Bomb radiocarbon in otoliths and eye lenses of reef fishes from Atlantic waters of the southeastern U.S.

Abstract Reef-associated fishes are integral components of marine ecosystems; many also support recreational, commercial, and subsistence fisheries. The sustainable management of these fisheries requires a detailed region-specific understanding of population age structure so that size and age data of fisheries species can be used to estimate life history parameters. Bomb-produced radiocarbon ( 14 C) records are sparse in the western North Atlantic Ocean (WNAO); a need exists to establish new chronologies in regions that are fished to allow use of this unique tool in age validation studies. Utilizing known-age otolith material from reef-associated demersal fishes collected from continental shelf habitats of the southeastern U.S. (SEUS), we determined that a distinct regional 14 C chronology exists for shallow SEUS waters, differing from 14 C reference chronologies for the adjacent regions of Bermuda, Florida Keys, and north Caribbean. Our results provide additional 14 C data from the WNAO for investigating oceanic water mass age and renewal and a new 14 C reference time series for use as an important tool to validate age estimation of SEUS demersal reef fish species. Age estimation methods for SEUS rock hind Epinephelus adscensionis , red hind E. guttatus , and yellowfin grouper Mycteroperca venenosa were successfully validated in this study; SEUS rock hind attained a maximum age of 35 years, extending the longevity of this species in the region from a previous maximum age of 12. Our results also extended maximum ages for SEUS red hind from 11 to 23 years and yellowfin grouper from 31 to 37 years.