Editorial: Current research on fish otoliths and their applications

Based on the contributions within this Research Topic, fish age and growth estimation remain primary to fisheries biology and management. Visconti et al. presented the otolith-based analysis of age and growth of the spotted moray eel, Gymnothorax moringa and squirrelfish, Holocentrus adscensionis, from two isolated islands (S Atlantic). They documented clear spatial differences in the lifespan, body size, and growth rate of both groundfish species, emphasizing the need to account for such geographical variations when developing management plans for commercially important species. This study builds on the previous one by Visconti et al., which examined two filefishes from the Solomon Islands (S Pacific): the honeycomb filefish, Cantherhines pardalis, and the broom filefish, Amanses scopas. Observed contrasts in growth trajectories and life-history strategies suggested ecological plasticity among species living in the same location, in this case on the same reef.Extending this perspective to freshwater systems, Xiang et al. investigated population characteristics and exploitation status of Odontobutis potamophila in a lake (N China). The results indicated a short generation time, a population dominated by juveniles, and a relatively high exploitation rate; all of this suggesting that the stock is slightly overfished. On the other hand, the opportunistic life history trait of this species may enhance its resilience to exploitation and adaptability to changing environments. An important fishing was also investigated by Sion et al., who