The role of highly unsaturated fatty acids in aquatic foodweb processes

1997 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 483-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHAEL BRETT ◽  
DÖRTHE MÜLLER‐NAVARRA
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Unsaturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acids

Modelling the role of highly unsaturated fatty acids in planktonic food web processes: a mechanistic approach

2012 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 155-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gurbir Perhar ◽  
George B. Arhonditsis ◽  
Michael T. Brett
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Food Webs ◽  
Unsaturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Efficient Energy Transfer ◽  
Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Planktonic Food ◽  
Aquatic Food ◽  
Biochemical Research

Highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) are a subgroup of fatty acids characterized by chains of 20 or more carbon atoms with multiple double bonds, which potentially limit the growth of zooplankton. Zooplankton require high HUFA concentrations during periods of rapid growth, but co-limitation with nutrients is also likely to occur. Recent modelling results suggest food webs with high quality (nutritional and biochemical) primary producers can attain inverted biomass distributions with efficient energy transfer between trophic levels. In this study, our objective is to highlight the recent advances in studying the role of HUFAs in aquatic food webs. We take a first-principles approach to investigate the chemical nature of HUFAs, and the role they play in zooplankton ecology. To this end, we introduce a novel zooplankton growth sub model that tracks the interplay between nitrogen, phosphorus, and HUFAs in plankton population models. Our aim is to produce a sub model that incorporates the knowledge gained from decades of biochemical research into management-oriented predictive tools.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document