Does otolith geochemistry record ambient environmental conditions in a temperate tidal estuary?

► Elemental and isotope ratios in ambient water were mainly influenced by salinity. ► Incorporation of Li evidenced potential to reconstruct temperature histories. ► Otolith Ba:Ca, δ13C and δ18O may be valuable tracers of estuarine habitat use. ► Multiple geochemical tags should be used to track fish movements.