TY - JOUR T1 - Age validation of Dover sole (Microstomus pacificus) by means of bomb radiocarbon JF - Fishery Bulletin Y1 - 2008 A1 - Kastelle, C. R. A1 - Anderl, D. M. A1 - Kimura, D. K. A1 - Johnston, C. G. KW - alaska KW - gulf KW - lead-radium KW - north pacific KW - otoliths KW - paucispinis KW - pleuronectids KW - pollock theragra-chalcogramma KW - quality-control KW - rockfish sebastes-pinniger AB - We used bomb radiocarbon (C-14) in this age validation study of Dover sole (Microstomus pacificus). The otoliths of Dover sole, a commercially important fish in the North Pacific, are difficult to age and ages derived from the current break-and-burn method were not previously validated. The otoliths used in this study were chosen on the basis of estimated birth year and for the ease of interpreting growth zone patterns. Otolith cores, material representing years 0 through 3, were isolated and analyzed for C-14. Additionally, a small number of otoliths with difficult-to-interpret growth patterns were analyzed for C-14 to help determine age interpretation. The measured Dover sole C-14 values in easier-to-interpret otoliths were compared with a C-14. reference chronology for Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) in the North Pacific, We used an objective statistical analysis where sums of squared residuals between otolith C-14 values of Dover sole and the reference chronology were examined. Our statistical analysis also included a procedure where the Dover sole C-14 values were standardized to the reference chronology. These procedures allowed an evaluation of aging error. The C-14 results indicated that the Dover sole age estimates from the easier-to-interpret otoliths with the break-and-burn method are accurate. This study validated Dover sole ages from 8 to 47 years. VL - 106 SN - 0090-0656 IS - 4 N1 - 371ygTimes Cited:4 Cited References Count:34 JO - Fish B-Noaa ER -