Non‐lethal sampling for the stable isotope analysis of the critically endangered European eel Anguilla anguilla : how fin and mucus compare to dorsal muscle

Authors

RM Boardman
AC Pinder
AT Piper
Catherine Gutmann Roberts, School of Biological and Marine Sciences
RM Wright
JR Britton

ORCID

• Catherine Gutmann Roberts: 0000-0002-8506-3355

Abstract

Ecological studies on the critically endangered European eel Anguilla anguilla often incorporate stable isotope analysis that typically uses dorsal muscle sampled from euthanised eels. To minimise the lethal sampling of imperilled populations, fin tissue and/or epidermal mucus can provide non-lethal alternatives to muscle. The results here indicate that δ13 C and δ15 N values of both eel fin and mucus are not significantly different from those of muscle and can be applied directly in comparative SI studies.

DOI

10.1111/jfb.14992

Publication Date

2022-01-13

Publication Title

Journal of Fish Biology

ISSN

0022-1112

Embargo Period

2022-02-11

Recommended Citation

Boardman, R., Pinder, A., Piper, A., Gutmann Roberts, C., Wright, R., & Britton, J. (2022) 'Non‐lethal sampling for the stable isotope analysis of the critically endangered European eel Anguilla anguilla : how fin and mucus compare to dorsal muscle', Journal of Fish Biology, . Available at: 10.1111/jfb.14992" >https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.14992