Effects of Variable Oceanographic Conditions on Forage Fish Lipid Content and Fatty Acid Composition in the Northern California Current

Authors

Marisa N. C. Litz, Oregon State University Hatfield Marine Science Center
Richard D. Brodeur, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Robert L. Emmett, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Selina S. Heppell, Oregon State University
Rosalee S. Hellberg, Chapman UniversityFollow
Linda O'Higgins, Oregon State University Hatfield Marine Science Center
Matthew S. Morris, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-29-2010

Abstract

Lipids and fatty acids (FA) were investigated in 4 species of forage fish: northern anchovy Engraulis mordax, Pacific sardine Sardinops sagax, Pacific herring Clupea pallasi, and whitebait smelt Allosmerus elongatus, for their ability to serve as biological indicators of ocean conditions in the California Current large marine ecosystem (CCLME). Samples were collected during the oceanographically contrasting years of 2005 and 2006. Upwelling was severely curtailed in the spring and early summer of 2005, leading to delayed biological productivity, whereas upwelling was relatively normal in spring 2006. Principal components analysis described 78% of the variance within the lipid and FA dataset using the first 2 principal components. We found significant intra- and interspecific, interannual, and seasonal differences in lipid and FA profiles using univariate and permutation- based multivariate analysis of variance. Indicator species analysis showed distinct lipid and FA properties associated with each fish species. Using the ratio of docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3) to eicosapentaeonic acid (C20:5n-3), we detected a transition from a diet composed primarily of dinoflagellate origin in early 2005 to a diet resulting from diatom-based productivity by late summer 2006. This shift was due to interannual differences in primary production, which was confirmed through phytoplankton sampling. Our study demonstrates that lipid and FA biomarkers in the forage fish community can provide information on ocean conditions and productivity that affect food web structure in the CCLME.

Comments

This article was originally published in Marine Ecology Progress Series, volume 405, in 2010. DOI: 10.3354/meps08479

Recommended Citation

Litz MNC, Brodeur RD, Emmett RL, Heppell SS, Rasmussen RS, O’Higgins L, Morris MS. Effects of variable oceanographic conditions on forage fish lipid content and fatty acid composition in the northern California Current. 2010. Marine Ecology Progress Series 405: 71-85.
doi: 10.3354/meps08479

Peer Reviewed

1

Copyright

Inter Research