Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

CS34 Trophic Dynamics

Date: Friday, February 16, 2001, Time: 12:00:00 PM

Location: Mesilla

Bustillos-Guzman, J, , Northwest Center for Biological Research, La Paz, B.C.S, Mexico, jose@cibnor.mx

Lopez-Cortez, D, , Northwest Center for Biological Research, La Paz, B.C.S, Mexico, dlopez@cibnor.mx

Mathus, M, E, CICIMAR, La Paz, B.C.S, Mexico,

Hernandez, F, , Northwest Center for Biological Research, La Paz, B.C.S, Mexico, fhernan@cibnor.mx

PIGMENTS IN THE COPEPODITE STAGE OF PSEUDODIAPTOMUS EURYHALINUS AND ITS FECAL MATERIAL FED WITH TETRASELMIS SUECICA.

Short term (3 h) changes of chlorophyll and their derivatives in the copepodite stage of Pseudodiaptomus euryhalinus and its fecal material was followed by HPLC over 24 h. Copepodites were fed with the Prasinophyte Tetraselmis suecica. Intact chlorophyll a and b were found in animals and fecal material and had similar dynamics of accumulation over time. Transformation to colorless compounds was different with chlorophyll a, more extensively degraded. Additionally, several chlorophyll derivatives were found mainly in the form of pheophytin and pyropheophytin-like pigments. Pyropheopytin a was the more abundant chlorophyll derivative followed by pheophytin b, pheophytin a, and pheophorbide a. Accumulation in copepodites and fecal material, was differerent. Pheophytin a, pheophorbide a and pheophytin b concentration were low and variable. Contribution of chlorophyll a and its derivatives in fecal and copepodite to the balance of ingested chlorophyll shows that in general it was low (< 5%) with one exception occurring after 9 hour when it contribution was higher than 70%. These data suggest individual pheopigments are produced at different rates and chemical or enzymatic mechanisms into the gut of copepodites affect in a different way the structure of both chlorophylls.

Return to This Session's Schedule · Complete Session Listing ·

Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

Quicklinks