Abstract
In a laboratory experiment, we studied the composition of sterols in steryl chlorin esters (SCEs) egested in fecal pellets of freshwater crustaceans (Daphnia magna and Asellus hilgendorfi) fed on a single green algae (Chlorella, Scendesmus, or Stigeoclonium) or on phytoplankton collected from a shallow pond abundant in diatoms. Both unaltered sterols present in dietary phytoplankton and sterols formed by metabolism in crustaceans were incorporated in the SCEs. C27 sterols except for cholesterol (C27Δ5) and C28 sterols, major sterols in diatoms, were scarce in the SCEs compared with those in the dietary algae, whereas cholesterol, which could be formed by crustacean metabolism, was relatively abundant in the SCEs. Therefore, the contribution of diatoms to the total phytoplankton population would be underestimated if diatom-specific C27 and C28 sterols in sedimentary SCEs were used in estimations as biomarkers of diatoms.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Soma, Y., Itoh, N., Tani, Y. et al. Sterol composition of steryl chlorin esters (SCEs) formed through grazing of algae by freshwater crustaceans: relevance to the composition of sedimentary SCEs. Limnology 6, 45–51 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10201-004-0133-6
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10201-004-0133-6