In order to assess growth, a small number of bass of all sizes are killed and a bone, known as the otolith, is extracted from the skull.    From Wordnik.com. Reference

In the first place, each species of fish has a unique otolith shape.    From Wordnik.com.  [Boing Boing] Reference

Find an otolith expert and he or she will be able to give you a menu.    From Wordnik.com.  [Boing Boing] Reference

The Ciona βγ-crystallin is only expressed in the palps and in the otolith, the pigmented sister cell of the light-sensing ocellus.    From Wordnik.com.  [Insight Into Eye Evolution Deals Blow To Intelligent Design - The Panda's Thumb] Reference

In each chamber is a membranous sac containing an otolith, and the auditory nerves pass from the cerebral ganglia into the cartilaginous chambers to reach the auditory sacs.    From Wordnik.com.  [On the Genesis of Species] Reference

Is the otolith the well sought after Philosopher's Stone?.    From Wordnik.com.  [The News is NowPublic.com - NowPublic.com: The News is Now Public] Reference

The ear structure in fish is known as an otolith and is made up of minerals.    From Wordnik.com.  [msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines] Reference

otolith microstructure revealed the species to be annual and deposit an otolith check associated with sex-change.    From Wordnik.com.  [ScienceBlogs Channel : Life Science] Reference

She removed a tiny ear bone, known as an otolith, from each fish, and measured the chemical elements contained in it.    From Wordnik.com.  [PhysOrg.com - latest science and technology news stories] Reference

For those us that are interested in the mystical, the word for otolith is derived from the Greek oto - meaning 'ear', and lithos - meaning 'stone', or 'earstone'.    From Wordnik.com.  [The News is NowPublic.com - NowPublic.com: The News is Now Public] Reference

The vestibular system in the inner ear is made up of three semicircular canals and two otolith organs that continuously send messages to the brain about the head's rotation and motion as well as its orientation relative to gravity.    From Wordnik.com.  [TIME.com: Top Stories] Reference

Moreover, in the high density population, individuals that later became males were those individuals that had the largest otolith size at hatching and consistently deposited larger increments throughout early larval, juvenile and female life.    From Wordnik.com.  [ScienceBlogs Channel : Life Science] Reference

In the current study titled, "Natal Homing and Connectivity in Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Populations," Rooker and fellow researchers examine the chemical composition of the fish's ear bone - the otolith - to identify individuals from different nurseries.    From Wordnik.com.  [UnderwaterTimes.com News of the Underwater World] Reference

The shared roll-tilt dependent modulation of trial-to-trial variability for both SVV and SHV, on the other hand, indicates that the perception of earth-verticality is dominated by the same sensory signal, i.e. the otolith signal, independent of whether the line/rod setting is under visual or tactile control.    From Wordnik.com.  [BioMed Central - Latest articles] Reference

Now, the researchers are poised to determine whether the otolith growth abnormality exists in fish other than white seabass; to locate the physical mechanism that causes the enhanced otolith growth; and to assess whether the larger otoliths have a functional effect on the survival and the behaviour of the fish.    From Wordnik.com.  [Gaea Times (by Simple Thoughts) Breaking News and incisive views 24/7] Reference

Other articles included in the special issue evaluate the comparative benefits of different types of vestibular rehabilitation exercises (habituation exercises versus gaze stability exercises) to reduce dizziness and improve gaze stability, as well as the influence of damage to the otolith organs of the inner ear on outcomes following vestibular rehabilitation.    From Wordnik.com.  [Newswise: Latest News] Reference

"Every day, new layers are deposited on the outside of the otolith.    From Wordnik.com.  [PhysOrg.com - latest science and technology news stories] Reference

The assumption is that if you tweak them in a certain way it's going to change the dynamics of how the otolith helps the fish stay upright, navigate and survive, "said Checkley.    From Wordnik.com.  [Gaea Times (by Simple Thoughts) Breaking News and incisive views 24/7] Reference

"The new otolith chemistry findings fit perfectly with previous electronic tagging and recent genetic data, which show that distinct bluefin tuna populations mix across the foraging zones of the North Atlantic but separate into distinct spawning areas.    From Wordnik.com.  [UnderwaterTimes.com News of the Underwater World] Reference

(asterisk), and otolith (arrow).    From Wordnik.com.  [PLoS ONE Alerts: New Articles] Reference