THE COMPOSITION OF FATTY ACIDS IN FEMALE GAMETES OF ARBACIA DUFRESNII (ARBACIIDAE: ARBACIOIDA) IN THE POPULATION OF NORTH BAY, NUEVO GULF INDICATES GOOD NUTRITIONAL STATUS
Keywords:
sea urchins, trophic dynamics, food quality, fatty acids, environmental bioindicators, gametesAbstract
This study investigates the population of Arbacia dufresnii in two locations within Nuevo Gulf (Bahía Norte and Punta Cuevas), Argentina, focusing on their size, density, and nutritional status through fatty acid (FA) profiles. Sea urchins were collected by scuba diving, analysing 800 individuals over an entire year. The results showed that sea urchins in North Bay are larger but less dense than those in Punta Cuevas. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) were predominant in Bahía Norte, indicating a diet rich in high-quality nutrients. A. dufresnii showed an omnivorous diet with a tendency towards carnivory in Bahía Norte. Additionally, significant differences in trophic markers were found between both locations, suggesting variations in food availability and quality. A. dufresnii proved to be an excellent bioindicator, reflecting environmental and nutritional changes in its FA profiles
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