Essential fatty acid profiling in early ontogeny of the orchid dottyback, Pseudochromis fridmani, reared on Algamac 2000®

CHED 834

Timothy L. Arcand, tarcand980@hawks.rwu.edu1, Stephen K. O'Shea, soshea@rwu.edu1, Nancy E. Breen, nbreen@rwu.edu1, and Harold F. Pomeroy, hpomeroy@rwu.edu2. (1) Department of Chemistry, Roger Williams University, One Old Ferry Rd, Bristol, RI 02809, (2) Department of Biology, Roger Williams University, One Old Ferry Rd, Bristol, RI 02809
Orchid dottyback's (Pseudochromis fridmani) distinctive violet color makes them attractive to marine ornamental enthusiasts. Making aquacultured specimens available to consumers may reduce pressure on wild populations; however the larval mortality in P. fridmani culture is high. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) have been shown to be crucial in early development of vertebrates, and have been linked to increase larval survival rates. P. fridmani larvae were fed marine rotifers (Branchionus plicatilis) raised on the microalgae Dunaliella sp. and Nanochloropsis sp. (control) or enriched with Algamac 2000® (EFA rich treatment, on top of microalgae diet) for 15 days post hatch. Treatment and control were subsampled for five larvae every two days and fixed in chloroform/methanol (50:50) prior to EFA analysis. EFAs (eicosapentaenoic, docosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic, and arachidonic acids) were profiled by means of a novel HPLC/MS technology after alkaline methanoic Saponification. A fatty acid profile change was observed through the development period.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Biochemistry
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008