Abstract
This dataset comprises microchemical data from otolith samples of the New Zealand snapper (Chrysophrys auratus), a species of ecological, economic, and cultural significance, collected within the Snapper 1 Fishery (SNA1) management area, which includes key regions along New Zealand's North Island. A total of 63 otolith samples were analyzed from archaeological middens spanning the late 13th to 18th centuries CE, reflecting the species' historical interactions with human activities (Parsons et al. 2014 https://doi.org/10.1080/00288330.2014.892013, Parsons et al. 2016 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF15056). Additionally, 20 historical otoliths from New Zealand's Ministry of Primary Industries' 1975 commercial fishery collections and 130 samples from recreational fishing in 2016 and 2020 were examined to compare with archaeological data.
Our methodological approach involved laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine the elemental compositions of otoliths, capturing data on environmental and anthropogenic influences over time (Campana & Thorrold, 2001 https://doi.org/10.1139/f00-177). Sampling sites such as Tauranga Bay, Ōtata Island, and Long Bay were selected based on their documented historical and environmental significance, providing a diverse representation of the North Island's ecological history (Shane et al. 2013 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2013.03.026; Campbell et al. 2019 https://pacificarchaeology.org/index.php/journal/article/view/291).
This study combines archaeological, historical, and contemporary otolith samples to construct a dataset that spans several centuries. The findings aim to enhance the understanding of the historical range of ecological conditions experienced by C. auratus, facilitated by a broad geographic and temporal analysis across New Zealand's coastal environments.