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Parzanini C, Arts MT, Rohtla M, Koprivnikar J, Power M, Skiftesvik AB, Browman HI, Milotic D, Durif CMF. Feeding habitat and silvering stage affect lipid content and fatty acid composition of European eel Anguilla anguilla tissues. J Fish Biol 2021; 99:1110-1124. [PMID: 34060093 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Lipids, particularly fatty acids (FAs), are major sources of energy and nutrients in aquatic ecosystems and play key roles during vertebrate development. The European eel Anguilla anguilla goes through major biochemical and physiological changes throughout its lifecycle as it inhabits sea- (SW), and/or brackish- (BW) and/or freshwater (FW) habitats. With the ultimate goal being to understand the reasons for eels adopting a certain life history strategy (FW or SW residency vs. 'habitat shifting'), we explored differences in lipid content and FA composition of muscle, liver and eyes from eels collected across Norwegian SW, BW and FW habitats, and at different lifecycle stages (yellow to silver). FW and SW eels had a higher lipid content overall compared to BW eels, reflecting differences in food availability and life history strategies. SW eels had higher proportions of certain monounsaturated FAs (MUFAs; 18:1n-9, 20:1n-9), and of the essential polyunsaturated FAs 20:5n-3 (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA) and 22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid) than FW eels, reflecting a marine-based diet. In contrast, the muscle of FW eels had higher proportions of 18:3n-3, 18:2n-6 and 20:4n-6 (arachidonic acid), as is typical of FW organisms. MUFA proportions increased in later stage eels, consistent with the hypothesis that the eels accumulate energy stores prior to migration. In addition, the decrease of EPA with advancing stage may be associated with the critical role that this FA plays in eel sexual development. Lipid and FA information provided further understanding of the habitat use and overall ecology of this critically endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Parzanini
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael T Arts
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mehis Rohtla
- Ecosystem Acoustics Group, Austevoll Research Station, Institute of Marine Research, Storebø, Norway
- Estonian Marine Institute, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Janet Koprivnikar
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael Power
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anne Berit Skiftesvik
- Ecosystem Acoustics Group, Austevoll Research Station, Institute of Marine Research, Storebø, Norway
| | - Howard I Browman
- Ecosystem Acoustics Group, Austevoll Research Station, Institute of Marine Research, Storebø, Norway
| | - Dino Milotic
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Caroline M F Durif
- Ecosystem Acoustics Group, Austevoll Research Station, Institute of Marine Research, Storebø, Norway
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