Mass and mechanical sensitivity of otoliths.

It has been suggested that the changes of otolith mass during the otolith development in altered gravity conditions as well as the growth of otoliths in fishes in normal conditions are determined by the feedback between the otolith dynamics and the processes that regulate otolith growth. This hypothesis originates from the pendulum model of an otolith (de Vries, 1950), in which otolith mass is a parameters. The validity of this hypothesis is tested by comparing the pendulum model with a simplified spatially distributed model of an otolith. It was shown that when the otolith plate (otoconial layer) was spatially distributed and fixed to the macular surface, the mechanical sensitivity of the otolith does not depend on the total otolith mass and its longitudinal dimensions. It is determined by otolith thickness, Young's modulus, and the viscosity of the gel layer of the growing otolith. These parameters may change in order to secure otolith sensitivity under altered dynamic conditions (e.g., in microgravity). Possible hypotheses regarding the relationship between the otolith growth, otolith dynamics and animal growth are proposed and discussed here. c2003 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.