Life Sciences Commons^™

An In-Depth Evaluation Of Otolith Zonation And An Ageing Comparison Of Otoliths, Scales, And Pectoral Fin Rays Of Redband Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss Gairdneri) And Bluegill (Lepomis Macrochirus), Dennis A. Daw

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Redband Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri), a native subspecies of Rainbow Trout residing east of the Cascade Mountains, USA, are a popular sport fish in much of its range. Bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) are one the most important recreational fishes in North America, and are also sought by anglers in many Idaho waters. There is extensive confusion surrounding the timing and interpretation of otolith zones, specifically, which zone represents fast growth and which represents slow growth. Further, otoliths are a lethal sampling method and regardless of population status, many fisheries biologists prefer to use no lethal sampling methods. To determine if the …