Abstract
Microtechniques with disposable,calibrated, capillary pipets were developed to measure amounts and classes of lipids in individual Lake Michigan benthic invertebrates. After lipids from an animal were partitioned into 100 µl of extraction solvent and purified, measured portions were weighed with an electrobalance. Lipids in some samples were also characterized by thin layer chromatography with flame ionization detection (TLC‐FID). The extraction method was calibrated gravimetrically with cod liver oil and evaluated with a dry, ground fish sample. Lipid content was proportional (r = 0.99) to fish tissue dry weight over the range of 0.3–13 mg. TLC‐FID measurements correlated well (r = 0.98) with gravimetric analysis for portions of extracts of individual amphipods (Pontoporeia hoyi) and oligochaetes (Stylodrilus heringianus). TLC‐FID analysis indicated that <5% of the measured gravimetric weights was due to the inclusion of nonlipid material in the extracts.
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