Abstract
The elemental content of fish scales is known to be a reliable biogeochemical tag for tracing the origin of fishes. In this study, this correlation is further confirmed to exist on the surface of fish scales using a novel environmental analytical method, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), which bypasses several complicated sample preparation procedures such as acid digestion and pre-concentration. The results suggest that the elemental ratios of Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca, and Mn/Ca on the surface of fish scales are strongly correlated with the geochemical environment of their original habitat. This correlation is further demonstrated to be sensitive to variation of water in the habitat due to the adsorbed inorganic ions. In this sense, the limitation of fish scales as a biogeochemical tag is the sensitivity of LA-ICP-MS toward the studied elements.
Illustration of the connection between element distribution pattern over the surface of fish scales and biogeochemical environment of its habitat
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Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful for the support of this study by the Ministry of Science and Technology, ROC (MOST 104-2119-M-007-015 and MOST 104-2811-M-007-097)
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Wang, T., Lai, YC., Chiang, CC. et al. Element distribution over the surface of fish scales and its connection to the geochemical environment of habitats: a potential biogeochemical tag. Environ Monit Assess 188, 180 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5174-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5174-x