engleski

Potential food sources of Glycymeris nummaria (Mollusca, Bivalvia) during the annual cycle indicated by fatty acid analysis

Seasonal changes of food sources were investigated by analyzing the fatty acid profiles of digestive gland and muscle tissues of the naturally occurring clams Glycymeris nummaria in Mali Ston Bay, Croatia. Total lipids in the digestive gland and the adductor muscle showed parallel changes with maximum after the main spawning event (September). In the digestive gland saturated fatty acids were highly dominant (up to 82%) indicating the detritus as the main food source for this species. This type of food prevailed during the autumn/winter period, in contrast to the spring/summer period when detritus was enriched with phyto- and, to lesser extent, with zooplankton. Fatty acid composition of muscles indicated highly efficient utilization of ingested food through significant retention of PUFA from their diet during the entire period investigated.

feeding ecology ; bivalve ; Glycymerididae ; Adriatic Sea ; Mali Ston

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