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Temporal shifts in the fatty acid profiles of rocky intertidal invertebrates

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Abstract

Fatty acid profiles were determined in rocky intertidal suspension-feeders (mussels and polychaetes) and grazers (limpets and sea urchins) on a monthly basis over 1 year to assess potential dietary overlap between consumers occupying the same trophic guild, and any temporal shifts in diets. Both reproductive and non-reproductive tissues were assessed in an attempt to separate influences of food quality with those of life cycle. Relative variability in fatty acids over time could not be predicted from the feeding guild occupied by a consumer, and influential factors of the temporal shifts included both dietary and reproductive dynamics (even in muscle tissues). Species in the same trophic guild occupied separate trophic niches throughout the year, hence minimising competitive interactions regarding food acquisition. Based on overall variation in fatty acid profiles of muscle tissues, the suspension-feeders Perna perna and Gunnarea gaimardi and the grazing limpet Cymbula oculus occupied narrower feeding niches relative to the grazing sea urchin Parechinus angulosus. Our results provide compelling evidence for potentially large changes in the lipid composition of intertidal invertebrate populations over relatively small temporal scales (i.e. month to month), and these have important implications for short-term field collections intended for assessing invertebrate diets.

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Acknowledgments

We thank J.A. Iitembu and E.S. Antonio for field assistance, and M.H. Villet for statistical advice. The research was funded by the National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF) and Rhodes University (RU), and bursary funding of R.T.N. was provided by the NRF. Fatty acid analyses were performed in the Richoux Research Laboratory, funded by the NRF and RU.

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  1. Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, PO BOX 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa

    Nicole B. Richoux & Rachel T. Ndhlovu

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  1. Nicole B. Richoux
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Correspondence to Nicole B. Richoux.

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Communicated by G. Chapman.

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Richoux, N.B., Ndhlovu, R.T. Temporal shifts in the fatty acid profiles of rocky intertidal invertebrates. Mar Biol 161, 2199–2211 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-014-2481-z

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