Kingsford et al.: The influence of elemental chemistry on the widths of otolith increments in Pomacentrus coelestis 
141 
crystals that are perpendicular to incremental zones, 
or by altering the way in which crystals are bundled 
(tightly packed vs. chaotic bundles). The SEM used in 
this study did not have the resolution to distinguish 
between these alternatives. 
In summary, this study has provided convincing 
evidence that water chemistry can affect the incre- 
ment widths of reef fish otoliths by either direct or 
indirect mechanisms. It is also possible that multiple 
mechanisms have interacted to produce the results 
observed. Although the results presented here are pre- 
liminary, they indicate that interpreting increment 
widths may be more complex than has previously been 
noted and, at least under some circumstances, differ- 
ences in water chemistry may confound patterns pre- 
viously attributed only to growth and condition. Fur- 
ther research on this topic is therefore warranted and 
should include controlled experiments with temporally 
comparable measurements of water chemistry, otolith 
chemistry, and increment widths to tease apart the 
complex mechanisms at work. Lagoons are also found 
on other reefs (Atema et al., 2002), and further studies 
using other water masses are needed to determine if 
the results presented here are prevalent in coral reef 
fish or are specific to the system at One Tree Island. 
Finally, continuing research on natal imprinting may 
elucidate to what extent reef fish imprint on specific 
water masses, and the physiological consequences of 
that imprinting. 
Acknowledgments 
We thank J. Hughes, Mark O’Callaghan, and Kevin 
Blake for assistance with SEM and J. Eagle and J. 
Brown for their assistance in the field. Comments by J. 
Ackerman and B. Curley improved the manuscript. An 
Australian Research Council grant to M. J. Kingsford 
and a Doctoral Merit Research Scholarship from James 
Cook University, Cooperative Research Centre Reef 
Research Centre Grant, and Great Barrier Reef Marine 
Park Authority Augmentative Grant to H. M. Patterson 
supported this project. This study is a contribution from 
One Tree Island Research Station. 
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