The effectiveness of mead acid as a biomarker for essential fatty acid deficiency in fish


TitleThe effectiveness of mead acid as a biomarker for essential fatty acid deficiency in fish
Publication TypeConference Paper and Presentation
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsGearhart, TA, Euclide, PT, Kraft, J, Stockwell, JD
Conference NameIAGLR 2015
Date Published2015/05
PublisherInternational Association for Great Lakes Research
Conference LocationBurlington, VT
KeywordsBioindicators, Fatty acids, Yellow perch
Abstract

Cyanobacteria blooms are increasing in frequency and magnitude and becoming a dominant source of primary production in some lakes. Cyanobacteria produce insufficient levels of essential fatty acids (EFA) for zooplankton growth. This effect may propagate up to zooplanktivorous fishes, potentially leading to EFA deficiencies (EFAD). To determine if and to what extent EFAD may impact wild fish populations, robust and broadly applicable biomarkers are necessary. We evaluate mead acid (C20:3), an ω-9 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, as one such biomarker. Unlike ω-3 and ω-6 EFA, mead acid can be synthesized de novo by vertebrates and is a viable replacement for EFA in cell membranes. Because mead acid synthesis increases to replace low levels of EFA, it may be used to identify EFAD. To test this hypothesis, we compared the ratio of mead acid to EFA in yellow perch and zebrafish fed a diet deficient in EFA versus a control diet. We assessed the potential physiological impacts of EFAD by measuring metabolic efficiencies of the two diet groups. Results from this feeding study will be compared to ratios of mead acid to EFA found in yellow perch across a range of cyanobacteria densities in Lake Champlain during bloom and
non-bloom periods.

URLhttp://iaglr.org/conference/downloads/2015_abstracts.pdf
Status: 
Published
Attributable Grant: 
RACC
Grant Year: 
Year4 (notified as published after reporting year submission to NSF) PublishedAfter
Acknowledged VT EPSCoR: 
Ack-Yes