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Lipid components as a measure of nutritional condition in fish larvae (Pleuragramma antarcticum) in East Antarctica

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Abstract

Pleuragramma antarcticum is a key component of the neritic assemblages in the Antarctic coastal waters. Larvae of this species were sampled from 2008 to 2011 in the Dumont d’Urville Sea (East Antarctica). The lipid class composition [triacylglycerols (TAG), cholesterol (Chol) and polar lipids (PL)] of larvae was measured to assess the larval condition. The total amount of lipids was linearly related to the quantity of structural polar lipids, suggesting that growth is favored over lipid storage. The TAG:Chol ratio showed interannual variability in the condition of fish larvae, probably related to prey availability. Nevertheless, the essential fatty acids composition of polar lipids illustrates that larvae with low levels of TAG:Chol could be either growing or under starvation. Only the combination of a low TAG:Chol ratio and low polar lipids content, which can also be mobilized during starvation periods, allowed identification of larvae in poor condition. This lipid condition index should be of great assistance to evaluate the probability of survival of P. antarcticum larvae in long-term monitoring. It has widespread applicability and should also be useful in the diagnosis of nutritional condition in other species.

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Acknowledgments

The Umitaka Maru and l’Astrolabe cruises were part of the Collaborative East Antarctic Marine Census (CEAMARC), which was a contribution to the Census of Antarctic Marine Life (CAML). This study was part of the ICO2TA French project (Integrated costal Ocean Observations in Terre Adélie) supported by the French Polar Institute, IPEV (Institut Paul Emile Victor) with the aim of collecting information on the composition of Antarctic communities on the Antarctic continental shelf. The authors thank the crew, captains and cruise leaders from the l’Astrolabe and Umitaka Maru who helped collect samples. The work was supported financially and logistically by the ANR Glides and ANR Antflocks.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche, UPMC Université Paris 06, UMR 7093, BP 28, 06234, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

    Carolina Giraldo, Patrick Mayzaud, Jean-Olivier Irisson, Florian Penot, Jonathan Becciu, Amélie Chartier & Philippe Koubbi

  2. CNRS, UMR 7093, LOV, BP 28, 06234, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

    Carolina Giraldo, Patrick Mayzaud, Jean-Olivier Irisson, Florian Penot, Jonathan Becciu, Marc Boutoute & Philippe Koubbi

  3. Université Lille Nord de France, 59000, Lille, France

    Eric Tavernier

  4. ULCO, LOG, 32 Avenue Foch, 62930, Wimereux, France

    Eric Tavernier

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  1. Carolina Giraldo
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  2. Patrick Mayzaud
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  3. Eric Tavernier
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  4. Jean-Olivier Irisson
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  5. Florian Penot
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  6. Jonathan Becciu
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  7. Amélie Chartier
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  8. Marc Boutoute
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  9. Philippe Koubbi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Philippe Koubbi.

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Communicated by M. A. Peck.

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Giraldo, C., Mayzaud, P., Tavernier, E. et al. Lipid components as a measure of nutritional condition in fish larvae (Pleuragramma antarcticum) in East Antarctica. Mar Biol 160, 877–887 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-2141-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-2141-0

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