Diatom Marker Research Articles

Lipid transfers within the lower food web of western Arctic seas

Polar marine ecosystems are undergoing major transformations due to climate change. Alterations of the physical and chemical growth conditions for plankton are likely to propagate through the food web, potentially having major consequences for the animals that Inuit harvest for subsistence. These alterations can impact the nutritional qualities of plankton through physiological responses or indirectly via changes in the taxonomic composition of assemblages. This study focuses on lipids, which provide a vital source of energy in cold waters, and on essential fatty acids (EFA), such as omega-3 and omega-6 FA, which are necessary for the function, growth, and reproduction of organisms. To better understand how EFA propagate and accumulate in the lower food web, we compared the fatty acid composition of phytoplankton and copepods across a large portion of the western Arctic. The bulk lipid profiles of copepod assemblages were determined largely by their taxonomic composition, but specific fatty acid groups (e.g., omega-6 and saturated fatty acids) exhibited strong correlations with water properties (e.g., pH, salinity). A comparative analysis of specific fatty acids suggests that the animals accumulate eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) but metabolize its precursors, although these processes were not measured directly. The proportions of EPA, docosahexaenoic acid, and specific omega-7 FA (e.g., 16:1ω7) were much higher in copepods than in phytoplankton, and a fatty acid diatom marker accounted for over 45% of the fatty acid pool in copepods. The positive relationship between proportions of this marker in copepods and phytoplankton implies that the fatty acid content of copepods is influenced primarily by recent feeding. These results underscore the importance of long-lived subsurface chlorophyll maxima for trophic transfers of EFA in the strongly stratified waters of the Pacific-influenced sector of the Arctic Ocean and question the paradigm that copepods rely principally on brief surface blooms to rapidly store lipids for the following winter.

Fatty acid profiles reveal dietary variability of a large calanoid copepod Limnocalanus macrurus in the northern Baltic Sea

Eutrophication, climate-induced warming, and salinity fluctuations are altering the fatty acid profiles and the availability of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in marine zooplankton communities. Limnocalanus macrurus Sars G.O., 1863 is a large calanoid copepod inhabiting the low-salinity areas in the Baltic Sea, where it is a major source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to commercially important fish. L. macrurus is sensitive to warming, eutrophication and hypoxia. As an opportunistic feeder, it is capable of dietary shifts, which affects its fatty acid profiles. Although much studied in boreal lakes, there are only a few studies on the fatty acid profiles of the Baltic Sea populations. This study aimed to compare the fatty acid profiles of L. macrurus in three basins of the Baltic Sea, in relation to the community fatty acids and environmental variables. We collected samples of L. macrurus and filtered plankton community for gas chromatographic fatty acid analyses in August 2021 on R/V Aranda. The nutritional quality of L. macrurus to consumers was lower in the Gulf of Finland (GoF) compared to the Gulf of Bothnia, indicated by the low levels of DHA and EPA, as well as the low n-3/n-6 ratio of PUFAs. The lower ratio of 18:1n-7 to 18:1n-9 implied higher degree of omnivory in GoF. In contrast, a diatom marker 16:1n-7 had high proportion in the Bothnian Bay. High temperatures in GoF may have restricted feeding in the upper water column, possibly forcing a shift towards cyanobacteria or seston-based diet, as interpreted from a high proportion of 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3. We conclude that the ability of L. macrurus to utilize multiple food sources increases its resilience to environmental change, while the consequences on the nutritional quality may have further cascading effects on the food webs.

Long-term changes in phytoplankton pigment contents in the Baltic Sea: Trends and spatial variability during 20 years of investigations

The changes in phytoplankton pigment compositions and concentrations during a 20-year period of exploration of the Baltic Sea have been analysed. Both chlorophylls and carotenoids are characterized in the context of their monthly variations in the Gulf of Gdańsk and the open waters of southern Baltic Sea. It is assumed that pigment compositions are good markers of environmental changes, especially in the context of phytoplankton composition and biomass growth. Long-term trends and changes for both regions are established on the basis of marker pigment analyses for a period of two decades (1999–2018). Chlorophyll a, a marker of phytoplankton biomass, is clearly decreasing in both regions: −2.11% yr−1 (slope of trend curve −0.21) in the Gulf of Gdańsk and −2.41% yr−1 (slope −0.08) in the southern Baltic. Decreasing trends for several marker pigments have also been noted in both regions for the period in question, namely, fucoxanthin (diatom marker): −0.10% yr−1 in the Gulf of Gdańsk and the southern Baltic (respective slopes −0.0012 and −0.0003); alloxanthin (cryptophyte marker): −2.28% yr−1 (slope −0.012) in the Gulf of Gdańsk and −0.54% yr−1 (slope −0.001) in the southern Baltic; peridinin (dinoflagellate marker): −4.35% yr−1 (slope −0.05) in the Gulf of Gdańsk and −5.55% yr−1 (slope −0.02) in the southern Baltic. The decreases in the average concentrations of chlorophyll b (−1.30% yr−1, slope −0.008) and neoxanthin (−1.37% yr−1, slope −0.0014) have been slower in the Gulf of Gdańsk than in the southern Baltic (−3.31% yr−1, slope −0.013, and −3.38% yr−1, slope −0.0019 – respectively). In contrast, the yearly mean concentrations of zeaxanthin (the main cyanobacteria carotenoid) have increased significantly, to 7.16% yr−1 (slope 0.016) in the Gulf of Gdańsk and 1.45% yr−1 (slope 0.0022) in the southern Baltic. This may be the consequence of the reduced riverine supply of nutrients to these regions in recent years. The results indicate that the ecosystem of the Gulf of Gdańsk is responding more dynamically to eutrophication-related changes than the open waters of the southern Baltic Sea.

Biochemical characteristics and demography of the marine calanoid copepod Calanus finmarchicus during spring in Icelandic waters

Abstract The chemical composition of Calanus finmarchicus was analyzed at 21 stations from three regions where 12 transects were sampled from 0 to 50 m depth, including stage composition analysis at the Siglunes and Selvogsbanki transects in relation to the effects of different water masses, during a survey in Icelandic waters during 11–29 May 2018. The stage composition of C. finmarchicus at the northern transect of Siglunes was mostly made up of copepodites CI–CIII, around 76%, whereas older copepods CV–CVI dominated, around 64%, at the southern transect of Selvogsbanki. The dry weight (dw) and lipid content of C. finmarchicus were overall highest in the southwest (160 ± 60 μg dw ind−1 and 60 ± 20 μg lipids ind−1) and lowest in the east (120 ± 20 μg dw ind−1 and 30 ± 10 μg lipids ind−1). Total astaxanthin content ranged from 0.14 to 0.27 μg mg−1 dw. Chitin made up 2–4% of the dw. The diatom marker C20:5n3 was prolific in the copepods southwest of Iceland, while the dinoflagellate markers C18:4n3 and C22:6n3 dominated in the copepods east of Iceland. The results indicate that C. finmarchicus found in the south of Iceland developed faster than those in the north, with the variation in chemical composition and developmental time highly influenced by hydrographic regions.

Triterpenoids and fatty alcohols as indicators of mangrove derived organic matter in Northern Kerala Coast, India

Triterpenoids and fatty alcohols were identified from the sediments of five mangrove ecosystems (Kunjimangalam, Pazhayangadi, Pappinissery, Thalassery, and Kadalundi) in the northern Kerala coast, India, to illustrate the organic matter sources. Straight chain fatty alcohols in the range C12–32 were detected, and among these the long chain fatty alcohols (C20–32) were exclusively even chained compounds. Branched fatty alcohols (6,10,14-trimethyl-pentadecan-2-ol and 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2-hexadecanol) of bacterial origin were detected in a few observations. Twenty triterpenoids were detected from the study region in which 13 of them were sterols. Triterpenoids originated from higher plants such as stigmasterol, campesterol, β-sitosterol, taraxerol, lupeol, germanicol, β-amyrin, α-amyrin, and betulin were identified in the study. Brassicasterol, a diatom marker and dinosterol, a dinoflagellates marker were also detected in the study region. An elevated % composition of dinosterol and dissolved oxygen super-saturation were noticed in Kunjimangalam during pre-monsoon, which may suggest elevated input of algal organic matter in the mangrove system. Cholesterol transformation products such as coprostanol and epi-coprostanol were detected, which indicated the presence of fecal contamination in the sedimentary organic matter. From the ternary diagram, it was recognized that the organic matter contribution from marine algae was feeble as compared to terrestrial input.

Comparison of condition metrics and lipid content between Euphausia pacifica and Thysanoessa spinifera in the northern California Current, USA

Krill are a key component of pelagic food webs where they are vital to the transfer of energy from phytoplankton to higher trophic levels. Krill have a high lipid content compared to other zooplankton and form dense aggregations, making them an important prey source for higher trophic level fish, seabirds, and marine mammals. The two dominant euphausiid species in the northern California Current (NCC) are Euphausia pacifica and Thysanoessa spinifera. E. pacifica is the most abundant species of euphausiid in the NCC, but T. spinifera has a higher potential energetic content due to its larger body size and higher lipid density. Most studies have inferred differences in lipid content and body condition between the two species, but few studies have quantified these differences in the NCC. Here, we report on the body condition, carbon and nitrogen content, as well as lipid and fatty acid composition of these two krill species, and the extent to which these metrics vary across season, year, and reproductive status. Body condition, elemental composition, and total lipids strongly differed between the species. T. spinifera had higher length-weight, Fulton’s K, hepato-somatic index, carbon to nitrogen ratio, total lipid per wet weight, and storage lipid compared to E. pacifica, indicating that T. spinifera has a higher energetic value for predators. However, there were strong seasonal differences in the energetics of T. spinifera. Carbon and lipids were highest in non-reproductive T. spinifera from August through October. Although there were strong ontogenetic and inter-specific differences, the lipid and fatty acid compositions of both species followed a seasonal progression characterized by low lipids during the pre-upwelling period, an increase in lipids, triacylglycerols, and diatom markers during upwelling, and increased proportions of dinoflagellate and bacterial diet markers during the fall post-upwelling period.

A novel endogenous selection marker for the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum based on a unique mutation in phytoene desaturase 1

Phaeodactylum tricornutum is a well-developed model diatom for both marine ecology and microalgal biotechnology, which has been enabled by the sequenced genome and the availability of gene delivery tools, such as biolistic transformation and E. coli-mediated conjugation. Till now, these tools have mainly relied on two selectable markers of bacterial origin which confer resistance to antibiotics Zeocin and nourseothricin. An alternative cost-effective and preferably endogenous selectable marker would facilitate gene stacking efforts through successive transformation or conjugation. We performed UV-mutagenesis of P. tricornutum to obtain mutations in the phytoene desaturase (PDS) gene, conferring resistance to the bleaching herbicide norflurazon. Two mutants displaying high tolerance to norflurazon and carrying unique mutations in PtPDS1 (PHATRDRAFT_45735) were selected. These mutants revealed novel point mutations at a conserved residue Gly290 to Ser/Arg. Homology-based structural modeling of mutated PDS1, over a resolved crystallographic model of rice PDS1 complexed with norflurazon, suggests steric hindrance by bulkier residue substitution may confer herbicide resistance. We report the characterization of PtPDS1 mutants and the development of the first endogenous selectable marker in diatoms suitable for industrial strain development, with the added benefit of biocontainment. The plasmid carrying the mutated PDS1 as a selection marker and eGFP as a reporter was created. An optimized biolistic transformation system is reported which allowed the isolation of positive transgenic events at the rate of 96.7%. Additionally, the ease of in vivo UV-mutagenesis may be employed as a strategy to create PDS-norflurazon-based selectable markers for other diatoms.

Neutral and polar lipid fatty acids in five families of demersal and pelagic fish from the deep Northwest Atlantic

AbstractFatty acids in neutral and polar lipids were used to investigate trophic connections in species from five families of demersal (Rajella fyllae, Malacoraja senta, Alepocephalus bairdii, Borostomias antarcticus) and pelagic fish (Bathytroctes macrolepis, Lampanyctus spp., Chaulidos sloani, Serrivomer beanii) sampled in the deep Atlantic Ocean off Newfoundland, Canada. Lipid extracts were fractionated into neutral, acetone-mobile polar, and phospholipids to separate fatty acids in storage from those in membranes. Multivariate analysis of fatty acids showed that there were greater differences among the three lipid fractions than there were among the species when all fatty acid fractions were considered together. Neutral lipid fatty acids were characterized by monoenes, acetone-mobile polar lipids (AMPL) by C18 polyenes, and phospholipids by 16:0 and DHA. Multivariate analysis of fatty acids in phospholipids showed a strong grouping by taxonomic family (>80% similarity), while the neutral lipid fatty acids showed a weaker grouping by family (72.5% similarity) but groupings that also related to habitat and vertical migration. The neutral lipid data supported the use of 20:1ω9 as a biomarker of calanoid copepods and of 16:1ω7 as a marker of diatoms to determine food web connections in deep-sea fish, but not some other common markers. In addition, correlations with δ15N showed that series of ω6 and ω7 fatty acids were trophically transferred though neutral lipids, especially the essential fatty acid, ARA. Neutral lipids were also reservoirs for essential ω3 fatty acids in demersal species, but the major reservoir for DHA was AMPL and phospholipid in pelagic species.

Effect of algal and bacterial diet on metal bioaccumulation in zooplankton from the Pearl River, South China

The biomagnification of metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn) and the metalloid As in aquatic systems is a global health concern. In this study, concentrations of fatty acid biomarkers in zooplankton were analyzed from the Pearl River, South China between September 2016 and July 2017. The objective was to examine how particulate matter, algae and bacteria food sources affect metal bioaccumulation using fatty acid facilitation. In the zooplankton fraction, positive correlations were observed between Pb concentration and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), Zn and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (diatoms and Cryptophyceae biomarkers), Fe with Palmitoleic acid (C16:1n-7, diatom marker), and a weak association of Mn with α-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3). Cu concentration in the zooplankton increased significantly with an endogenous biotic biomarker Stearic acid (C18:0, bacteria biomarker), while Cd concentrations increased with increasing Oleic acid (C18:1n-9, green alga biomarker) concentration. There was a positive correlation between Cr concentration and the sum of Pentadecylic and Margaric acids (C15:0 + C17:0, bacteria biomarkers). Seven of the nine metals examined showed associations with fatty acids in the zooplankton. The bioaccumulation of Co, Cu, Pb, Fe, Mn and Zn concentration was correlated to the individual biomasses of Brachionus calyciflorus, Filinia longiseta, Schmackeria forbesi, Limnoithona sinenisis, Thermocyclops brevifurcatus, and Diaphanosoma dubium. For selected zooplankton taxa, the algal biomasses of Euglenophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Cryptophyceae, and Bacillariophyceae were correlated. Zooplankton were affected by selected species of phytoplankton and bacteria numbers in the Pearl River. These results show that metal accumulation in zooplankton is not only correlated with diet but is also in part, species specific with metal type. Thus, the bioaccumulation or scavenging of metals across trophic levels is a fundamental and complex component of metal cycling in aquatic environments.

Seasonal habitat and length influence on the trophic niche of co-occurring tropical tunas in the eastern Atlantic Ocean

In the Gulf of Guinea, bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus; BET) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares; YFT) are an important part of commercial fisheries and play a prominent ecological role as top predators. Using fatty acid profiles and carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes, we examined their trophic niche partitioning in this understudied region. Trophic niche overlap was high (>70%), similar to percentages in other ocean basins. BET occupied a higher trophic position than YFT and fed on deeper prey (high δ15N values and high proportions of monounsaturated fatty acids). The trophic position of YFT decreased slightly in the last 15 years (δ15N values decreased by ∼0.5‰), suggesting a change in epipelagic communities, as observed in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Ontogenic changes were limited to BET. For both species, the dietary proportion of the diatom marker 20:5(n-3) increased in the seasonal upwelling area, highlighting the influence of seasonal habitat on the diet of tuna. The relatively lipid-rich muscle (∼6% dry mass) of Atlantic tropical tuna suggests a richer diet in this region than that of Indian Ocean tropical tuna and (or) differences in energy allocation strategies.

Seasonal and interannual variations in the fatty acid composition of adult Euphausia superba Dana, 1850 (Euphausiacea) samples derived from the Scotia Sea krill fishery

The fatty acid content and composition of the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba Dana, 1850 were investigated using samples collected by a commercial fishing vessel. This dataset allowed comparison between seasons, years (2013–2016), and different fishing locations. Quantities of omega 3 fatty acids 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 (mg/g dry mass; DM) were highest in autumn and decreased through winter to reach a spring low. Quantities of the flagellate marker 18:4n-3 and diatom marker 16:1n-7c were variable and did not display the same seasonal fluctuations. In summer, krill had high percentages (% total fatty acids) of 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3, total PUFA, and low 18:1n-9c/18:1n-7c ratios, indicating a more herbivorous diet. Krill became more omnivorous from autumn to spring, indicated by increasing ratios of 18:1n-9c/18:1n-7c and percentages of Σ 20:1 + 22:1 isomers. Bacterial fatty acids (Σ C15 + C17 + C19 isomers) were minor components year-round (0.9–1.8 %). Seasonal levels of herbivory and omnivory differed between years, and levels of specific fatty acid ratios differed between fishing locations. The fatty acid 18:4n-3 was a major driver of variability in krill fatty acid composition, with no obvious seasonal driver. This is the first study to report krill fatty acid data during all four seasons over consecutive years. This large-scale study highlights the value of using fisheries samples to examine seasonal and annual fluctuations in krill diet and condition.

Phytoplankton community responses to iron and CO2 enrichment in different biogeochemical regions of the Southern Ocean

The ongoing rise in atmospheric CO2 concentration is causing rapid increases in seawater pCO2 levels. However, little is known about the potential impacts of elevated CO2 availability on the phytoplankton assemblages in the Southern Ocean’s oceanic regions. Therefore, we conducted four incubation experiments using surface seawater collected from the subantarctic zone (SAZ) and the subpolar zone (SPZ) in the Australian sector of the Southern Ocean during the austral summer of 2011–2012. For incubations, FeCl3 solutions were added to reduce iron (Fe) limitation for phytoplankton growth. Ambient and high (~750 µatm) CO2 treatments were then prepared with and without addition of CO2-saturated seawater, respectively. Non-Fe-added (control) treatments were also prepared to assess the effects of Fe enrichment (overall, control, Fe-added, and Fe-and-CO2-added treatments). In the initial samples, the dominant phytoplankton taxa shifted with latitude from haptophytes to diatoms, likely reflecting silicate availability in the water. Under Fe-enriched conditions, increased CO2 level significantly reduced the accumulation of biomarker pigments in haptophytes in the SAZ and AZ, whereas a significant decrease in diatom markers was only detected in the SAZ. The CO2-related changes in phytoplankton community composition were greater in the SAZ, most likely due to the decrease in coccolithophore biomass. Our results suggest that an increase in CO2, if it coincides with Fe enrichment, could differentially affect the phytoplankton community composition in different geographical regions of the Southern Ocean, depending on the locally dominant taxa and environmental conditions.

Lipid turnover reflects life-cycle strategies of small-sized Arctic copepods

This study aimed at understanding how life-cycle strategies of the primarily herbivorous Pseudocalanus minutus and the omnivorous Oithona similis are reflected by their lipid carbon turnover capacities. The copepods were collected in Billefjorden, Svalbard, and fed with 13C labeled flagellates and diatoms during 3 weeks. Fatty acid (FA) and fatty alcohol compositions were determined by gas chromatography, 13C incorporation was monitored using isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Maximum lipid turnover occurred in P. minutus, which exchanged 54.4% of total lipid, whereas 9.4% were exchanged in O. similis. In P. minutus, the diatom markers 16:1(n-7), 16:2(n-4) and 16:3(n-4) were almost completely renewed from the diet within 21 days, while 15% of the flagellate markers 18:2(n-6), 18:3(n-3) and 18:4(n-3) were exchanged. In O. similis, 15% of both flagellate and diatom markers were renewed. P. minutus exhibited typical physiological adaptations of herbivorous copepod species, with a very high lipid turnover rate and the ability to integrate FAs more rapidly from diatoms than from flagellates. O. similis depended much less on lipid reserves and had a lower lipid turnover rate, but was able to ingest and/or assimilate lipids with the same intensity from various food sources, to sustain shorter periods of food shortage.

A note on diatom stratigraphic markers in upper Miocene sediments of the Pisco Formation, Peru, and description of Delphineis urbinai sp. nov.

With the aim of preparing the ground for a comprehensive stratigraphic work on the Mio-Pliocene Pisco Formation, Peru, diatom marker species from the upper Miocene sites of Cerro Colorado (CC) and Cerro Los Quesos (CLQ) were investigated. Samples were collected along two composite stratigraphic sections and prepared for microscope analysis. Marker species are listed and described; their ranges and taxonomy are discussed in the light of recent works on Pacific diatom biostratigraphy and compared to findings in previous works from the 1980s on the Pisco Formation. Subsequently, marker species ranges and taxonomy have been significantly revised, suggesting that age-attributions based on sediments of the Pisco Formation should also be corrected. Examples are: (1) Koizumia tatsunokuchiensis, which was known as a Pliocene marker, but is now known to first appear in the late Miocene; (2) Thalassiosira cf. flexuosa, which was reported in early works on the Pisco Formation biostratigraphy as Coscinodiscus plicatus; (3) Thalassiora antiqua, which is found both at CC and CLQ, although typical of cold waters. The need to build a specific diatom biozonation for this Pacific region is thus highlighted. In addition, a new species, Delphineis urbinai, is described. This species is not a biostratigraphic marker but its sporadic presence may help with the correlation of stratigraphic sections within the Pisco Formation.

Assessing the dietary sources of two cichlid species in River Nile sub-branches: Stomach contents, fatty acids and stable isotopes analyses

We assess the importance of four different food sources as dietary components of Oreochromis niloticus and Sarotherodon galilaeus in Nile sub-branches using stomach contents, fatty acids (FA) and stable isotopes (SI) analyses. Diatoms were the dominant food items, whereas sand and mud constitute a major part of the stomach contents of both cichlids in the northern ElBehery canal. FAs and SI were compared in cichlids and four potential food sources. Carbon isotopes excluded the fresh macrophyte Myriophyllum spicatum and its epiphytes as a potential food source, whereas FA biomarkers indicated that M. spicatum is assimilated in cichlids’ muscles as detrital materials. FA profiles of cichlids’ muscles were highly enriched by live diatom markers whereas decayed diatoms and bacterial markers were partially present. Carbon isotope signatures of cichlids were much close to that of suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM) which elucidated that SPOM was the source of diatoms and bacterial detritus incorporated in cichlids muscles. Cichlids were highly enriched with nitrogen signatures which was a result of increased anthropogenic effects and incorporation of bacterial films. SI and FA analyses precisely indicated that live diatoms and bacteria, detrital macrophytes are the main sources of organic matter incorporated in cichlids muscles.

The fatty-acid composition and nutrition of deep-sea holothurians from the Sea of Okhotsk

The results of a comparative study of the fatty-acid composition in eight species of holothurians that were collected in the Sea of Okhotsk in the area of the Kuril Islands (depths of 90–560 m) are presented. It is shown that interspecific differences in the fatty-acid compositions of the holothurians were consistent with the isotope composition (δ13C and δ15N) and the structural features of the tentacles and the lifestyle of holothurians, as indicators of trophic resources used by these holothurians. According to the results of the cluster analysis, the holothurians were divided into three groups. The first group included suspension-feeding dendrochirotides Eupentacta pusilla and Pseudocnus fallax with a high content of the fatty acid 20:5(n-3), which is a marker of diatoms, and with the δ15N values that are typical of consumers of suspended organic matter. The second group consisted of the dendrochirotides Psolus chitonoides and Psolidium sp. with a much lower content of 20:5 (n-3) and higher contents of 20:4 (n-6) and 22:6 (n-3), as well as high values of δ15N, which are typical of surface deposit-feeders. The third group consisted of surface and subsurface depositfeeders, Chiridota sp., Molpadia orientalis, Pseudostichopus mollis, and Synallactes nozawai. Very high contents of 20: 4 (n-6) and 21: 4 (n-7) were typical of the third group and the highest values of δ15N, indicating feeding on repeatedly recycled organic matter.

Arctic pelagic amphipods: lipid dynamics and life strategy

Polar regions are characterized by a strong seasonality in primary production and distinct fluctuations in food supply. The storage of energy in the form of lipids is expected to follow a seasonal pattern; however, year-round observations are lacking. The seasonal variations of lipid classes and fatty acid compositions of four pelagic amphipods have been investigated. Individuals were collected at various depths during summer and winter expeditions to the Fram Strait and Svalbard archipelago (78°–81°N). Our results show a year-round dominance of wax esters and triacylglycerols over phospholipids for Themisto abyssorum, Themisto libellula, Themisto compressa and Cyclocaris guilelmi. High levels of the Calanus-marker fatty acids 20:1 and 22:1 (both isomers) during summer and winter indicated that all four species are part of the Calanus-based food web. Specific fatty acid trophic markers for diatoms and flagellates indicated that the lipid-based energy transfer could be traced back to the respective algal sources. We found a distinct difference between animals collected from very deep and shallow waters, which indicates that the lipid reservoir of these amphipods and their biochemical modifications seem to buffer seasonal variations in available prey and to allow an active, predatory life-style year-round in Arctic waters.

Lipid Biomarker and Isotopic Study of Community Distribution and Biomarker Preservation in a Laminated Microbial Mat from Shark Bay, Western Australia.

Modern microbial mats from Shark Bay present some structural similarities with ancient stromatolites; thus, the functionality of microbial communities and processes of diagenetic preservation of modern mats may provide an insight into ancient microbial assemblages and preservation. In this study, the vertical distribution of microbial communities was investigated in a well-laminated smooth mat from Shark Bay. Biolipid and compound-specific isotopic analyses were performed to investigate the distribution of microbial communities in four distinct layers of the mat. Biomarkers indicative of cyanobacteria were more abundant in the uppermost oxic layer. Diatom markers (e.g. C25 HBI alkene, C20:4ω6 and C20:5ω3 polar lipid fatty acids (PLFAs)) were also detected in high abundance in the uppermost layer, but also in the deepest layer under conditions of permanent darkness and anoxia, where they probably used NO3 (-) for respiration. CycC19:0, an abundant PLFA of purple sulfur bacteria (PSB), was detected in all layers and presented the most (13)C-depleted values of all PLFAs, consistent with photoautotrophic PSB. Sulfur-bound aliphatic and aromatic biomarkers were detected in all layers, highlighting the occurrence of early sulfurisation which may be an important mechanism in the sedimentary preservation of functional biolipids in living and, thus, also ancient mats.

Can δ15N and δ13C stable isotopes and fatty acid signatures indicate changes in phytobenthos composition on an artificial substrate?

Temporal changes in fatty acid composition and δ15N, δ13C stable isotope values of the phytobenthos growing on artificial clay substrates under natural conditions over a 28-day period at an upstream and a downstream site in the Kowie River near Grahamstown were investigated in 2012. High concentrations of diatom markers 16:1ω7 and 20:5ω3 fatty acids were recorded, especially at the downstream site, reflecting the importance of diatoms in contributing to the phytobenthos communities at that station. After day 7 at the downstream site the average δ15N value of the phytobenthos was lighter, gradually increasing by ∼2‰ and ∼5‰ overall to heavier values on day 28. At the upstream site there were no significant changes (<1‰ increase) in δ15N values of the phytobenthos over time. Stable nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) signatures in the phytobenthos communities were significantly different between sites (one-way ANOVA; p < 0.001). The stable isotope values and fatty acid concentrations of phytobenthos at the downstream site were different to those of the phytobenthos at the upstream site, and they changed concurrently with changes in the phytobenthos community structure. At the downstream site there was a strong correlation of the δ15N of phytobenthos with nitrates (R = 0.56) and time (weeks; R = 0.81). However, the fatty acids were not specific enough to characterise the composition of phytobenthos communities. Other biomarker methods, such as stable isotopes and microscopic examination of the communities, were found to be useful. The results from this relatively small-scale tile experiment indicate the complexity of changes in fatty acid composition and δ15N, δ13C stable isotope values of a phytobenthos community. Stable isotope and fatty acid composition can be successfully used to map changes in phytobenthos composition and carbon and nitrogen flow patterns along a river continuum.

The effect of environmental factors on the fatty acid composition of copepods and Artemia in the Sfax solar saltern (Tunisia)

The biochemical composition and abundance variation of zooplankton (copepods and Artemia salina) were determined in four ponds of increasing salinity (A5, A16, C41 and M2) in the Sfax solar saltern (Tunisia). The zooplankton community was dominated by copepods in the ponds A5, A16 and C41. The pond M2 was marked by the presence of only Artemia salina. Our results showed the dominance of total saturated fatty acids (SFA), which made up 57%–95% of total fatty acids (TFA). SFA 16:0 and 18:0 dominate in all ponds. A. salina showed the highest amounts of the total monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), this indicates that this species could be employed in hatcheries and used as food source for some aquarium species. Fatty acids of herbivory, proportion of all diatom markers to all flagellate markers (D/F), were negatively correlated with the total zooplankton (r = −0.998, p < 0.05). A. salina was negatively correlated with a biomarker for carnivory polyunsaturated fatty acids/saturated fatty acids (PUFA/SFA) (r = −0.959, p < 0.05). The dietary quality of zooplankton seems to be dependent on food availability in the four studied ponds.