The Otolith Lab

Perhaps our most popular yet specialized service!

If you're reading this page, there's a good chance you already know what otoliths are. If not - they're calcified structures in the brain case of fishes that lay down rings like trees do (see picture above) thus allowing exact age determination of fishes. Mussel shells and other structures lay down similar rings. Age data from fishes, mussles and other taxa are invaluable to fisheries managers and scientists. However, otolith and structure ageing is an art. It can take many years to learn how to artfully prepare and age otoliths. Thus making the collection of high quality data from otoliths take just as long.

Remove the hassle of learning how to process, read, and deal with otoliths or other types of samples and back-calculations by taking advantage of our high quality age determination service. WIth >10 years of intense otolith and other structure ageing experience leading to many peer reviewed publications, we offer some of the most precise and rapid age determination services in the world. We also offer very affordable prices:

 

Short lived species - $4 per fish for age determination and back-calculation of all lengths

Long-lived species - $6 per fish for age determination and back-calculation of all lengths

Mussel shells - $8 per shell for age determination and measurement of growth increments

Age validation study using crossing-dating techniques - variable

Growth analyses - variable

 

Notes

*We also offer student discounts - students please contact us for more info*

*We also process fin rays, larval and juvenile otoliths (daily growth), fin rays, catfish spines, scales, mammal teeth, bones, tree rings and more.

 

The Otolith Lab - Mountain Brook Environmental, LLC
7211 Dale Ave. Saint Louis, Missouri, 63117 
Phone 205.886.9916
Email: rypel@mountainbrookenvironmental.com               

 

Follow us now on Twitter!