University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Bluegill Otolith Processing: Standard Operating Procedures

Lamer, James T.; Brooks, Tovah R.; Capon, Carley N.; Mathews, Kaitlyn M.; Salrin, Olivia G.; Schmidt, Rory L.; Sutton, Devlon S.; Vaske, McKensie A.; Welch, Nicole J.; Wimberly, Hailey R.; Solomon, Levi E.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127963

Description

Title
Bluegill Otolith Processing: Standard Operating Procedures
Author(s)
  • Lamer, James T.
  • Brooks, Tovah R.
  • Capon, Carley N.
  • Mathews, Kaitlyn M.
  • Salrin, Olivia G.
  • Schmidt, Rory L.
  • Sutton, Devlon S.
  • Vaske, McKensie A.
  • Welch, Nicole J.
  • Wimberly, Hailey R.
  • Solomon, Levi E.
Issue Date
2025-05-15
Keyword(s)
  • Otoliths
  • Bluegill
  • Epoxy
  • Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program’s Long Term Resource Monitoring
  • Mounting
  • Specimen Preparation
  • Preservation
Date of Ingest
2025-04-23T14:07:09-05:00
Geographic Coverage
Illinois
Abstract
This document is to support research into vital rates/population demographics of bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus). More specifically, this outlines techniques used to mount otoliths in epoxy, thin section through the focus, photograph the thin section for age estimation, and measure the distance between annuli. We recognize other methodologies as well as brands of equipment and software could be used to perform these tasks, but this is documentation of methods used in support of the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program’s Long Term Resource Monitoring element’s efforts from 2018-2020 and to facilitate future studies of bluegill vital rates/population demographics. All references to locations of folders/files relate to the Illinois River Biological Stations main server: Officeshare (\\INHS-Bison\IRBS) (M:)
Publisher
Illinois Natural History Survey
Series/Report Name or Number
Technical Report: INHS 2025 (06
Type of Resource
text
Genre of Resource
technical report
Language
eng
Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)
Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program
Copyright and License Information
This document is a product of the Illinois Natural History Survey, and has been made available by the Illinois Natural History Survey and the University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It is intended solely for noncommercial research and educational use, and proper attribution is required.

Owning Collections

Technical Reports - Illinois Natural History Survey PRIMARY
Reports produced by INHS staff, usually as deliverables for assessment projects funded by federal or state agencies or non-governmental organizations.