Fatty acid biomarkers reveal niche separation in an Arctic benthic food web

Abstract

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 336:305-309 (2007) - doi:10.3354/meps336305 Fatty acid biomarkers reveal niche separation in an Arctic benthic food web Suzanne M. Budge1,*, Alan M. Springer2, Sara J. Iverson3, Gay Sheffield4 1Department of Process Engineering and Applied Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2X4, Canada 2Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA 3Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1, Canada 4Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fairbanks, Alaska 99701, USA *Email: suzanne.budge@dal.ca ABSTRACT: Marine fatty acids (FA) are synthesized primarily by phytoplankton and have a wide variety of structures. Biochemical restrictions on the synthesis or modification of FA in animals make it possible to recognize those derived from their prey; numerous studies have demonstrated the transfer of FA from prey to predator at various trophic levels. Although rarely occurring, a few FA found in animals, including the C20 and C22 non-methylene-interrupted (NMI) FA, can be traced to quite specific prey types. These unusual lipids are synthesized de novo by certain benthic mollusks, particularly bivalves, through chain elongation and desaturation of common monounsaturated FA precursors. Their proportions vary among species, suggesting that they might be particularly suitable as biomarkers in food web studies. We recently discovered NMI FA in 2 species of sympatric, benthic-feeding pinnipeds in Alaska, bearded seals Erignathus barbatus and Pacific walruses Odobenus rosmarus. Significant differences in proportions of 6 NMI FA, and patterns of other FA, demonstrated considerable dietary separation between the bearded seals and walruses. This is the first report of NMI FA in marine mammals, and the first use of these specific FA biomarkers in evaluating trophic pathways in mammals. These individual FA biomarkers, together with suites of other FA, have wide application in understanding marine food webs, including those in the Arctic where rapid environmental change threatens fragile ecosystems. KEY WORDS: Fatty acids · Non-methylene interrupted · Trophic ecology · Bearded seals · Walruses · Diet Full text in pdf format PreviousExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 336. Online publication date: April 27, 2007 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2007 Inter-Research.