Lipid allocation in late-stage barnacle larvae from subtropical and temperate waters

Author(s)

Leal, Ines ^[1] ; Bohn, Katrin ^{[2, 3]} ; Hawkins, Stephen J. ^{[3, 4]} ; Jenkins, Stuart R. ^[5] ; Flores, V, Augusto A. ; Tremblay, Rejean ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Quebec Rimouski, Inst Sci Mer, 310 Allee Ursulines, Rimouski, PQ G5L 2Z9 - Canada

^[2] Nat England, Nottingham NG2 4LA - England

^[3] Univ Southampton, Natl Oceanog Ctr Southampton, Ocean & Earth Sci, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, Hants - England

^[4] Marine Biol Assoc UK, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, Devon - England

^[5] Bangor Univ, Sch Ocean Sci, Anglesey LL59 5AB - Wales

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MARINE ECOLOGY-PROGRESS SERIES; v. 661, p. 147-161, MAR 4 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The transition of planktonic late-stage barnacle larvae to a benthic life requires enough energy to power settlement and metamorphosis, and may be compromised by food limitation during early ontogeny. We carried out a comparative study to better understand the larval physiology of space-monopolizing barnacles exposed to contrasting regimes of primary productivity: Chthamalus bisinuatus under a meso-oligotrophic regime on the southeastern coast of Brazil, and C. montagui under a highly productive regime on the southwestern coast of the British Isles. We used an index based on lipid composition-the triacylglycerol (TAG) to phospholipid (PL) ratio-to characterize lipid allocation (energy/structure) in the tissues of cyprid larvae and anticipated depleted TAG reserves in cyprids from less productive waters. Despite the considerably different levels of primary productivity between subtropical (1.31 +/- 0.4 mg chl a m(-3)) and temperate waters (3.09 +/- 1.2 mg chl a m(-3)), TAG/PL ratio and settlement success were comparable for C. bisinuatus and C. montagui. Lipid allocation of daily cohorts was also comparable for both chthamalids, with cyprids equally storing TAG reserves (>= 50% of total lipid content). This points to an energetic threshold below which nauplii cannot develop to a cyprid and/or selection for lipid accumulation under poor trophic conditions. We highlight the challenges of directly relating estimates of primary productivity with food supply and larval physiological status, as lower chl a concentrations do not necessarily indicate food limitation for barnacle nauplii. We propose a conceptual model to clarify the process of lipid allocation (energetic to structural lipids) in the tissues of cyprid larvae. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/01446-2 - Bottom-up trophic control of recruitment in marine invertebrates with indirect development: barnacles as a case-study
• Grantee: Augusto Alberto Valero Flores
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/50903-7 - A comparative study on the role of bottom-up control on the recruitment of marine invertebrates between temperate and sub-tropical regions: using barnacles as a case study
• Grantee: Augusto Alberto Valero Flores
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants