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MEPS 687:43-64 (2022)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14004

Total lipid and fatty acid composition of mesozooplankton functional group members in the NE Pacific over a range of productivity regimes

C. J. Stevens1,*, R. Sahota1,5, M. D. Galbraith2, T. A. Venello1,6, A. C. Bazinet1, M. Hennekes2, K. Yongblah1,7, S. K. Juniper1,3,4

1School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
2Institute of Ocean Sciences, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Sidney, British Columbia V8L 4B2, Canada
3Department of Biology, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
4Ocean Networks Canada, 2474 Arbutus Road, Victoria, British Columbia V8N 1V8, Canada
5Present address: Department of Biology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281-S8, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
6Present address: Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Delaware State University, Dover, DE 19901, USA
7Present address: Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, 17 Biological Station, St. George’s GE01, Bermuda
*Corresponding author:

ABSTRACT: Fish, whales, and seabirds along the productive west coast of Vancouver Island (WCVI), NE Pacific, rely on copepod prey that are assumed to be rich in lipid. However, the total lipid (TL) and fatty acid content of most copepod species and other mesozooplankton in this region have not been measured. To assess the diets and quality of zooplankton prey off the WCVI, we investigated differences in lipid content and composition of mesozooplankton according to their taxonomic versus functional group identities. Copepods, chaetognaths, euphausiids, and amphipods, belonging to 3 different functional groups, were sampled on the WCVI during pre-, mid-, and post-bloom conditions. Compared to taxonomic classifications, the functional group approach was superior in its ability to discern statistical differences in TL among zooplankton and between seasons. Furthermore, multivariate analyses using zooplankton fatty acid composition from all oceanographic regimes produced 3 to 4 statistically different clusters of species that corroborated functional group designations. However, some trophic flexibility was observed in several copepod species, particularly Calanus marshallae, that may relate to food scarcity or the presence of potentially noxious prey. The omnivorous-herbivorous functional group frequently contained higher amounts of TL and masses of essential fatty acids than the carnivorous group. Euphausiids and C. marshallae contributed the most lipid (mg m-3) to the pelagic ‘lipid pool’, due to very high lipid content and high abundance, respectively. However, on the continental slope and shelf break, chaetognaths and Neocalanus spp. copepods contributed substantially to the lipid pool.


KEY WORDS: Zooplankton · Fatty acids · Total lipid · NE Pacific Ocean · Functional groups


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Cite this article as: Stevens CJ, Sahota R, Galbraith MD, Venello TA and others (2022) Total lipid and fatty acid composition of mesozooplankton functional group members in the NE Pacific over a range of productivity regimes. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 687:43-64. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14004

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