IR Home
MEPS
Home
Editors
Forthcoming
Information
Subscribe
Journals
Home
MEPS
AME
CR
DAO
ESEP
Search
Subscribe
Book Series
EE Books
Top Books
ESEP Books
Order
EEIU Brochures
(pdf format)
Discussion Forums
Home
Research
Endangered Species Programs
Institutions
International Ecology Institute
Eco-Ethics International Union
Foundation
Otto Kinne Foundation
 | |
MEPS 262:153-162 (2003)
|
Abstract
|
Selective feeding by benthic foraminifera on phytodetritus on the western Antarctic Peninsula shelf: evidence from fatty acid biomarker analysis
Stephanie B. Suhr1,*, David W. Pond2, Andrew J. Gooday1, Craig R. Smith3
1Southampton Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
2British Antarctic Survey, Biological Sciences Division, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
3University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Oceanography, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA
*Email: stephanie.suhr@usap.gov
ABSTRACT: This study presents the first direct evidence, based on biochemical analysis of fresh material, that certain benthic foraminifera feed selectively on specific components of seasonally deposited phytodetritus in their natural environment. Three
abundant species of benthic foraminifera, the calcareous species Globocassidulina subglobosa and Quinqueloculina seminula and the agglutinated species Thurammina albicans, collected after the deposition of phytoplankton bloom material
at a shelf site (560 m water depth) west of the Antarctic Peninsula in March 2001, showed significant differences in their fatty acid profiles compared to the surrounding phytodetritus. Furthermore, the 2 calcareous species contained significantly higher
amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) than were found in their presumptive phytodetrital food source, indicating that the foraminifera discriminate between, and selectively feed on, the different components of the deposited material. Possible
implications for the benthic food web are discussed.
KEY WORDS: Foraminifera · Selective feeding · Polyunsaturated fatty acids · Benthic food web · Antarctic Peninsula shelf
Full text in pdf format
Published in MEPS Vol.
262
(2003) on November 7
Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2003
|
