Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

CS04 Benthic-Pelagic Coupling: Seasonality, Pulses, and Flux

Date: Thursday, February 15, 2001, Time: 4:00:00 PM

Location: Mesilla

Parrish, C, C, Memorial Univeristy of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada, cparrish@mun.ca

Thompson, R, J, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada, thompson@mun.ca

Deibel, D, , Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada, ddeibel@mun.ca

Saliot, A, , Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France, saliot@ccr.jussieu.fr

LIPID CLASSES, FATTY ACIDS AND STEROLS IN PLANKTON AND SETTLING MATTER DURING THE SPRING BLOOM IN A COLD OCEAN COASTAL ENVIRONMENT

Lipids were measured in plankton and settling particulate matter during the spring bloom in Conception Bay, Newfoundland, to determine the source and quality of material settling from the upper mixed layer. Net-tow samples (20 um mesh) and sediment trap samples (80 and 220-m depth) were taken at 16 day intervals from 27/3 - 9/7/96. Total lipid concentrations in plankton reached a maximum of 6.3±2.5% dry weight at the height of the bloom in April. Bacterial fatty acid markers were at their lowest during the bloom period (2.2-2.8% of total fatty acids), while polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were at their highest from the beginning of the bloom onwards (44-53%). In April, zooplankton sterols accounted for 40-43% of sterols in plankton and settling matter, while sterols from algae were 50-53%, among which macroalgal sterols accounted for 9-12%. Higher plant sterols also accounted for 6% of total. In the deep traps, PUFA were maintained at high levels (34-35%) throughout the bloom period. These data indicate transfer of highly nutritious material to the benthos during the spring bloom in Conception Bay.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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