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Trophic and reproductive biochemistry of a deep-sea gelatinous octopus, Opisthoteuthis calypso

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Abstract

The present study provides a comprehensive analysis of the biochemical composition (proximate composition, amino acids and fatty acids in gonad, digestive gland and muscle) of the cirrate octopod, Opisthoteuthis calypso, collected off the coast of Portugal. Protein and energy contents of O. calypso were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those observed for coastal octopods, suggesting that the gelatinous musculature of the cirrate octopus may not be a direct consequence of food limitation, but rather associated with reduced selective pressure for strong swimming ability in the deep sea. Moreover, principal component analyses of fatty acid (FA) data clearly separated coastal octopods from O. calypso. Saturated FA biomarkers (namely 16:0, 17:0, 18:0) and monounsaturated FA 22:1 suggest a higher phytodetrital influence on diet of O. calypso. A clear separation between groups was also observed with amino acid (AA) data. However, essential AA and non-essential AA designations (based on the flow of carbon through biochemical systems) do not necessarily provide an accurate picture of the origins of amino nitrogen in the deep-sea environment. Consequently, the interpretation of the present data is a challenging task but opens a new window of opportunity to unravel new trophic biomarkers in the deep sea.

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Acknowledgments

Samples were obtained under the PNAB/DCF framework. The Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) supported this study through a Senior Research Position (Ciência 2007) to R.R.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências da Centro de Oceanografia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Nossa Senhora do Cabo 939, 2750-374, Cascais, Portugal

    Rui Rosa, Marta S. Pimentel, Miguel Baptista & Katja Trübenbach

  2. Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    Ricardo Calado

  3. Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, Avenida de Brasília, 1449-006, Lisboa, Portugal

    Maria L. Nunes, Ana Moreno & João Pereira

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  1. Rui Rosa
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  3. Miguel Baptista
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  4. Katja Trübenbach
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Correspondence to Rui Rosa.

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Communicated by J. P. Grassle.

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Rosa, R., Pimentel, M.S., Baptista, M. et al. Trophic and reproductive biochemistry of a deep-sea gelatinous octopus, Opisthoteuthis calypso . Mar Biol 160, 263–275 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-2084-5

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