MEPS

Marine Ecology Progress Series

MEPS is a leading hybrid research journal on all aspects of marine, coastal and estuarine ecology. Priority is given to outstanding research that advances our ecological understanding.

Online: ISSN 1616-1599

Print: ISSN 0171-8630

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps

Impact Factor2.1 (JCR 2025 release)

Article Acceptance Rate52.2% (2024)

Average Time in Review216 days (2024)

Total Annual Downloads2.964.987 (2025)

Volume contents
Mar Ecol Prog Ser 611:167-177 (2019)

Nutritional state determines reproductive investment in the mixotrophic sea slug Elysia viridis

ABSTRACT: Parental size and nutritional state have been identified as important interrelated parameters determining reproductive investment in marine gastropods. However, studies on reproductive investment of sacoglossan sea slugs capable of incorporating intracellular functional chloroplasts (kleptoplasts) from their food sources are scarce. In the present work, we investigated the effects of different levels of availability of the macroalga Codium tomentosum on the reproductive investment of the mixotrophic sea slug Elysia viridis. Limited food availability decreased sea slug size (dry weight), kleptoplast abundance (chl a concentration), and photosynthetic capacity (PSII maximum quantum yield, Fv/Fm). Furthermore, sea slugs with limited access to food spawned significantly smaller egg masses and displayed a reduced number of eggs per egg mass. Intermittently fed sea slugs spawned a lower number of egg masses than continuously fed and starved sea slugs, indicating a trade-off between feeding and spawning activity under limited resources. No detectable effects of food limitation were observed on the size of individual eggs and total fatty acid content per egg. However, starved sea slugs produced eggs richer in saturated fatty acids, namely stearic acid (18:0). On the other hand, sea slugs with unlimited access to food spawned eggs richer in polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as linoleic, eicosatrienoic, and eicosapentaenoic acids (18:2 n-6, 20:3 n-3, and 20:5 n-3, respectively). In conclusion, nutritional state significantly affected resource allocation to reproductive traits in E. viridis.

KEYWORDS

Paulo Cartaxana (Corresponding Author)

  • Departamento de Biologia & CESAM & ECOMARE, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
pcartaxana@ua.pt

Felisa Rey (Corresponding Author)

  • Departamento de Biologia & CESAM & ECOMARE, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
  • Centro de Espetrometria de Massa, Departamento de Química & QOPNA, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
pcartaxana@ua.pt

Mariana Ribeiro (Co-author)

  • Departamento de Biologia & CESAM & ECOMARE, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal

Ana S. P. Moreira (Co-author)

  • Centro de Espetrometria de Massa, Departamento de Química & QOPNA, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
  • Departamento de Química & CESAM & ECOMARE, 3810-193 Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

M. Rosário M. Domingues (Co-author)

  • Centro de Espetrometria de Massa, Departamento de Química & QOPNA, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
  • Departamento de Química & CESAM & ECOMARE, 3810-193 Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

Ricardo Calado (Co-author)

  • Departamento de Biologia & CESAM & ECOMARE, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal

Sónia Cruz (Co-author)

  • Departamento de Biologia & CESAM & ECOMARE, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal