Seasonal variations in the component fatty acid distributions of the lipids of Balanus balanoides

A study has been made of the seasonal variations in the component acids of the lipid fractions of Balanus balanoides. The relative proportions of the polyenoic acids in the triglycerides drop sharply during the winter. They reach a minimum in the early spring and then gradually rise to a maximum in the late autumn. These changes are largely balanced by increases in the saturated acids, principally 16:0 and 18 :o.1 During the winter there is a marked decrease in the triglyceride to phospholipid ratio as the depot fats are mobilised as food reserves. The proportions of the polyethenoid acids in the phospholipids decline slowly during the winter and spring and attain their minimum in June-July. This fall is mainly counterbalanced by increases in the amounts of saturated acids, principally 14:0 and 16:0. It seems likely that the observed decreases in the polyenoic acids are brought about by selective utilization of these compounds as reserves during the winter when food is scarce and depot lipid has been depleted.