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Assessing the validity of stylets as ageing tools in Octopus pallidus

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 18:33 authored by Doubleday, ZA, Jayson SemmensJayson Semmens, Gretta PeclGretta Pecl, Jackson, GD
A method to age octopus was determined through the quantification of growth increments within the stylet structure (highly reduced internal shells). To validate the periodicity of the increments, stylets were analysed from known-age laboratory-raised Octopus pallidus. The animals, which ranged from 3 to 8 months old, were exposed either to a simulated natural or to constant temperature regime. Transverse stylet sections were embedded in thermo-plastic cement and ground until a thin section was achieved. A pre-hatch region and first post-hatch increment was identified in the stylet microstructure. The number of increments, across all ages and temperature treatments, was in remarkably close agreement to age (number of days), clearly demonstrating that stylet increments are deposited daily throughout the lifecycle of O. pallidus. Morphometric analyses of the stylet indicated that increments were laid down regularly during stylet growth and that stylets grew in concert with body size, further supporting daily periodicity. This study successfully validates daily increments in stylets and thus demonstrate a method to age octopus, therefore, potentially having critical implications for future octopus research and the effective management of stocks worldwide. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

History

Publication title

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

Volume

338

Pagination

35 - 42

ISSN

0022-0981

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Elsevier

Place of publication

Netherlands

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Fisheries - wild caught not elsewhere classified

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