Aquatic organisms are natural data loggers and record chemical variations within hardened accretionary structures like shells and teeth. Chemical sclerochronology is the study of these chemical variations through time and how they are used to understand environmental change and the physiology and ecology of species. While sclerochronology research has largely focused on bivalves, teleost fish, and hard corals, there are many other aquatic taxa rich with time‐resolved chemical data. To expand focus to these “other” taxa and determine the state‐of‐play, we compiled a database of chemical sclerochronology studies spanning nine living phyla and 19 classes. We then examined research trends and knowledge gaps across these taxa and showcase their exciting potential to collect critical data and address pressing environmental and ecological challenges. We hope this synthesis will encourage further research on species across the tree of life, as well as foster collaboration among the established and lesser‐known fields of sclerochronology.

中文翻译：

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利用水生生物分类群增生结构中丰富的化学数据：来自生命之树的机遇


水生生物是天然的数据记录器，记录坚硬的增生结构（如壳和牙齿）内的化学变化。化学硬化年代学是研究这些化学随时间的变化以及如何使用它们来理解环境变化以及物种的生理学和生态学的学科。虽然硬化年代学研究主要集中在双壳类、硬骨鱼和硬珊瑚上，但还有许多其他水生分类群拥有丰富的时间分辨化学数据。为了将重点扩大到这些“其他”分类群并确定其发展状态，我们编制了一个涵盖 9 个现生门和 19 个类的化学硬化年代学研究数据库。然后，我们研究了这些分类群的研究趋势和知识差距，并展示了它们在收集关键数据和应对紧迫的环境和生态挑战方面令人兴奋的潜力。我们希望这种综合将鼓励对生命之树中物种的进一步研究，并促进已建立和鲜为人知的硬化年代学领域之间的合作。