Dataset: Geochemical concentrations of elements measured in transects across otoliths of three Gulf of Mexico fish species collected from 2021-2023

Fish collection locations and associated information are found in an accompanying dataset for this project: https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/916418.

Otolith element concentrations for each individual fish were measured at the University of Austin, Jackson School of Geosciences using laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Standard reference materials included a National Institute of Standards and Technology glass standard (NIST-612) and a United States Geological Survey microanalytical carbonate standard pressed pellet (MACS-3). Otolith element concentrations were quantified along the longest dorso-ventral axis spanning the core (i.e., hatch) to the edge (i.e,. death). The distance measurement indicates the distance of the laser spot as it progressed from the beginning of the transect near the otolith core (a distance of zero) and progressively moving outward to the outer edge of the ototlith.

Analytical methods followed the detailed methods provided in Altenritter et al. (2018) and Altenritter and Walther (2019).