A two-dimension otolith growth inverse model

An inverse growth model was developed to describe fish otolith ontogenetic growth to find the most parsimonious growth field that drives the actual shape of an internal incremental structure to the actual external shape of the otolith. This approach is based in a pure physic model, and the single implicit assumption was that the otolith accretion occurred perpendicular to its external surface. The model could be used to define a general hypothesis situation, in the sense that it predicts the most plausible shape of the otolith at any time, assuming that no additional external forces have acted. Therefore, severe departures between the observed growth structure and the closest prediction to it could be used to identify anatomical constraints and physiological factors that modulate the pure physical expectations. (c) 2008 The Authors Journal compilation (c) 2008 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.