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Investigation of trophic ecology in Newfoundland cold-water deep-sea corals using lipid class and fatty acid analyses

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Abstract

The trophic behavior of some deep-sea Newfoundland cold-water corals was explored using fatty acid (FA) and lipid profiles. No significant effect of geographic location and/or depth was identified in lipid or FA composition. However, differences were detected between and within taxon groups in hexa- or octocoral subclasses. Phospholipids constituted the main lipid class in all groups except black-thorny corals which had less structural lipids likely due to their morphology (stiff axes) and slower growth rates. Within each subclass, major differences in the identity of dominant FAs were detected at the order level, whereas differences between species and taxon groups of the same order were mainly driven by a variation in proportions of the dominant FA. Soft corals and gorgonians (Order Alcyonacea) were close in composition and are likely relying on phytodetritus resulting from algae, macrophytes and/or foraminifera, while sea pens (Order Pennatulacea) seem to consume more diatoms and/or herbivorous zooplankton with the exception of Pennatula sp. In the hexacoral subclass, black-thorny corals (Stauropathes arctica) differed significantly from the stony-cup corals (Flabellum alabastrum); S. arctica was seemingly more carnivorous (zooplankton markers) than F. alabastrum, which appears omnivorous (phyto- and zooplankton markers). Our results suggest that deep-sea corals are not as opportunistic as expected but have some selective feeding associated with taxonomy.

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Acknowledgements

This project was funded by International Governance Program fund. We would like to thank Jeannette Wells from CREAIT laboratory for lipid classes and fatty acid analyses and Barbara Neves for completing the map.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Center, 80 East White Hills Road, PO Box 5667, St. John’s, NL, A1C 5X1, Canada

    Flora Salvo, Dounia Hamoutene & Vonda E. Wareham Hayes

  2. Department of Geography, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada

    Evan N. Edinger

  3. Department of Ocean Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada

    Christopher C. Parrish

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  1. Flora Salvo
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  2. Dounia Hamoutene
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  3. Vonda E. Wareham Hayes
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  4. Evan N. Edinger
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  5. Christopher C. Parrish
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Correspondence to Flora Salvo.

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Communicated by Biology Editor Dr. Mark J. A. Vermeij

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Salvo, F., Hamoutene, D., Hayes, V.E.W. et al. Investigation of trophic ecology in Newfoundland cold-water deep-sea corals using lipid class and fatty acid analyses. Coral Reefs 37, 157–171 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-017-1644-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-017-1644-z

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