of the three species investigated, with high correlations occurring for all otolith element:Ca (E:Ca) values retained for statistical testing (Mg:Ca, Mn:Ca, Sr:Ca, Ba:Ca), suggesting that both laser ablation techniques produced equivalent otolith E:Ca values. In contrast, pronounced differences in E:Ca values were detected between laser ablation (across otolith transverse section) and solution-based (whole otolith dilution) applications on paired sagittal otoliths. While some E:Ca discrepancies varied among the three species, overall otolith E:Ca values were higher when quantified by laser ablation, except for Ba:Ca which tended to be higher when analyzed by solution-based ICP-MS. Differences observed between laser ablation and solution-based applications are the result of the allometric growth of the otolith and may become more pronounced in older, larger individuals as the differential growth along the otolith axes becomes less uniform with age. Further, laser ablation techniques can examine life history profiles and discern fluctuations over time, proving a preferred application over solution-based analysis.
format Article
id doaj-art-38b3b3bb17254699b925e69b76e49d63
institution OA Journals
issn 2296-7745
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Marine Science
spelling doaj-art-38b3b3bb17254699b925e69b76e49d632025-08-20T02:04:13ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452025-02-011210.3389/fmars.2025.15317551531755Assessment of laser ablation and solution-based ICP-MS applications commonly used in otolith geochemical analysis of marine teleostsMichelle Zapp Sluis0Daniel L. Lippi1Phillip J. Sanchez2Phillip J. Sanchez3Nathaniel R. Miller4Shane A. Stephens5Beatrice P. Ferreira6Jay R. Rooker7Department of Marine Biology, College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies, Texas A&M University, Galveston, TX, United StatesDepartment of Marine Biology, College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies, Texas A&M University, Galveston, TX, United StatesDepartment of Marine Biology, College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies, Texas A&M University, Galveston, TX, United StatesNoas Island Laboratories, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, PanamaJackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United StatesDepartment of Marine Biology, College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies, Texas A&M University, Galveston, TX, United StatesDepartment of Oceanography, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, BrazilDepartment of Marine Biology, College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies, Texas A&M University, Galveston, TX, United StatesDifferent applications of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) have the potential to influence results of otolith geochemical assays. Laser ablation and solution-based ICP-MS were compared on paired otoliths from three species of juvenile fish representative of estuarine (red drum [Sciaenops ocellatus]), coastal/reef (gray parrotfish [Sparisoma axillare]), and pelagic (blackfin tuna [Thunnus atlanticus]) ecosystems. Additionally, two laser ablation techniques (continuous line transects and series of spots) were performed to determine whether these two commonly used approaches yielded comparable results. No significant differences existed between line transects and spots for any of the three species investigated, with high correlations occurring for all otolith element:Ca (E:Ca) values retained for statistical testing (Mg:Ca, Mn:Ca, Sr:Ca, Ba:Ca), suggesting that both laser ablation techniques produced equivalent otolith E:Ca values. In contrast, pronounced differences in E:Ca values were detected between laser ablation (across otolith transverse section) and solution-based (whole otolith dilution) applications on paired sagittal otoliths. While some E:Ca discrepancies varied among the three species, overall otolith E:Ca values were higher when quantified by laser ablation, except for Ba:Ca which tended to be higher when analyzed by solution-based ICP-MS. Differences observed between laser ablation and solution-based applications are the result of the allometric growth of the otolith and may become more pronounced in older, larger individuals as the differential growth along the otolith axes becomes less uniform with age. Further, laser ablation techniques can examine life history profiles and discern fluctuations over time, proving a preferred application over solution-based analysis.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1531755/fullotolithgeochemistryICP-MSlaser ablationsolution-based
spellingShingle Michelle Zapp Sluis
Daniel L. Lippi
Phillip J. Sanchez
Phillip J. Sanchez
Nathaniel R. Miller
Shane A. Stephens
Beatrice P. Ferreira
Jay R. Rooker
Assessment of laser ablation and solution-based ICP-MS applications commonly used in otolith geochemical analysis of marine teleosts
Frontiers in Marine Science
otolith
geochemistry
ICP-MS
laser ablation
solution-based
title Assessment of laser ablation and solution-based ICP-MS applications commonly used in otolith geochemical analysis of marine teleosts
title_full Assessment of laser ablation and solution-based ICP-MS applications commonly used in otolith geochemical analysis of marine teleosts
title_fullStr Assessment of laser ablation and solution-based ICP-MS applications commonly used in otolith geochemical analysis of marine teleosts
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of laser ablation and solution-based ICP-MS applications commonly used in otolith geochemical analysis of marine teleosts
title_short Assessment of laser ablation and solution-based ICP-MS applications commonly used in otolith geochemical analysis of marine teleosts
title_sort assessment of laser ablation and solution based icp ms applications commonly used in otolith geochemical analysis of marine teleosts
topic otolith
geochemistry
ICP-MS
laser ablation
solution-based
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1531755/full
work_keys_str_mv AT michellezappsluis assessmentoflaserablationandsolutionbasedicpmsapplicationscommonlyusedinotolithgeochemicalanalysisofmarineteleosts
AT danielllippi assessmentoflaserablationandsolutionbasedicpmsapplicationscommonlyusedinotolithgeochemicalanalysisofmarineteleosts
AT phillipjsanchez assessmentoflaserablationandsolutionbasedicpmsapplicationscommonlyusedinotolithgeochemicalanalysisofmarineteleosts
AT phillipjsanchez assessmentoflaserablationandsolutionbasedicpmsapplicationscommonlyusedinotolithgeochemicalanalysisofmarineteleosts
AT nathanielrmiller assessmentoflaserablationandsolutionbasedicpmsapplicationscommonlyusedinotolithgeochemicalanalysisofmarineteleosts
AT shaneastephens assessmentoflaserablationandsolutionbasedicpmsapplicationscommonlyusedinotolithgeochemicalanalysisofmarineteleosts
AT beatricepferreira assessmentoflaserablationandsolutionbasedicpmsapplicationscommonlyusedinotolithgeochemicalanalysisofmarineteleosts
AT jayrrooker assessmentoflaserablationandsolutionbasedicpmsapplicationscommonlyusedinotolithgeochemicalanalysisofmarineteleosts