Non-lethal sampling for the stable isotope analysis of the critically endangered European eel Anguilla anguilla: how fin and mucus compare to dorsal muscle

Ecological studies on the critically endangered European eel Anguilla anguilla often incorporate stable isotope analysis that typically uses dorsal muscle sampled from euthanised eels. To minimise the lethal sampling of imperilled populations, fin tissue and/or epidermal mucus can provide non-lethal alternatives to muscle. The results here indicate that delta C-13 and delta N-15 values of both eel fin and mucus are not significantly different from those of muscle and can be applied directly in comparative SI studies.

Automated summary

This study found that fin tissue and epidermal mucus of the European eel can be used as non-lethal alternatives to muscle in stable isotope analysis, providing comparable results.