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An experimental study of the effect of diet on the fatty acid profiles of the European Cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis)

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Abstract

Fatty acid analysis is an alternative dietary investigation tool that complements the more traditional techniques of stomach content and faecal analysis that are often subject to a wide range of biases. In applying fatty acid analysis to ecosystem studies, it is important to have an understanding of the effect diet has on the fatty acid profile of the predator. A feeding experiment, using crustacean and fish as prey for the European cuttlefish Sepia officinalis, was conducted to evaluate the effect of prey fatty acids on the fatty acid profile of this marine predator. Cuttlefish were fed on a fish diet for the first 29 days, and then changed to a crustacean diet for a further 28 days. Another group of cuttlefish was fed on a crustacean diet for the first 29 days, and then changed to a fish diet for a further 28 days. An analysis of the cuttlefish digestive gland showed that the fatty acid profile reflected that of the prey, with cuttlefish on a crustacean diet being clearly distinguishable from the cuttlefish on a fish diet. Cuttlefish fed on a fish diet for 29 days prior to the switch in diet were comparatively higher in 16:0, AA, 20:1ω9, DPA6, DHA, 22:4ω6 and DPA3 than those fed on crustaceans. Cuttlefish fed on a crustacean diet for 29 days prior to the switch in diet were comparatively higher in 17:1ω8, 18:1ω9, 18:2ω6, 18:1ω7, EPA and 20:2ω6 than those fed on fish. Following a change in diet, the fatty acid profile of the cuttlefish digestive gland reflected that of the new diet within 14 days. The results confirm that the fatty acid profile of the cuttlefish digestive gland clearly reflects the profile of its recent diet. It also shows that the digestive gland may not be an organ that accumulates dietary lipids for long-term storage, but rather is an organ where lipids are rapidly being turned over and potentially excreted.

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Acknowledgments

This work was made possible by the funding from the Hermon Slade foundation with a grant awarded to G.D. Jackson. We are thankful for the National Resource Centre for Cephalopods who provided the excellent facilities for conducting this research.

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Author notes

  1. Adam Daw

    Present address: USC Wrigley Marine Science Center, University of Southern California, 1 Big Fisherman Cove, Avalon, CA, 90704, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 77, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia

    Miriam Fluckiger, George D. Jackson & Patti Virtue

  2. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia

    Peter Nichols

  3. Antarctic and Climate Ecosystems CRC, GPO Box 252-80, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia

    Peter Nichols

  4. National Resource Centre for Cephalopods, Marine Biomedical Institute, University of Texas Medical Branch, One Hope Boulevard, Galveston, TX, 77554, USA

    Adam Daw

  5. School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Tasmania, GPO Box 252-37, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia

    Simon Wotherspoon

Authors
  1. Miriam Fluckiger
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  2. George D. Jackson
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  3. Peter Nichols
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  4. Patti Virtue
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  5. Adam Daw
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Correspondence to Miriam Fluckiger.

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Communicated by H.O. Pörtner.

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Fluckiger, M., Jackson, G.D., Nichols, P. et al. An experimental study of the effect of diet on the fatty acid profiles of the European Cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis). Mar Biol 154, 363–372 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-008-0932-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-008-0932-0

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