XUE Mei1，2, ZHANG Hai-ting1,2, ZHU Guo-ping1,2,3，4*, WANG Bi-xue1, DING Bo1
1. College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China；2. Center for Polar Research, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China；3. Polar Marine Ecosystem Group, Key Laboratory of Sustainable Exploitation of Oceanic Fisheries Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201306, China；4. National Engineering Research Center for Oceanic Fisheries, Shanghai 201306, China
Abstract: Fatty acid composition and feeding habits were analyzed in Antarctic krill Euphausiasuperb as a keystone species in the Southern Ocean ecosystem to explain the trophic interaction of biological components in the Southern Ocean. It was found that 35 fatty acids were detected in the muscle of Antarctic krill, higher contents in C16∶0, C20∶5n3, C22∶6n3, C14∶0, C18∶0, C18∶1n9c and C16∶1n7. There was significantly negative correlation between multiple specific fatty acid levels and body length in Antarctic krill, indicating that feeding behavior or food items of Antarctic krill may vary with ontogeny. High contents of C20:5n3 (EPA) and C22:6n3 (DHA) reflected high nutritional value of Antarctic krill in lipid composition. The specific fatty acid analysis revealed that diatoms dominated in the diet of Antarctic krill, followed by dinoflagellates, and a small amount of planktonic bacteria and benthos, and copepods, few macroalgae.
2019, Vol. 34 
