The larval to postlarval period (the period between egg and juvenile) of many continental-shelf fish species lasts only a few weeks but has been shown to be critical to survival. During this period, individuals may travel long distances from spawning to juvenile habitats and are often difficult to locate. Fish eye lenses, which are constructed sequentially with minimal tissue turnover, record successive isotopic values for the entire lifespan. We present a widely applicable method of using the isotope values from the inner-most eye lens lamina (core: representing the larval to postlarval period) as a historical record of early life movement and location. By correlating the eye-lens core δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values with juvenile capture location (i.e. settlement habitat) or with core size (i.e., growth during the first few weeks of life), we interpreted variability within the isotope values of a species as geographic origin and movement. We then evaluated the method using four northeastern Gulf of Mexico reef-fish species. Gag isotope values indicated movement inshore during the postlarval period. Red Grouper values suggested movement in both the inshore and alongshore directions. Black Seabass isotope values indicated a widely distributed early life with potential southward movement. Red Snapper isotope values suggested that larvae and postlarvae are widely distributed along the outer continental shelf, but do not move far from spawning origins in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Bulk isotope values in fish eye lens cores can strengthen early life origin and movement data for many species of marine fishes, including those for which little early-life information exists.

许多大陆架鱼类的幼虫至幼虫期（卵与幼虫之间的时期）仅持续数周，但已证明对生存至关重要。在此期间，个体可能从产卵到幼年栖息地的距离很长，通常很难找到。鱼眼镜头按顺序构造，组织翻转最少，可记录整个寿命的连续同位素值。我们提出了一种最广泛使用的方法，该方法使用最内眼晶状体薄片的同位素值（核心：代表幼虫到幼虫期）作为早期生命活动和位置的历史记录。通过眼透镜芯相关δ ¹³ C和δ ¹⁵N值与少年捕获位置（即定居栖息地）或核心大小（即生命的头几周内的生长）有关，我们将物种的同位素值内的变异性解释为地理起源和运动。然后，我们使用墨西哥东北部的四种礁鱼物种评估了该方法。Gag同位素值表明在幼虫期后近岸运动。Red Grouper值建议沿近海和近海方向移动。黑海鲈的同位素值表明早期生命广泛分布，并可能向南移动。红鲷鱼的同位素值表明，幼虫和后期幼虫沿外大陆架广泛分布，但离墨西哥湾东部的产卵源不远。