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The lipid, fatty acid and fatty alcohol composition of the myctophid fish Electrona antarctica: high level of wax esters and f ood-chain implications
Citation
Phleger, C and Nichols, P and Virtue, P, The lipid, fatty acid and fatty alcohol composition of the myctophid fish Electrona antarctica: high level of wax esters and f ood-chain implications, Antarctic Science, 9, (3) pp. 258-265. ISSN 0954-1020 (1997) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 1997 Antarctic Science Ltd
DOI: doi:10.1017/S0954102097000345
Abstract
The myctophid, Electrona antarctica, was collected by trawl from the Elephant Island region of
the Antarctic Peninsula, and from East Antarctica near 61"s and 93"W. Total lipid was higher in Elephant
Island E. antarctica (whole fish, 466-585 mg g* dry weight) than those from Eastern Antarctica (394-459
mg g-I). Wax esters comprised 86.2-90.5% of total lipid in E. antarctica flesh. There were no significant
differences between Eastern Antarctica and Elephant Island in total wax ester levels, or in levels of wax esters
between different tissues analysed. Oily bones (up to 326 mg g1 in the neurocranium) characterized
E. antarctica from both locations, with wax esters as the major skeletal lipid class (67.0-87.9%, percent of
lipid). The wax esters may have a buoyancy role in E. antarctica. The only substantial amount of
triacylglycerols (29.4%) were found in the viscera of Elephant Island fish. The principal fatty acids of all fish
analysed included the monounsaturated fatty acids 18:l(n-9) and 16:1(n-7), with lower levels of 16:O and 14:O
saturated acids. Fatty alcohols were dominated by the saturated 16:O and 14:O (37.8-47.8%) and the
monounsaturated 18:l(n-9) and 18:l(n-7) (38.3-59.2%). The low ratio of 22:1/20:1 alcohols observed for
E. antarctica is consistent with a diet of amphipods, copepods and other items low in 22:l alcohols.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | Electrona antarctica, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, lipids, myctophid fish, wax esters |
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecology |
Research Field: | Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments |
Objective Field: | Biodiversity in Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments |
UTAS Author: | Virtue, P (Associate Professor Patti Virtue) |
ID Code: | 90439 |
Year Published: | 1997 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 46 |
Deposited By: | IMAS Research and Education Centre |
Deposited On: | 2014-04-03 |
Last Modified: | 2014-07-02 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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