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MEPS 222:291-296 (2001)
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Abstract
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Sources of dietary lipids in the coral reef blenny Salarias patzneri
Shaun K. Wilson1,*, Kathryn Burns2, Susan Codi2
1Department of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
2Australian Institute of Marine Science, PO Box 3, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia
*E-mail: shaun.wilson@jcu.edu.au
ABSTRACT: The composition of essential fatty acids and biomarkers in the tissues of the blenny Salarias patzneri were compared to those in detritus and filamentous algae collected from S. patzneri territories in order to assess the relative
contribution of these 2 resources to the diet. The ratio of 16:1w7/16:0 and percentage of 18:2w6 in S. patzneri body tissue and detritus was found to be significantly different to filamentous
algae samples, suggesting that detritus was the major source of dietary lipids assimilated by S. patzneri. High levels of 16:1w7 in S. patzneri tissue and detritus relative to filamentous algae suggest that diatoms
are an important component of detrital aggregates and S. patzneri diet. These results demonstrate that coral reef fishes assimilate detrital aggregates and confirm that detritus is a valuable dietary resource on coral reefs.
KEY WORDS: Coral reef fish · Detritus · Filamentous algae · Blenniidae · Tropho-dynamics
Full text in pdf format
Published in MEPS Vol.
222
(2001) on November 5
Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2001
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