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A highly unsaturated fatty acid predicts carbon transfer between primary producers and consumers

Author

Listed:
  • Dörthe C. Müller-Navarra

    (University of California)

  • Michael T. Brett

    (Box 352700, University of Washington)

  • Anne M. Liston

    (University of California)

  • Charles R. Goldman

    (University of California)

Abstract

The factors that regulate energy transfer between primary producers and consumers in aquatic ecosystems have been investigated for more than 50 years (refs 1,2,3). Among all levels of the food web (plants, herbivores, carnivores), the plant–animal interface is the most variable and least predictable link4,5,6. In hypereutrophic lakes, for example, biomass and energy transfer is often inhibited at the phytoplankton–zooplankton link4, resulting in an accumulation of phytoplankton biomass instead of sustaining production at higher trophic levels, such as fish. Accumulation of phytoplankton (especially cyanobacteria) results in severe deterioration of water quality, with detrimental effects on the health of humans and domestic animals, and diminished recreational value of water bodies7,8. We show here that low transfer efficiencies between primary producers and consumers during cyanobacteria bloom conditions are related to low relative eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5ω3) content of the primary producer community. Zooplankton growth and egg production were strongly related to the primary producer 20:5ω3 to carbon ratio. This indicates that limitation of zooplankton production by this essential fatty acid is of central importance at the pelagic producer–consumer interface.

Suggested Citation

  • Dörthe C. Müller-Navarra & Michael T. Brett & Anne M. Liston & Charles R. Goldman, 2000. "A highly unsaturated fatty acid predicts carbon transfer between primary producers and consumers," Nature, Nature, vol. 403(6765), pages 74-77, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:403:y:2000:i:6765:d:10.1038_47469
    DOI: 10.1038/47469
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    Cited by:

    1. Rafael Bermúdez & Yuanyuan Feng & Michael Y Roleda & Avery O Tatters & David A Hutchins & Thomas Larsen & Philip W Boyd & Catriona L Hurd & Ulf Riebesell & Monika Winder, 2015. "Long-Term Conditioning to Elevated pCO2 and Warming Influences the Fatty and Amino Acid Composition of the Diatom Cylindrotheca fusiformis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(5), pages 1-15, May.
    2. Bidhan Chandra Dhar & Lucia Cimarelli & Kumar Saurabh Singh & Letizia Brandi & Anna Brandi & Camilla Puccinelli & Stefania Marcheggiani & Roberto Spurio, 2015. "Molecular Detection of a Potentially Toxic Diatom Species," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-21, May.
    3. Perhar, Gurbir & Arhonditsis, George B., 2009. "The effects of seston food quality on planktonic food web patterns," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(6), pages 805-820.

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