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Size-related dietary changes observed in young-of-the-year pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus): stomach contents and fatty acid analyses

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Abstract

Changes in dietary composition and its effects on the fatty acid (FA) composition of young-of-the-year (YOY) pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) from an artificial reservoir (Mirgenbach—northeastern France) were related to body size as shown by stomach content and FA analyses. Comparisons were made between three size classes of fishes: 25–35 mm total length (TL), 35–45 mm TL and 45–55 mm TL. Diets of the youngest L. gibbosus (TL ≤ 35 mm) consisted mainly of zooplanktonic microcrustaceans and Chironomidae. Ontogenetic development influenced the FA composition of L. gibbosus. Older YOY L. gibbosus showed an increase in proportions of monounsaturated FA proportions and a decrease in polyunsaturated FA and mainly essential FA (particularly docosahexaenoic acid). The low ω3/ω6 ratio and low PUFA content (mainly on DHA) suggested that L. gibbosus would not transfer the benefits of consuming ω3 PUFA up the food web.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Electricité de France (Cattenom CNPE) for its support and access to its site, as well as M. Fox for providing helpful comments on this manuscript.

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  1. Chafik Maazouzi

    Present address: UMR CNRS 5023 Laboratoire Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Fluviaux, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 49 Boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, 69622, Villeurbanne, France

  2. Vincent Médoc

    Present address: UMR CNRS 5561 Biogéosciences, Université de Bourgogne, 6 Boulevard Gabriel, 21000, Dijon, France

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  1. UMR CNRS 7146 Laboratoire Interactions Ecotoxicologie Biodiversité Ecosystèmes, Université Paul Verlaine Metz, Avenue Du Général Delestraint, 57070, Metz, France

    Chafik Maazouzi, Vincent Médoc, Jean-Claude Pihan & Gérard Masson

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Maazouzi, C., Médoc, V., Pihan, JC. et al. Size-related dietary changes observed in young-of-the-year pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus): stomach contents and fatty acid analyses. Aquat Ecol 45, 23–33 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-010-9320-1

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