Using otolith microchemistry to distinguish Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr from different natal streams

The most recent growth layers of otoliths (n = 71) from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr from three streams in Newfoundland, Canada, were analyzed by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. A discriminate function analysis based on the concentrations of Mg, Mn, Sr, and Ba, in the otoliths was used to separate the parr into their natal streams. The jackknifed classification matrix correctly classified 100% of the Feeder Brook otoliths, 91% of the Lomond River otoliths, and 84% of the River of Ponds otoliths. The method can be used to identify the origin of adult fish captured in the marine environment or combined with genetic and scale data to enhance the discriminatory power of these classification schemes.