Understanding the influences on growth and composition of otoliths continues to be a fundamental challenge for chemists and biologists. Since the recognition of the daily increment pattern in the 1970s, there has been a growing interest in otolith microstructure. Otoliths are mainly composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). Otoliths crystallize from a fluid (endolymph) within a canal in the inner ear and their continual growth is recognizable as concentric rings of alternating opaque and translucent zones. The discovery that otoliths are not subject to resorption and that their composition will vary with fish development state (age) and environmental factors has allowed only a range of applications for otolith microchemistry including stock identification, reconstruction of temperature and salinity of waters, determination of migratory patterns, differentiation among groups of fish and as pollution indicators. Otoliths provide unique records of the fish environment and migrations and are widely used in fish research and management. However, analytical limitations (sensitivity, accuracy and spatial resolution) and the lack of understanding of factors influencing otolith composition and growth may lead to erroneous interpretations in the above applications. The purpose of my Ph.D. is to understand the mechanisms and influences of metal uptake in fish otoliths and to develop new analytical methods and improve related laser ablation analytical techniques.

Affiliations

Student member:

• Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC)
• Canadian Society for Chemistry (CSC)
• Society of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology - Laurential Chapter (SETAC)
• Ordre des Chimistes du Québec (OCQ)

Fryer, Brian, Zhaoping Yang, Sonia Melançon and Joel Gagnon. 2007. "Isotopic analysis of biominerals by LA-MC-ICP-MS: The role of ultra short pulse width (Fs) lasers," 34^th FACSS Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies, Memphis, Tennessee, October 14-18, 2007.

Melançon, S., B.J. Fryer, J.E. Gagnon, S.A. Ludsin and Z. Yang. “Effects of crystal structure on the uptake of metals by lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) otoliths,” 2005. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 62:2609-2619.
[S.A. Ludsin is from the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Ann Arbor Michigan]

Ludsin S.A., B.J. Fryer, Z. Yang, S. Melançon and J.L. Markham. 2004. Exploration of the Existence of Natural Reproduction in Lake Erie Lake Trout Using Otolith Microchemistry. Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Conference Presentations

Sonia Melançon, Brian J. Fryer and James L. Markham. 2007. "The relationship between blood, endolymph and otolith chemistry of two freshwater fish species," 137^th American Fisheries Society Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 2-6, 2007.

Fryer, Brian J., Sonia Melançon, Shaoping Yang, Joel E. Gagnon and Stuart A. Ludsin. 2007. "Biomineralization in fresh water fish: Microgeochemical tools and approaches to understanding and solving fisheries issues," 137^th American Fisheries Society Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 2-6, 2007.

Fryer, Brian J., Sonia Melançon, Zhaoping Yang, Joel E. Gagnon, Yolanda E. Morbey and Stuart A. Ludsin. 2007. "Biomineralization in fresh water fish: A powerful tool towards solving fisheries issues requires understanding of nucleation and growth in unusual media," Frontiers in Mineral Science 2007, Cambridge, UK, June 26-29, 2007.

Melançon Sonia, Brian J. Fryer, Christopher Weisener and Joel E. Gagnon. 2006. “Spectroscopic analysis of the nucleation of biominerals,” 89th Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition, Halifax, NS, May 27- 31, 2006.
1st prize for best oral presentation in the Environmental Chemistry Division

Melançon Sonia, Brian J. Fryer, Christopher G. Weisener et Joel E. Gagnon. 2006. "Nucléation et croissance des otolithes de perchaude". 74e Congrès de l’Association francophone pour le savoir (ACFAS), Montréal, Québec, 15-19 mai 2006.

Melançon Sonia, Brian J. Fryer, Christopher G. Weisener and Joel E. Gagnon. 2005. “Microchemistry, nucleation and growth of otoliths,” PACIFICHEM 2005, Honolulu, Hawaii 15-20 December, 2005.

Melançon, Sonia, Brian J. Fryer and Joel E. Gagnon. 2005. “Nucleation and growth of teleost fish otoliths,” 5th SETAC World Congress, Baltimore, Maryland, 13-17 November, 2005.

Melançon Sonia, Brian J. Fryer and Joel E. Gagnon. 2005. “Use of LA-ICP-MS and Raman spectroscopy to study the effects of crystal structure on the uptake of metals by fish otoliths,” 88th Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, May 28- June 1, 2005.

Melançon Sonia, Brian J. Fryer and Joel E. Gagnon. 2004. “Microchemistry and composition of fish otoliths,” 4th SETAC World Congress, Portland, Oregon 14-18 November, 2004.

Fryer, Brian, Joel E. Gagnon, Sonia Melançon, Zhaoping Yang and Stuart A. Ludsin. 2004. “Special capabilities of LA-ICP-MS in environmental research,” EnviroAnalysis 2004, Toronto, Ontario, 17-21 May, 2004.

Melançon Sonia et Brian Fryer. 2004. “Chimie et composition des otolithes de poisson, ». 72e Congrès de l’Association francophone pour le savoir (ACFAS), Montréal, Québec, 10-14 mai 2004.

Melançon, Sonia, Brian J. Fryer et Sébastien Sauvé (Université de Montréal). 2003. « Le platine dans l’air de la ville de Montréal, », 7e Colloque du Chapitre St-Laurent (SETAC), Montréal, Québec, 15-16 mai 2003.